NewStats: 3,264,561 , 8,184,105 topics. Date: Wednesday, 11 June 2025 at 02:37 PM 1ny1t

damola1:


Thank you once more. My ticket is in a few hours, but it'll go to waste because of his absence. last 2 weeks I changed it with 109k. Too expensive.

Is it OK to state that after meeting we will spend a couple of days moving around or simply stick to the meeting?

A few days to move around is ok. 10days is a little too much if your main purpose is just the meeting, so I suggest he reduces it to between 3 - 5days. to stick to that, when eventually making that first trip.

uche13:
@iphoenix,

Thank you for taking time to reply. However, the test can't be done online anywhere. The only body that offers the program is Pearson vue and while it is an online exam, selected centres are accredited. The only country in Africa approved is South Africa and many people prefer to do it in London. Also, this is just the first stage of the exam.

What do you recommend I do?

Thank you

Can you reschedule your exam? Or write it in South Africa instead? You've been to the U.K. twice already, and will definitely still have to do the second stage examination in the U.K. Don't you wanna see more of the world? I think it'll be a good experience and also a boost to your travel history when next you want to apply for another visa, be it the U.K. or elsewhere.

If you are bent on writing the MCT in the UK however, I'll advise you should sponsor yourself, start building your from now and avoid any substantial lodgements for the next 6 months. At the very least, have your husband just co-sponsor you instead of leaving it entirely to him. Note that that N1m transfer will DEFINITELY be an issue this time, even if you explain it's source.

uche13:
Good day all,

Thank you very much for the time taken to answer questions. I tried reading so many pages so that I won't ask repetitive questions.

I've travelled to UK twice. The first time last year was on a company sponsored trainingcon which strength I got my visa. I travelled again this year for a week on a self sponsored trip before my visa expired.

I intend travelling in January for a qualifying legal exam
The cost of the exam is 678 pounds and I have paid already personally. I want to apply for the renewal of my visa using my husband's statement of . The balance is 1.3M. 1M from it was from the maturity of Tbills which entered another and then he transferred to the statement I'm using so you'll just see transfer of 1M from one of his to another. Should I attach the treasury bill certificate to show how the N1M came about?

Also he transferred about 300 k about 3 weeks ago to another where he has master card when he tried paying for something and it didn't go so he later transferred the money back to this . I hope no red flags will be raised.

On my own, I earn about N250k every month but I don't intend using my statement.

The cosy for the trip will be about 500k which should cover flight and handy money since the exam fees has already been paid.

Please advise accordingly.

Thank you.

Since you are currently employed and will be stating that in your application, you need to include proof of your own personal circumstances, even if you're being sponsored. It is advisable you include the usual requirements of a self sponsorship (letter of introduction from employer, 6 months payslips & bank statements etc) Writing the qualifying exams also implies you want to practice in the U.K. and looking for "greener pastures", while there is nothing wrong in that, it is already a good reason for the ECO to be a little more critical of your application, more so that the MCT assessment (I reckon that's the one you want to write) can be done online without your presence in the U.K.

It is also advisable to avoid huge money lodgments, but where it is unavoidable, you will need to explain with CONVINCING proof to back your explanation, but from personal experience and that of people here, they hardly are satisfied with explanation on bulk fund deposits particularly if it forms a large percentage of the closing balance.

damola1:
Myself and my brother are directors in our SME.

I have a 5years business visa that will run till 2021. Thanks to Nairaland.

Anyways, We are expanding the game. We are going to be the end of the British export trading company here in lagos, and already rented a 280sqm facility. But need to start meeting.

I am not really a fan of moving up and down. But my brother is like my right hand man. In fact, I paid 110k extra just to shift the tickets and meetings from 2 weeks ago.

I submitted our company statements. which showed over 8 digits within a 6 months period and cash balance of over 7 digits . But I was shocked to receive that he won't be coming along. Find attached his refusal notice.

Note: the letter submitted by our British partners is same format I used in the past. exact same format.

Right now. I don't really want to go anymore. Cos, I can't see myself alone in the cold.

How soon can I reapply. and how best do I address this. I am suppose to leave on Monday though, so, I might apply for him against a later date.

