Interview at the British Embassy for a visa application
Foreign nationals applying for a UK visa must be interviewed at a British embassy. They must make an appointment at a British visa application center in the country where they are applying.
The purpose of a UK visa interview
The UK visa interview is an essential part of the visa application process. This stage of the visa process validates the applicant’s identity and assesses his or her intention to stay in the UK.
Documents to bring to the interview
Applicants for a British visa must present certain documents when they are interviewed at the embassy. Here is the list of documents to be submitted:
- A printed copy of the appointment confirmation email;
- Receipt for online payment of visa application fee;
- Valid passport or original residence permit;
- All supporting documents to be supplied with the file, as well as a copy of each original document for the file;
- The first page of the visa application form.
Interview procedure for a visa application
Candidates must arrive at the embassy 15 minutes early to pass security checks before the appointment time. Once the security checks have been passed, the candidate’s fingerprints will be recorded and he or she will enter the waiting room.
The appointment at the embassy is held in English. Sometimes the interview can be conducted in the local language if the consular officer is fluent in that language. Here are the questions generally asked during the interview to obtain a British visa:
- Why are you visiting the UK?
- What is the itinerary and accommodation on site?
- How is the stay in the UK financed?
Length of interview for a UK visa
The length of an interview for a UK visa depends on a number of factors. The interview usually lasts around 30 minutes, but it can last longer if the consular officer feels he needs more time to get all his questions answered.