UK Travel Agents in Ghana
Travelling to the UK from Ghana may feel overwhelming with all the planning and paperwork involved. A travel agent may assist you with bookings and air travel. Depending on your circumstances, you may also find it necessary to consult a specialist immigration lawyer.
There are many nuances of the ever-evolving UK immigration policies that only an expert lawyer can assist you with. For more information regarding your UK travel from Ghana, speak with the Total Law legal and advisory team today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online.
UK Travel Agents Versus UK Immigration Lawyers for Ghanaians
Overseas travel not only involves booking tickets and accommodation or putting together an itinerary. The most important aspect of travelling abroad is obtaining the necessary visa/permit depending on your purpose of visit and the length of your stay. Visiting the UK from Ghana is no exception.
A travel company can provide their clients with various tour services, such as working with luxury hotels in London city United Kingdom or anywhere else in the UK for best deals, liaising with British Airways or other international airlines to secure cheap tickets for flights, and other relevant vendors to create tailor-made travel packages for exploring many historical places or different beaches, leading to an amazing, life-time trip experience. Many travel agents in Ghana also offer UK visa services.
However, they may not be best suited to advise and assist you legally when it comes to UK immigration requirements, especially if your circumstances are complicated. Lack of knowledge regarding the UK immigration process, visa processing time and costs, common mistakes leading to visa rejection, or any unforeseen delay in getting a decision due to incomplete supporting documents may put your UK travel preparation on hold, if not jeopardise.
If you fail to convince the Home Office that you are going to the UK from Ghana for legitimate reasons and have no intention to abuse the UK immigration rules, your visa application will be straightaway rejected. Such rejection will not only hamper your current travel itinerary but may also impact your future immigration plans.
A travel agent may not have the required competency and knowledge to handle the diverse UK visa issues and answer all our questions related to UK immigration.
Travel agents are not regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), so they have lower chances of getting a visa approval for you compared to immigration law firms.
Having a specialist immigration lawyer guiding and advising your visa application and/or representing you before an appeal tribunal (in case of a visa rejection) can significantly increase your chances of receiving a positive decision and make your UK travel a smoother process overall.
UK Visas in Ghana
Ghanaians have multiple visa options to choose from, depending on their reasons to travel to the UK and intended length of stay.
The main categories of UK visas are:
- Work visas, such as Health and Care Worker visa, Skilled Worker visa, Senior or Specialist Worker visa, Overseas Domestic Worker visa, Graduate Trainee visa, Secondment Worker visa, etc.
- Business visas such as a Business Visitor visa or an Innovator Founder visa
- Study visas, such as a Student visa, a Child Student visa, or a Short-term study visa
- Standard Visitor visa for tourism, business, visiting family and friends, study or other permitted activities, for a maximum period of up to six months
- Family visa to live in the UK for more than six months with a UK resident family member
- Transit visa for passing through the UK to another country
UK Immigration Process
Applying for a UK Visa is an online process. Please visit the Home Office website to fill in the appropriate visa application form depending on your purpose of travelling to the UK. You will be required to attach a soft copy of your passport photo, submit the scanned copy of your supporting documents, and pay the required visa fees online using a credit/debit card.
TLScontact is the official third-party consular services provider in Ghana on behalf of the British High Commission, and has a visa application centre (VAC) in Accra. After completing your UK visa application online and paying the required visa processing fees plus immigration health surcharge (if applicable), you will have to book an interview with them to submit your documents and have your biometric details collected. You will also have to submit your original passport at the centre.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) starts processing a visa application once the applicant has submitted their passport and other supporting documents, and provided their biometric information (i.e. facial photo and fingerprints) at the VAC. Your visa decision waiting time will start from the day of your interview.
The VAC will get in touch with you once a visa decision is received, to inform you about how to collect your passport and other documents (or they may send the same to your address at an additional cost).
Common UK Visa Issues
The Home Office may refuse granting you a UK visa if you do not meet the requirements specific to the visa you have applied for.
Although the reasons behind a UK visa rejection may be diverse in nature, we have discussed the most common UK visa rejection reasons in this section, so that you are aware of what mistakes you must avoid while submitting your visa application.