It appears your brother relied solely on the company's sponsorship without fully demonstrating his own personal circumstances. These people expect an applicant to have a level of despite the sponsorship. You may wish to reapply asap and give more information about his personal circumstances i.e. finance/economic ties (his own bank statement(s), payslips etc) and social ties (marriage, property etc). A letter of introduction is also not out of place even if he's a Director. The letter should state the purpose of the visit as well as how much the company is willing to expend for the purpose. This should tally with the information supplied in the application on sponsorship and stuff.

It also seems he either did not submit an itinerary or the one submitted isn't explanatory or convincing. Apparently, a 10day visit for just a meeting seems farfetched to them, you know the way they reason sometimes, I don't want to call them silly, but yeah, they expect you to just attend your meeting and fly out 2 hours later. Smh!

Deelaw13:
Good day everyone..pls I'm intending on submitting my uk renewal application next week,I'm applying for 10 years..I was given 6 months at first after expiration renewed for 2 years after expiration renewed for 5 years now I'm renewing for 10 years..I have a balance of 600k plus in my acct..I'm I good to go??

It's hard to give an opinion based on the info you have given here. Secondly, based on what you have said here, you've been through the process at least 3 times and it has worked in your favor every time. What ever you did those time is the right thing. Please do likewise with this renewal. All the best!

So I just completed a UKVI survey. They sent me an email asking for my opinion on the visa application process. I gave them a piece of my mind and gave consent to a waiver of anonymity! Yes, I put my name and details, they should come and beat me!! Lol. Silly time wasters!!

feranmi84:


I did not deposit huge amount in my and wish to reapply and point out the ECO's error like you said. But want to know if reapplying immediately won't be a sign of desperation.

2. Moreover, If I decide to reapply immediately, should I submit same leave/introduction letter (02/10/17 to 31/10/17) or get another one with new dates.
Thank you.

What's your current bank balance?

Honestakay:
i am a lady. 70% percent of my income is saved up in a cooperative. how can one explain that? thanks for your reply.

Not a problem! If the cooperative is at your place of work, highlight the deductions in your payslips and get the cooperative to write a letter backing it up.

[quote author=Honestakay post=61193371]i am a lady. 70% percent of my income is saved up in a cooperative. how can one explain that? thanks for your reply.


Not a problem! If the cooperative is at your place of work, highlight the deductions in your payslips and get the cooperative to write a letter backing it up.

Honestakay:
hey guys,
i am applying for a uk visit visa with my family. the trip is sponsored by my parents. i am working in a company, my salary ranges within 230- 290 monthly based on commission. the issue is my salary is zero balance. i transferred 400k to the . is it gonna raise a red flag?

Being a family man and having your parents sponsor a holiday is a no no. Depositing any unexplained bulk amount in your is automatic refusal. If the you are transferring the money from is yours and adequately funded or if you have another that is sufficiently funded besides your salary , you can submit it along with your salary and explain the source of money in it. If otherwise, that you earn that much monthly and have zero savings is not cute and depending on your parents for a mere holiday doesn't speak well of you. Get it together bro, haba?!

lalla89:
Hello everybody in the house,Justwise and other gurus please I want to apply for visiting visa to UK to witness my cousin wedding she will get marriage to a British citizen by early January 2018 both of them are currently in the UK schoolling.The groom is an Ivory coast National before he immigrate to UK and seek for asylum due to the crisis in his country at that time.I was delegated among the family to travel to ivory coast to confirm his origin to see his parents and also his relatives,and now I was still being delegated to represent the family to UK to witness their wedding which will be done early January 2018.my question here is that, my trip will be sponsored by my uncle who is former member of house of representatives and a regular traveller to UK and I'm still worked with local government council and earn 50k as my monthly salary and I'm also into car business which make me to earn more money than my salary I have a closing balance of 3m in my which can be available for the duration of my visa processing time.please gurus in the house which documents should I provide to submit with my application for visiting visa to UK that will prove the reason of travel and also prove my employment and business.Thanks

Why do you need your Honorable uncle to sponsor you if you have 3million of YOUR OWN money saved? It's contradictory of your status and would raise a red flag.

