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How do I apply What is a visa? A visa (or entry clearance) is a certificate that is put into your passport or travel document that gives you permission to enter the United Kingdom (UK). On arrival in the UK a Border Force officer may check that you are here for the reasons you have stated. For more information about what you might expect on arrival in the UK please visit the UK Border Agency website When to apply You can apply 3 months in advance of your intended date of travel to the UK. Applicants are strongly advised not make their travel arrangements to enter the UK until they have received their visa. How to apply You can complete the visa application process in 7 steps. Step 1 - Check if you need a visa Use the 'Do I need a visa' guide on the UK Border Agency website to see if you need a visa. If you need a visa and before you make your visa application you should read the visa application steps set out below so you are clear about the procedure and requirements. Important note: If you have had any previous immigration problems you are advised to apply for a visa to enter the UK. Step 2 - Read the information on your visa category Before you decide to apply for a particular visa please make sure you familiarize yourself with the information on the category you are applying for and the Immigration Rules on the UK Border Agency website. The links to information on visa categories and other helpful information can be found on the 'Visa Information' page on this website. You should especially read all the relevant guidance for applications made under the points-based system. Step 3. Complete your visa application form You can submit your visa application in one of the following two ways. You should submit 1 visa application for each individual applying for a visa, including children. All applications must be completed in English. Please ensure that you select the correct visa application for the purpose of your visit. • Online visa application form Complete an online visa application in English using the online application system.   - Ensure that you complete all the sections correctly. - Sections 1 and 2 are vital to considering your application. The information in this section must be completed accurately. - Please print all the pages of the visa application form and bring it to the visa application centre. You should print your completed visa application form on good quality paper and ensure that the information does extend beyond the margins on the paper. - Please make sure the bar code appears on the final page of your printed visa application form and remember to sign it. - After you have saved and submitted your online application, you will receive an email with a unique application ID number that starts with GWF. Keep your ID number for future reference. • Paper visa application form Download the appropriate visa application form for free from the UK Border Agency website. You should print your completed visa application form on good quality paper and ensure that the information does extend beyond the margins on the paper. • Ensure that you complete all the sections correctly. If you make a mistake in filling in any of the sections you will need to make the change on the form and sign against it. Step 4 - Prepare your documents Supporting documents For additional information about the supporting documents you will need to submit with your application, see supporting documents checklists on the UK Border Agency website. Applicants must submit as much evidence as they can of their personal circumstances. This includes employment; studies; financial circumstances; any assets; details of travel outside Ghana; details of family members in Ghana and overseas. If someone else is paying for the trip, or sponsoring you in another way, there should be evidence relating to that person too. The absence of important documentary evidence of previous travel in a previous passport (if applicable) and incomplete supporting documents, may result in your application not being successful. Original documents & photocopies You must provide original documents with a photocopy of each original supporting document you are submitting. Failure to submit original documents may mean your application is delayed or refused. Your original documents might not be returned to you if you do not provide photocopies of the originals. Photocopying facilities are available at the visa application centre (fee payable). Please see the 'Additional Services' page on this website for more information. Translations If you want the UK Border Agency visa officer to consider your visa application you should provide translations of any supporting documents that are not in English. Any translated documents need to be submitted with the original documents for verification. All translated documents must include all of the following information:- Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document. • The date of the translation • The translator's full name and signature • The translator's contact You should submit the following • Your current valid passport or your refugee travel document; which corresponds to the information given on your visa application form and contains at least 1 blank page (both sides) for the visa to be inserted. Note: The UK Border Agency will retain your passport until they have reached a decision on your visa application. Please bear this in mind when you are making your travel arrangements, particularly if you plan to visit other countries before going to the UK. • Previous passports (if relevant) • The email sent you confirming that you have completed your online application (if relevant) • Your visa application fee or proof of payment. Please see the 'Visa Application Fee' page on this website for more information. • Your completed and signed visa application form • Tuberculosis testing. If you are visiting the UK for longer than 6 months you are required to be tested for tuberculosis testing. Information on tuberculosis testing can be found on this website. • Supporting documents relevant to the category you are applying for with copy of each original document. • 1 recent passport-sized (45mm high x 35mm wide) colour photograph of yourself. The photograph should be: - Taken against a light grey or cream background. It should be in sharp focus, clear and of good quality, free from shadows. - Printed on normal photographic paper. - Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead. - The photograph should be a recent true likeness and taken within the last 6 months. More information on photograph requirements can be found on the UK Border Agency website. You can get photographs that meet these requirements at the visa application centre (fee payable). Please see the 'Additional Services' page on this website for more information. Step 5 - Visit the visa application centre The visa application centre contact details can be found on the 'Contact Us' page of this website. You must apply in person to submit your biometric data (digital photograph and fingerscan). You must remember to bring all of the documents set out in Step 6. On arrival you will be directed to the relevant queue. During peak periods, the number of people who can be accommodated in the queue may be restricted for reasons of crowd control in which case you will be given priority admission the following working day Important note: You will not be able to submit further documents after you have submitted your application at the visa application. The documents you submit at the time you made your application are the only documents that can be considered. Biometric data collection Biometric data collection includes a digital fingerscan (all 10 digits) and a digital photograph. The fingerscan procedure uses an electronic scanner. No ink, liquid or chemical. You should ensure that your fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (for example, henna), cuts, abrasions or other markings as these may affect your ability to provide acceptable fingerscans. Your digital photograph must be taken with full face and without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or head covering unless it is worn for religious or medical reasons. Your face should be clearly visible with no hair across the eyes. We cannot process your visa if you do not submit your biometric data. Step 6. Wait for a decision on your visa application Please wait for a decision on your visa application. You can refer to the 'guide to processing times' page on this website for information on our processing times. Visa applications are assessed individually and processing times may vary. To find out when you application is ready for collection please use the free 'Track your Application' facility on this website. Alternatively you may want to use the SMS text service (fee payable). Please see the 'Additional Services' page on this website for more information. Step 7. Collect your documents You can collect the decision on your visa application and documents from the visa application centre. You will need to bring the receipt you were given when you submitted your visa application with you. Please see the collection times on the 'Contact Us' page of this website. You can also choose to have the decision and documents returned to you by courier service. Please see the 'Additional Services' page on this website for more information. If you are issued a visa, please check it. You should make sure that: • your personal details are correct • it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and • it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to 3 months if you do not plan to travel immediately). If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, please contact the visa application centre immediately Using agents, scams and fraud You may decide to submit your visa application using an independent travel agent, immigration agent or consultant. These agents will charge for their services. You should be careful when dealing with people who make unrealistic claims. They cannot guarantee that they will be able to obtain a work or study visa for you. They cannot guarantee that your application will be resolved without an interview. They cannot guarantee the outcome of your visa application. They may be cheating you if they make these claims. If an agent charges you anything more than a small and reasonable service charge, they may be overcharging you or they may be supplying you with false documents and statements. Visa officers will detect false documents and statements, and your visa application will be refused. If you provide false information, documents or passports in support of your visa application, you will be refused a visa and all future applications will be refused for up to 10 years. You may be prosecuted and could face a fine or even go to prison. Remember the visa application is your application. You are the owner of the information and any supporting documentation. A genuine agent will only be able to help you to complete the form and advise you what supporting documents you need to include. If you consider that you have been misled or cheated by an agent, then you should report the matter to the police.

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