Frequently asked questions

No. Every decision is made by the government concerned, and nobody outside that process can promise the outcome.

What we can do is make sure your application is complete, consistent and matched to the right route. That removes the most common avoidable reasons for refusal. Be careful of anyone who offers a guarantee.

UK immigration advice must be given by advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority or by members of another designated professional body, such as solicitors.

Our registration details are shown in the footer of every page. You can check any adviser yourself using the Immigration Advice Authority's adviser finder on GOV.UK.

No. We work with clients worldwide by video call, phone and email.

You can send us copies of your documents securely, and we will arrange calls at a time that suits your time zone. If your case needs someone licensed in another country, for example an authorised representative for Canada, we will tell you.

It depends on the route and how much help you need. We confirm our fees in writing before any work begins, so you know the cost in advance.

Government fees, health charges and test fees are separate. You always pay them directly to the government or organisation concerned, never through us.

An adviser reviews your details and contacts you, usually within one working day, to arrange a time to talk.

If we need any documents before the call, we will tell you which ones. If your situation is not something we can help with, we will say so and, where we can, suggest where to go instead.

GOV.UK says you must have the required money for at least 28 days in a row, and the end of that 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.

The balance must not drop below the required amount on any day in those 28 days. The amounts change, so check the current figures on the GOV.UK Student visa money page before you prepare your evidence.

It depends on your nationality. GOV.UK says most visitors need either an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or a visa. People from Europe, the USA, Australia, Canada and certain other countries usually need an ETA rather than a visa.

If your nationality needs a visa, you apply for a Standard Visitor visa instead. Check your nationality on GOV.UK before you book travel.

Usually not. Visitor visa refusals generally have no right of appeal and no administrative review, unless a human rights claim was made. The only formal challenge is judicial review in the courts, which is a legal process.

For most visitors, the realistic option is a fresh application that properly addresses the reasons in the refusal letter. Read the letter carefully first, and do not reapply with the same documents.

It depends on your nationality and how you travel. Visa-exempt travellers need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) to fly to or through a Canadian airport, but not when arriving by car, bus, train or boat. US citizens do not need an eTA.

Other nationalities need a visitor visa. IRCC has an online tool on canada.ca that tells you which you need.

IRCC says there is no formal appeal process for temporary resident applications. Applying again with the same information will likely not change the decision.

You can reapply if your situation has changed significantly or you have new information that addresses the reasons. If you believe the process was unfair or the law was applied wrongly, you can ask the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review, which is a legal process.

There is no fixed score. Each round of invitations has its own minimum score, which changes from draw to draw and between types of draw, including category-based draws.

You can estimate your own Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score with IRCC's official tool, and see recent results on IRCC's rounds of invitations page. Be cautious of predictions on social media.

Section 214(b) of US immigration law presumes that every visa applicant intends to immigrate. A 214(b) refusal means the consular officer was not satisfied that you showed strong enough ties to your home country, such as your job, home and family, to leave the US after a temporary stay.

It is not permanent, but there is no appeal. You can reapply with a new form and fee if your circumstances have changed or you have new information.

Most applicants do. Since 1 October 2025, the State Department says nonimmigrant visa applicants, including children and older people, will generally need an in-person interview. A small number of renewals may qualify for a waiver, but an officer can still ask you to attend.

You should book your interview in your country of nationality or residence.

The State Department says a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed for a visitor visa and is not one of the factors used to decide it.

What matters is your own situation: the purpose of your trip, your ability to pay for it, and your ties to home. Focus on explaining these clearly and truthfully at your interview.

It is part of the Student visa (subclass 500). It replaced the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for applications made on or after 23 March 2024.

You must show that you are a genuine applicant for entry and stay as a student, and that you understand studying in Australia is the main reason for your visa. You answer questions about this in the application form, in English.

British citizens can usually apply for an eVisitor (subclass 651) or an Electronic Travel Authority (subclass 601) instead of a Visitor visa (subclass 600). An ETA is applied for through the official Australian ETA app.

These are still visas, so you must apply and be granted one before you travel. Check the Home Affairs pages for current eligibility and conditions.

Sometimes. The Administrative Review Tribunal, which replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in October 2024, can review some visa decisions, but not all.

Home Affairs says your refusal letter will tell you whether you have the right to seek review. Time limits are strict, so read the letter as soon as you receive it.

Apply to your main destination. If you visit one country, apply there. If you visit several, apply to the country where you will spend the longest time, or where the main purpose of your trip is.

If you will spend equal time in each and no main destination can be decided, apply to the country where you will first enter the Schengen area. You normally apply in the country where you legally live.

No. The United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen area. Each has its own visa rules, and a Schengen visa does not allow you to enter either country.

If your trip includes the UK or Ireland, check their own requirements separately. Cyprus is in the EU but not yet a full Schengen member, so check its rules too.

No. ETIAS is a travel authorisation for people who do not need a visa to visit Europe. If you need a Schengen visa, you do not also need ETIAS.

As of 1 October 2026, the official ETIAS website says ETIAS is not yet in operation and that the start date will be announced several months in advance. The separate Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026.