However, the purpose for which you want to travel, in view of your previous travel to Ivory coast seems convincing. I assume you are being COMPLETELY HONEST and have records of the trip in your port with pictures? Get the couple to write a convincing invitation letter, stating that it's a honour to have you being that you're the only one who has met his family and you're the link between both families blah blah blah.

Your 50k salary is however low to be honest. It is not impossible, but other VERY STRONG factors must be involved. Pardon me, but is this car dealership you the real deal? I'm asking because a lot of people claim side hustle that are sometimes not ed, verifiable and considered by the ECOs as not legit. If you can prove it with proper documentation and a statement of with inflows and outflows that are CONSISTENT with that line of business you are claiming, then you must be very clear and explanatory in your application. If not, please don't bother. It is better to be honest even if you're refused than to lie and still be refused. any refusal will be considered even in future, so it's better to avoid it now by not being dishonest or making up side hustle stories as any refusal will limit your chances in future when your circumstances might have improved well enough to have earned you a visa.

feranmi84:
Justwise and inphoenix, thanks for your time and contributions. Just opted to crop where the ECO stressed in the acc statement. I've attached another picture for you to have a clearer view. Thank you!

I reckon the large deposits he's referring to are probably those ones between 3rd and 5th July. If you stated that your salary is your only source of income, then question remains how did those credits come about? If you stated that you have a side business or receive money from other sources, family, friends, gifts etc, you should explain the source convincingly in your application. Otherwise it is considered lodgement which they frown at. However, given that the ECO misread the debit and credit entries in the statement, you may wish to capitalize on the ECOs error on those dates and reapply. Stress it that the entries on those dates he mentioned are debits and not deposits and a decision based on the ECOs error is unfair and you want a reconsideration. Hopefully they wouldn't raise the issues of those multiple 200k lodgements in July. If you can explain them, you are good to reapply, (but January to June Statement is dated o! April/May to October statement is ideal) if not, I suggest you wait a few months and ensure no bulk funds is paid for the duration you're going to print the statement.

justwise:


How do we know if your was inflated when you blanked everything? Obviously looking at the statement you ed there are a number of irregular financial activities within that period.

If that is your salary and you don't have any other source of income then it looks suspicious.

Lol a blanking everything.
I think the left column is for credits tho. And the 66k + 88k is 150k matches his stated salary cos it's the same for July and August. The ECO probably just got the dates wrong or something but surely, he saw something we are not allowed to see.

feranmi84:
Good morning house, thank you all for selfless . Please help check this out and advc on what to do as the refusal letter says no right to appeal and istrative review.

Note: I did not make nor receive deposit/s that total sum of 410,000 in my between 27/07/17 and 24/08/17 as claimed by the ECO.

I only received 66,523.72 and 88,992.65

Thank you.

Guy, why you blot out the statement like that? You're anonymous on here already na. That's totally unnecessary. Meanwhile, is your salary paid in tranches? If your income is N150,000 monthly, question is how did you manage to save that much amount you are here hiding from us? There are sometimes underlying reasons for refusals. You must've made large deposits at some point and it appears the ECO might have made a mistake the dates he quoted, but since you blotted out everything, it is hard to advise you on what to do.

kokoboy4life:
Good day to everyone, I want to ask a question on behalf of my friend, he’s works as an assistant lecturer in a public university and was given provisional appointment in 2015 but this year March he was confirmed as a full time employee of the institution he earn 125889 after tax as monthly income all these reflect on his pay slips and he has closing balance of over 2m on his bank statement.In November he’s going for presentation/research in a university in London and the school management has already provided a letter stating they would be the financial guarantor for all his trip expenses. So my question is what are the documents he need from the institution and is it okay for him to have only letter of financial gurantor coming from the school.

A letter of introduction from the university highlighting that the trip will be fully sponsored will suffice from his employer. He must however include all other documents on his personal, family/social and economic/financial circumstances and should be very careful in filling his application form to include these vital information.

