Marriage Visitor Visa

The Marriage Visitor Visa is a six month visa that is suitable for those who are visiting the UK just for their wedding or civil partnership ceremony and where there is no intention to remain in the UK beyond six months. UK entry clearance must always be obtained for this purpose.

Parent of a Tier 4 (Student) Child Visa

Parents of a student aged under 12 years, and being privately educated, can visit the UK to see the child under a Parent of a Tier 4 (Student) Child Visa. The visa can last for up to 12 months. Parents must not work during this visit and must have sufficient funds to be able to support themselves during their stay.

Short-term Study Visas

Short-term Study Visas can be obtained, for those such as exchange students, to visit for a maximum of six months. They must have been accepted by an education institution, be financially self-sufficient for the period and be over 18. They must not work or stay longer than six months.

Standard Visitor Visa

Standard Visitor Visas are ideal for a visitor that wants to stay in the UK without studying or setting up a business. The visit can be for a number of reasons, including visiting family or friends (for up to six months) or high-level business discussions such as transacting business, negotiating contracts or attending meetings. These types of work assignment must not include ‘blue collar’ employment tasks such as producing goods or providing a service. These are covered under the tiers of the points based system.

Visitors can stay for up to a month to give an academic lecture, play sport, give an artistic performance or provide legal advice and be paid by a UK-based employer. These are called permitted paid engagements.

However, a performer or sportsperson can also stay up to six months to participate in certain events and it can be possible to be paid for this work, upon careful consideration of the Home Office’s rules.

Chinese Tour Group

Chinese Nationals can visit the UK for tourism with the correct visa. The Approved Destinations Status (ADS) Agreement between the UK and China allows visits for tourism for a maximum of 30 days, and is exclusively for people travelling within a tour group that has been approved as part of the ADS agreement.