Hi guys, been having this error today wondering if it's happening to anyone else.

Hi. I realise there's not a lot of info in this sub about the Returning Resident Visa, but thought I'd give it a shot anyway to see if the community thinks I've got a good chance. 

I moved to the UK from Australia in 2015 on a YMV. I was sponsored by my company, and in early 2022 achieved Indefinite Leave to Remain. In late 2022, me and my then-boyfriend (now husband), who is from the UK, moved to Australia. Partly for his work (he got a promo in the AU office of his company) and partly because I really missed family following COVID lockdowns. My mum also went through a period of bad health around this time, which made me want to be nearer to her.  

Since then, we have been back to the UK every year - '23, '24', 25', 26'. First two trips back were for weddings. Third trip back was to introduce family to our new baby (who holds a UK passport). Most recent trip back was to get married in husband's home town. We are very close to my husband's big family, and own a flat in his hometown. I also maintain lots of friendships there. 

We would like to move back in a year or two. Do you think I have maintained a strong enough connection to reactivate the ILR? I really should just have applied for citizenship before moving back to Australia... big mistake really. 

Posting for anyone searching for real timelines. Applied for 2 (myself + mother) as a family visit to see my brother, who's on a Skilled Worker visa in the UK. Used a visa agency to help prepare the application.

Timeline:
Application submitted: 12 October

Biometrics (Chennai VAC): 14 October

Interview call/email received: 19 October

Interview: 22 October, 10:30 AM (lasted 15–30 minutes)

Decision: same day, 22 October, around 5 PM

So from interview to decision was just a few hours — faster than I expected.

Interview — only I was called in, not my co-applicant.

Mostly job-focused:

Day-to-day work at the office, tools/technologies I use

Commute time to office

Current residence vs. hometown

Who filled the application (agency helped, I reviewed and paid myself)

Other details already on the application — travel dates/purpose, sibling's visa status, parents' names, savings, who's funding the trip

What I think helped:
Every unusual bank transaction was explained in writing ahead of time, not left for the officer to guess at

No dummy/temporary flight booking — just a real itinerary with flight numbers, tickets booked only after approval

Answered naturally, especially on the work questions since that's genuinely my day-to-day

Result: Both approved — 6-month visit visa.

Hey guys,

Quick question: I’m an Indian passport holder applying for a UK visitor visa from Saudi Arabia.

If I purchase the VFS "Keep My Passport" service, am I allowed to fly to Australia while the UK application is processing? Or does leaving my country of residence cause issues with the application? Also, if the visa is approved while I'm away, must the passport be resubmitted only to the original Saudi VFS location?

Appreciate any advice from those with experience!

Hi everyone! I applied to extend my Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK on 20 October 2026 and paid for priority processing.

I used the ID Verification app to scan my BRP. After submitting my application, UKVI emailed me saying there was a technical issue with my biometric information and that I needed to attend a TLScontact appointment for a new photo and fingerprints.

I now have access to the TLScontact portal, which has a document upload section, but I don’t have a document checklist and I’m unsure what supporting documents are required.

I have my passport, new CoS, contract extension letter and application confirmation.

For anyone who has been in a similar situation:

• What documents should I upload to the TLScontact portal?
• Should I upload my CoS and contract extension letter?
• Should I upload documents even though I don’t know exactly which supporting evidence is required?

I’d appreciate any advice, especially from anyone who had to attend biometrics again after using the ID Verification app. Thank you!

Hi everyone,
I’m currently in the UK on a Student visa and have been given a COS on code 2461

My wife and our child are currently in Nigeria, and I want them to join me in the UK as my dependants.

Would it be advisable for me to submit my Skilled Worker application in the UK while they submit their dependant applications from Nigeria at the same time, or should I wait until my visa is approved first?

I’m interested in which approach is more straightforward and whether applying simultaneously could cause any complications or delays.
I’d appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation. Thank you!

Hii!!

I accidentally put in my UK visa application as start date for Nov 18. I then asked at my biometrics appt if I could change it to Nov 16 and they said yep, just write it on a piece of plain paper and we will submit it with your application.

And then I got my visa back (Sep23) - for the 18th.

I immediately submitted an ‘error in my application’ notice but that hasn’t done anything

I wrote in a complaint to UKVI but they said it’s VFS‘ fault and to not contact them until I hear back from VFS… I feel like if I write to VFS though they wont be able to help change the date???