I'm looking at the image of your application form, why did you answer "No" to having savings in no. 77? If you had answered "Yes" there would've been another column asking you to explain how the savings came about and you could have explained that you have been saving so and so amount of money from your salary for such and such period of time. Answering "No" means that money in your isn't yours since you stated you have no other sources of income, the question then is, where did you get that money? I WOULD HAVE advised you to reapply immediately and clarify on that, I did that with my own application, I applied and it took 2 months for them to come back with a refusal, I reapplied immediately and made clarifications and I got the visa back in 10days. I used the same bank statements with the application that was refused BUT it's going to be tricky in your case since you said you don't have the money in your anymore? Is all of it gone?

ijeshaoflondon:


Thank you brightingus, I used the scope given here by gurus to fill tge application form , its just unfortunate that the Eco would refuse my application based on the fact that i have saved so much , my 6months balance from january started with 1 million + and i printed my statement of in June ending ,, havibg 1.4 m.

What did you state as your monthly living costs?

ijeshaoflondon:


Thanks justwise, what does the Eco mean by saying i have times 7 of my salary in my ? i have been working with our company for 4 years +, is it a crime to have funds in my please, what sort of refusal is this? i seems dont get it? please 200k for 12 months without spending kobo is like 2.4 million, i have just 1.4million left after all expenses without lodgments, i am really confused, he even acknowledged my payslips.... hahahaha ... i cant stop laughing...lol. this is what happens when you receive training from gurus on Nairaland and oyinbo looking for loop holes and couldnt find any.

Webmank:


thanks,i tried calling even mail d ukvi but my GT nairacard was failing so i sent mail to d auto machine.yesterday i got my port with visa stamp atleast d waiting no waste.once again thanks to everyone for der contribution

Congratulations!

It's the same reckoned with paying for calls as with visa fees. Move some money to your GTBANK current . You'd need to have equivalent of £20 in the and it'll be deducted upfront. The balance on the call charges will be refunded later.

NIFES:

Thanks for the response but I am talking about the calls/emails for escalation on delayed application . Not visa fees.
Did biometrics on 21st July and no decision made till now.

See you! Shebi they were telling you since, you were arguing with everybody! What is with you and leaching on other people for sponsorship? You seem not too sure of yourself, why? It makes more sense and a lot straightforward to sponsor yourself. Take heed

Baywood:


Thank you. This gives me a head up.

I will have to sponsor myself.

I wanted my brother to sponsor me.

But, what if my employer sponsors me and explains it's my privilege as he's PA?

Hello all. So I just picked my visa this morning. I was mildly active here in the thick of all the delay that was supposedly due to peak period. Sorry I've been away for some time. It's been quite a journey which I'll like to share here for other visa hopefuls.

I applied in June and was refused after waiting 37 working days. (Almost 2 months)

I reapplied in August addressing issues raised in the refusal notice and visa was issued 10 days after and I picked my port after exactly 16 working days.

Timelines
Submitted 06/06/2017
Received at U.K.V&I 07/06/2017
Rec'vd @ decision making centre 19/06/2017
15th day mail 27/06/2017
Assessment&collection mails 26/07/2017(application refused on 23/07/2017)

Reapplied after 3weeks 18/08/2017
Received at U.K. V&I 21/08/2017
Rec'vd @ decision making centre 27/08/2017
Assessment&collection mails 11/09/2017 (Visa issued on 5/09/2017)

For those refused, don't be discouraged, reapply and address reasons for refusal if you honestly think mistake was made. If however the reasons for the refusal are genuine, it is advisable to wait till your circumstances improve.

Good luck to everyone here! And thanks to all the gurus ekpotek, brightingsus, justice etc. You all are amazing!!

fabfiyin1:
Mine showed updated since 20th July, no update from tls yet tho. Same 6th of June.

It's beginning to look as if calling might actually spur them to act on your application. However, the site says it'll take up to 10 working days for the decision to reach you. If after that you don't get a response, you might call them again.

Sorry about your travel date ing. Mine has ed too, but I ed my application with a 6week leave starting from my expected travel date, so I'm still able to wait it out.

I reckon you could call or visit TLS, I recall someone posted on this thread that they got a decision update from UKVI and after waiting in vain for TLS to update, they went there and found the port sitting pretty at their office.

xto4:
might call them by friday if I don't hear from them because my leave is ending this friday

That'll be fine. I still think you'll get an update this week.

xto4:
oh is it that until one call them before they make decision, someone said here that he called them last week Thursday and the person that picked said decision not made and it can take up to 60 days and on Saturday he checked their site and saw decided that Thursday, and yours is almost similar someone help u to call on the 17th and on the 22nd it was decided am a bit confused here if someone has to call them first before they act because I haven't call them yet.

