UK Tourist visa for non-US/EU national

We are trying to have our aunt and cousin in India visit here in the summer.  I am thinking that the process is this:

1- we write them a letter stating we live here with our 5yr work permits, we want them to visit us, we will let them stay with us while they are here
2- provide them with a copy of our work permits to send in with the letter
3- send it all to them and hope that they actually submit it all along with whatever paperwork the British high commission wants from them
4- they get an appt with the high commission and hopefully get the tourist visas

I'm guessing that this is all we need to do.  There was some confusion on our part about us sponsoring them  but then we would need to give bank statements, etc.  They are paying their own way here but we are providing them with a place to stay, so I gave a copy of our council tax statement just to show we live here.

Hope I am right in my thinking?  Hoping VictoriaS or Garry will respond to this one....or anyone else who's gone through this process before.

Hope I am right in my thinking?  Hoping VictoriaS or Garry will respond to this one....or anyone else who's gone through this process before.

No.

You are here on work permits and proposing to bring in family visitors from a visa-national country, and you are just sending a copy of your work permits and a council tax receipt? 

Have they travelled into the UK within the last 5 years?  If not, then you would do well to play it by the book.  India's refusal rate on family visitors is abysmal.

But when you say play by the book what does that mean?  I mean, according to the British High Commission guidance, there's nothing else we're supposed to do other than a letter explaining why they should come and how we can provide them with a place to stay.

No they haven't travelled in the UK - ever. They are just getting their passports for the first time!

They are also applying for US visas at the same time but thankfully my in-laws are dealing with that.  The sad part is I am fully expecting them to get rejected but my in-laws are actually reserving plane tickets for them to leave India on June 9th (their appt. with the US consulate is June 7th).   

So garry what do you suggest we do then?

How old is the cousin?

How old is the cousin?

Um something like 25 years old?

Um something like 25 years old?

That's way young.  The best bet without knowing anything else is to get the US visas issued first so that they will be in their passports when they go for the UK visas.

I would still play it by the book - any advisor would be looney to suggest otherwise.  But that's only an opinion...

Well I guess they will be trying to get whichever they can first - US or UK.  I don't even know if they have an appointment for the UK one yet.  I think their stupid advisor in India has not yet tried to get their UK appointment as he wanted to get our letter of support first.  We asked if we should send bank statements, copy of lease, copy of pay slips, etc. but they said no - we are not providing support.  We are only providing place to stay.  That's why I did council tax as it shows I have a flat here.  Also they said if we didn't provide a letter offering place to stay then they would have to show proof of having booked a hotel.

Still don't get what you mean when you say 'play by the book' as I think we are doing that according to the High Commission application form and guidance.  I would be happy to provide whatever they want but it seems like all they want is a letter!!  If you can PM with any further info that would be helpful but I don't want to take up too much time about all this.

Anyway I'm expecting this all to be a disaster and will be grateful if they get here at all sometime while we're living here.  I've tried explaining it to the in-laws that it is very unlikely they will get the US visa right away so not to plan anything and yet they don't listen.  Ah well what more can I do.

A few things to take note of...  The "advisor" in India is in all likelihood one of the VFS outsourcing agents.  They collect a fee for submitting the application and that's that. 

Next.  A council tax receipt isn't going to do it.  You have seen countless threads in here about accommodation.  And even tho your relatives are coming as visitors, the ECO still needs it nailed down.  I doubt a council tax receipt would even get through the pre-sift.  That's if they didn't think it was forged in the first instance.

Next.  If you are offering sponsorship of any sort, they will need to see your bank statements, pay slips, and what-not - almost the same as applying for a fiance visa in the US.  Of course if they present wealth to the tune of financial independence, then it's ok.  But NOT for a 25 year old with no peripatetic history.  No chance.

Next.  We are talking about India hon.  The refusal rate for family visitors at the New Delhi consulate is about 60%.  In Bombay, it's 35%, and the overall South Asian desk refuses at 46%. 

Those are my thoughts.  Get the USA stamp first and that will improve their chances.

Geetak - the 'advisor' in India is not going to be OISC registered and has no incentive to give a monkey's about the success rate.  You are going to need to supply way more documentation than suggested if this application is going to be successful.

If you sent me a PM tomorrow I will send you a list of documents that will be needed (but do remind me, or I will certainly forget!).

Victoria

Yes anything anyone can send is great - what I don't get is how you are supposed to know all this other than a board like this?  Why does the British govt tell you one thing and doing that thing won't get you anywhere?  v. annoying.

The rules set out clearly what needs to be shown, it is a case of you looking at what evidence you need to prove this.

Provide a support letter and proof that you own the place you are staying in.  If you are renting, supply the lease and a letter from your landlord to say that it is okay to have them stay.

Provide copies of your work permits and the visa from your passport, along with 3 months bank statements and three months of their bank statements.

Your cousin will have to provide proof that he/she intends to return at the end of the stay.  This is imperative.

Victoria

Yes anything anyone can send is great - what I don't get is how you are supposed to know all this other than a board like this?  Why does the British govt tell you one thing and doing that thing won't get you anywhere?  v. annoying.

I would go back and have a good read about what they are saying.   In addition to what Victoria said, your cousin's proof needs to be really good. 

It was only a couple of years ago that under 25's with no prior UK travel history were even able to apply at all.  They didn't even accept the application!

Well here's what it says

What evidence can I supply?
You should send any supporting documents to the person you are sponsoring so that they can include them with their visa application. Please do not send any documents direct to the visa section.

There are no hard and fast rules about what documents you should produce when sponsoring a visitor to the UK. You may want to produce evidence of your own immigration status in the UK, and there are some other things you can do, particularly if the visit is for a special reason.

If the visit is for a holiday and you are a relative or a friend, a letter of sponsorship explaining your relationship to the applicant and why the visit is taking place at this particular time may be helpful.
If the visit is for a special family occasion (for example, celebrating a wedding, a birth or an important anniversary), an invitation giving details of the event, when and where it is to take place, and a letter of sponsorship would be helpful. If the person you are sponsoring is not a close relative or is one of several people invited to the occasion, it would be helpful to know why the applicant was chosen to attend.

If you are offering to provide support and accommodation, or to pay for travel to the UK, you must provide evidence of your ability to do so. The following would be helpful.

A letter of sponsorship giving details of your occupation and salary and how you will provide support and accommodation for the applicant. There is no need to have this letter certified (in other words, signed) before a solicitor or commissioner for oaths to confirm it is genuine.
Evidence of your ability to pay for the trip, such as copies of your last six months' bank or building society statements and salary slips. If you receive public funds, the Entry Clearance Officer will need to consider carefully how long you will be able to support other people on your limited means. You will not be able to get extra public funds to support the applicant.

The way I read all that is that I should give a letter of sponsorship explaining my relationship and why I want them to visit.  Also provide evidence of my ability to provide accomodation.  That means to me a letter saying how I can give them accomodation - I am not offering to pay for their trip, so why do I have to provide all the financial statements?

Not trying to be fussy about this but I really don't understand!

It's just the 'belt and 'braces' approach.  If you are absolutely sure they can prove they can afford the visit, then no worries.

Most of these applications get refused ont he 'intent to return' aspect, especially if one of the candidates is in their mid twenties.

Victoria