Immigration Corner | How to prove your identity when applying for a visa

Dear Mr Bassie,

I read that I will need to prove my identity when applying for a visa to go to the United Kingdom. Please advise me what information is needed and what this entails.

HG

Dear HG,

When applying for a visa to go to the United Kingdom (UK), persons will not only need to prove their identity but also provide documents to show their eligibility.

How this is accomplished will largely depend on where the applicant is from and what type of passport he/she holds.

The applicant will either go to an appointment at a visa application centre or use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app. Applicants will find out if they need to go to an appointment or use the smartphone app when they start the application.

If persons need to go to an appointment at a visa application centre, they will note that these centres are run by external companies. They will get a link to their website where they can book an appointment to provide their biometric information (fingerprints and photograph).

With respect to booking the appointment, persons may have to travel to get to their nearest visa application centre. Please note that this could be in another country. Those persons who do not prove their identity within 240 days of submitting their application online, will need to start a new application. Persons can choose to use a standard service or to pay extra for optional services. Paying for optional services does not mean that their application is more likely to be successful.

CHILDREN UNDER 16 YEARS OLD

Children who are under 16 years old must go to the appointment with an adult who is over 18. Those children under five years old must attend the appointment to have a photograph taken. However, they do not need to give their fingerprints.

STANDARD SERVICES

Most visa application centres offer free appointments. In some locations, persons will need to pay £76.50 for a standard appointment. They can choose to travel to a different visa application centre with free appointments, but they will need to pay their own travel costs.

Applicants may be able to either upload their evidence before the appointment or bring their evidence to their appointment and have it scanned there for a fee.

Please note that the document checklist in their application will explain what to provide. Visa application centres will usually keep the passport while they process the application. They may also keep the documents provided as well.

EXTRA OPTIONAL SERVICES

Persons can choose to pay for an appointment, for example, if they want to book it for a specific date and time. The applicant may also be able to choose to pay for other extra services, such as:

• Getting their documents scanned instead of doing it themself

• Keeping the passport while the application is processed

Again, please be warned that paying for optional services does not mean the application is more likely to be successful.

If persons applied for someone else, the applicant will need to attend the appointment at the visa application centre to provide their biometric information and documents. The applicant will also need to sign a copy of their application form, to confirm that the information is correct.

Those persons who need to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app will be asked to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document and submit a digital photo of their face. Those persons will need to scan and upload documents that show their eligibility, as part of their online application. The document checklist in the application will explain what needs to be provided.

Just for completeness, if applying for someone else, the applicant will need to prove their identity using the app.

Good luck.

John S. Bassie is a barrister/attorney-at-law who practises law in Jamaica. He is a justice of the peace, a Supreme Court-appointed mediator, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a chartered arbitrator, the past global president of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and a member of the Immigration Law Practitioners Association (UK). Email: lawbassie@yahoo.com