Oh well... I'm sure calling is not a prerequisite for them to take a decision, but I wouldn't really know if it was the call that spurred them to make the decision. Do you want to try and call as well?

xto4:
did you called them before? @ inphonex

Yes, I got someone in the U.K. to call on the 17th and she said the call was totally pointless. She was just told nonchalantly by a seemingly sleepy operator that a decision has not been made and that it could take up to 60days.

I was checking it up to 20times everyday o! Lol. In fact I had checked just barely 30 minutes before and it didn't recognize my GWF number, only for me to check again around 630pm and saw decision was updated on 22nd July.

All things being equal, expect yours will come in a couple of days.

I'm still waiting for TLS to update tho'.

xto4:
oh that means their site is not updated immediately they decide it takes some days to update did you try checking it that Saturday 22nd of July? Or u checked before and was still not recognised, what time did to check it online yesterday? Just hoping ours come before this week runs out . Thanks

Hello Xto4 and everyone else caught up in the decision delay. The UKVI website finally recognized my GWF number yesterday and a decision was said to have been updated on July 22nd. The TLS website hasn't been updated to reflect the decision made tho. I submitted at Ikeja on the 6th of June.

I hope y'all's decisions will trickle in this week.

That "automatic" NO is probably because you clicked "No" to having family or relatives in the U.K. That way visiting a family/relative can only be "No", since you don't have any?

Olufemiopa:
Who I am going to visit is a family friend not a relative and he is a British citizen. The application is picking No for me automatically...

So basically he is going to visit someone on visiting visa or an overstayer?

I'm in the exact same situation. Same timelines. There must be a problem with submissions made around that week of June 6th. I knew something was amiss when I didn't get an acknowledgement of receipt from UKVI until 2 weeks after biometrics (19th June) and this apology on the 15th working day (27th June) I think they muddled up the applications around that time, hopefully it doesn't adversely affect decisions reached. I'm not in a hurry to travel tho', so I'm ready to wait it out. You could try to them on Monday, it will be 25 working days by then and that is unusually long for a standard visit visa, more so when people who submitted later already have their decisions and this delay affects quite a few of us.

xto4:
This was the email they sent me last week
Thank you for applying for a UK visa. Your visa application remains under consideration.

We have previously communicated our customer service target for non-settlement applications as 15 working days. Unfortunately, we will be unable to decide your application within our customer service target. We apologise for any inconvenience that this might cause.

We are continuing to work on your application and aim to make a decision as soon as possible over the coming days.

We will write to you again if there is any change to this. Please do not attend the Visa Application Centre until you have been advised that your application has been decided and that your port is ready for collection.

Kind Regards,

Sheffield Visa Section

A naira MasterCard will probably not work because it usually has a limit of $100 and the visa application fees is more than that. Try a dollar card. Some on this thread have said they used paga, you may want to check out the posts to see how they did. I've seen the details somewhere on the thread.

iamnikky69:
Hi everyone, i filled the application form for a UK visit visa for my mum for 2 years. Pls how do i pay? I tried using my naira mastercard bug it was declined. Please how else can i pay? Thanks

The advice is to calculate how much the trip will cost you personally. Flight, accommodation, feeding, sightseeing etc. It is advisable that you have savings of at least twice as much as this and need to have a sizeable amount left as you shouldn't reasonably spend, for instance, 3 times of your monthly salary on a 2 week holiday.

There is no "minimum amount" as the Entry Clearance Officer will consider individual circumstances. Your monthly salary, your cost of living etc.

P.S. Your brother cannot pay for your trip. Even if he will do so in reality, you still need to convince the ECO you will be yourself.

funshelite:
Good morning everyone

Please I need your advice

Am about applying for UK visitor visa ,my brother is sending invitation/payslip/British port copy to me,my question is,what is minimum amount must I have in my salary as balance that can guarantee my visa?I will provide my payslip and other documents required.

I would be staying for two weeks although the visa should last for 6 months

Thank you