Do UK Visa Applicants Have to Be Interviewed?

Applying for a UK visa involves taking a number of steps before you are cleared for international travel by the UK Border Agency. These include submitting supporting documentation, recent photographs, along with the appropriate fee and biometric information. But after you have submitted your visa application, will you be interviewed?

Visa Application Interviews Are Not Commonly Performed

The good news is that interviews are not commonly performed when applying for a UK visa. According to the UK Border Agency, visa applications are decided based on the merit of supporting documentation that is included in the application.

That is why it is so important to be meticulous and include all relevant documents in your application. If there is an inexplicable gap in your application, you are more likely to be called for interview, either in person, or over the phone.

Does the UK Border Agency Interview Children?

The UK Border Agency does not interview children under the age of 10. However, if a child is traveling alone to the UK, the parent or guardian may be interviewed on the child's behalf.

Children who are aged 10 to 14 may be interviewed, but this takes place in the presence of an adult, never alone. If a child applicant is over the age of 14, the UK Border Agency may choose to interview the child alone.

Be Prepared for an Interview

UK visa applicants over the age of 10 should be prepared for an interview. Review a copy of your visa application so you are familiar with the information you included. This can help refresh your memory if you are called for an interview, by phone or in person.

Although most UK visa applicants are not interviewed by the UK Border Agency, a small number are. Those who are interviewed are generally UK visa applicants who did not supply complete information or adequate supporting documentation along with their application. Be sure to carefully read through the guidance notes for your particular application so that you include all the relevant documentation. Children over the age of 10 are sometimes interviewed by the UK Border Agency. By preparing for an interview, you will not be caught off guard if you are contacted and offered a visa interview appointment.

Source:

UK Border Agency.

More from this contributor:

4 Ways to Prepare for a Successful U.S. Citizenship Interview.

How to Prepare for a Visa Application Interview.

Ways to Overcome Immigration Interview Nerves.