The most common reasons for a UK visa rejection are as follows:
- If a person or group of travellers fail to prove that they have sufficient financial means to travel to (and return from) the UK and to cover expenses incurred while staying in the country, their UK visa application will not go through
- Incomplete or inaccurate supporting documentation often leads to visa rejection in the UK. You must pay due diligence while filling up your UK visa application form and submitting supporting documents
- The outcome of your visa interview will be a vital factor in deciding the fate of your UK visa application. The visa authorities conduct the interview to ascertain whether you are a ‘genuine candidate’, i.e. you have a genuine intention to travel to the UK for your explicitly stated purposes, and are not applying for a visa just to enter the country to remain there illegally and indefinitely
- Certain long-term UK visas require the applicant to be proficient in the English language (e.g. a student visa). During your visa interview, if the interviewing officer feels that you are not proficient in English as required, your UK visa application may be refused. However, please note that this is not a requirement for all UK visa types
- You must be able to convince your visa interviewer that you have full intention of returning to your home country once the legal duration of your stay in the UK is over
- UKVI may call or email you, while processing your visa, for further information. Please ensure a timely response to their queries. If you forget to respond to the UKVI communication within the stipulated deadlines, they may reject your visa application altogether
- Any past or present criminal records in Ghana may affect your chance of obtaining a UK visa. However, if you have had any such criminal records, please make a full disclosure while submitting your visa application and let the Home Office review the same and make a decision
UK Visa Processing Time and Fees for Ghanaians
The UK visa processing time will vary depending on the visa type, the time of year, the volume of applications being handled by the British High Commission in Ghana at the time of your application, and your personal circumstances.
In general, while visit, work, study and business visas take up to three weeks for processing, you may have to wait for up to 24 weeks to receive a decision on your UK family visa application.
UK visa fees also vary depending on the type of visa. Applying for a UK visa from Ghana may cost you anywhere between £127 for a Standard Visitor visa to £1,519 for certain types of Skilled Worker visa. You may also have to pay an additional healthcare surcharge while applying for a UK visa.
UK Visa Rejection: What to Do
Generally speaking, you have three different courses to pursue in case your UK visa application has been rejected by the Home Office: asking for an administrative review, filing an appeal, and reapplying for your visa.
However, you may not have all three options available depending on your circumstances. For example, if you have been applying for a points-based visa (e.g. a Skilled Worker visa), you can only ask for an administrative review.
If the Home Office refuses your visa application, they will send you a decision letter informing you of the refusal reason(s), and whether you have a right to appeal. You can only appeal to the tribunal if you have the legal right to appeal. Your decision letter will also inform you if you can apply for an administrative review instead.
In addition, you will only have 28 days from the date on the refusal letter to file an appeal or ask for an administrative review.
How Can Total Law Help?
Regardless of what your requirements are and/or how complex your situation is, our Total Law team can take care of the legalities and bureaucratic formalities involved in the UK visa/permit process, leaving you free to focus on your upcoming adventure in the UK (or to settle in the country if you are going to stay there for longer than 90 days).
We can guide you from start to finish, plus complete and submit your UK visa application on your behalf. In case your visa application is rejected, we can advise you on the next steps, and prepare your case for an administrative review or represent you before an appeal tribunal if it comes to that.
Apart from immigration services, our Total Law team may also help you with concierge services like booking tickets, tours, transport to and from different destinations, and accommodation in the UK (although we are not travel agents). Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 or message us online to know more about our bespoke services and to explore your options.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
During this untimed Advice Session with our professional immigration lawyers in London, you will receive our comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your caseworker will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, many travel agents in Ghana assist with UK visa applications. However, you may need to consult a specialist immigration attorney if your case involves complications (e.g. a criminal record or an adverse immigration history).
Many travel agencies have an in-house legal team or law firm partners to deal with UK visa complications or rejections. However, since travel agents are not OISC-regulated unlike immigration law firms, it is recommended to hire legal help if you are asking for an administrative review or seeking to lodge an appeal.