I start work on Nov 23 so I would love as much time in the country as possible. At the end of the day, it‘s okay, however I will just be wasting time waiting for my visa to begin

- Australian applicant

- Not going back to Australia before heading to the UK

- will be in Turkiye & Indonesia

Advice????? tysm

Context I originally planned to study in the University of Sussex September 2026,

biometrics July 8,

request for additional financial requirements August 8 (bank statements)

withdrawal of visa application (CAS unused) October 23

Deferral of studies October 24 for September 2027 intake

According to the UKVI the stated reason why they were unable to make a decision for my case is because RCBC did not respond to them verifying the stated funds. I'm now considering transferring my funds to BDO and reapplying to either another school for their January intake or waiting for September 2027.

Has this happened to anyone else?

What other ways can I show sufficient source of funds given that the original source was from my parents and I recently resigned from my work in anticipation of my masters studies? Should I reapply for another job while waiting?

Hi All,

I'm currently on my Graduate Visa and moments away from applying within the UK to the Unmarried Partner Visa. I'm checking over my application and see that they ask me for any Home Office reference numbers. In my draft, I listed my 16 digit "Unique Application Number: 3434..." from my Grad visa application. I see now there's also a 16 digit "Reference: 6GC..." below it.

Also, I have a couple of more recent emails that just say "View Your eVisa" and share another Reference Number (labeled explicitly as "Reference Number).

Please good people, what to do? Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I'm a British citizen, and my wife arrived in the UK in September 2023 on a spouse visa. She's currently on her second spouse visa, valid until November 2028, and is planning to apply for ILR under the 5-year route.

We have two young children and travelled abroad together as a family from 28 June to 24 September 2026 (87 full days outside the UK).

We're also planning another family trip from 30 November 2026 to 15 January 2027 (45 full days).

This would bring her total absences to 132 days across these two trips.

During both trips, we travelled together as a family, and our main residence remains in the UK. I also have a full-time job in the UK.

I have a few questions:

1. Is there a maximum number of days someone can spend outside the UK when applying for ILR under the 5-year spouse visa route?
2. Could these two relatively long trips cause any issues with her ILR application, even though we're travelling together as a family?
3. Would we need to provide flight tickets or other evidence showing that we travelled together, or is that unnecessary?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through a similar situation or knows the relevant Home Office guidance.

Thanks in advance!

TLDR: should I apply for 1-year GTV then renew as needed?

Hi r/ukvisa community,

I'm a Singaporean who is going to start work in the UK in Jan 27.

I have signed a fixed term contract with the University of Sheffield for 12 months (pay grade 7).

I am in the process of applying for the Global Talent Visa under the UKRI endorsement route.

The university is able to reimburse the Immigration Health Surcharge for only 1 year, since my contract is only 1 year. Even though my contract is highly likely to be renewed after that.

My question for those who have applied or are considering applying for the GTV, how many years did you apply for (maximum 5 years)?

My current plan is to apply for just 1 year, then extend only after the contract comes in.

Thank you for your much needed advice?

I just want some advice if my daughter can apply for citizenship based on her current immigration status.

She came in the UK back in 2024 under Indefinite Leave to Enter as I have an Indefinite Leave to Remain. I have a sole custody of her (only proof I have was my expired solo parent ID from the Philippines and I'm also the only parent in her birth certificate).

I now have my British citizenship and I was wondering if my daughter can apply for it as well.

Hi,

If someone gets UKRI endorsement through a KTP position for global talent visa. But for some reasons, afyer getting the visa, if they resign from the job without even entering the UK, does their endorsement stay valid or it get cancel?

I would appreciate any help.

Thank you

In the section titled 'Non applying children' there are 2 questions:

Do you have any children of 18 years old or under? Yes (no issue there)

Are all of your children applying with you on this application? um ... what does the word 'applying' mean in this context. I originally said 'No' because they are already British citizens, but that had me list all their travel in duplicate (it's a lot) which i don't remember having to do on the previous application. So now i'm thinking 'Yes' because maybe the form means children that arent going to be living me in the UK. I don't know. My wife (British) and I have two minor children (British citizens) that live with us in Dorset, there are no other kids ... anywhere. So, what is a non-applying child?

Thanks for your help on the last post.

I applied for an ETA yesterday and it got refused because back in june 2025 i got caught driving without license and i got convicted in june this year with a 500€ fine and a 12 month ban if i ever do something again. Anyways this fell under the 12 months rule.

I was wondering if my ETA would be approved if i applied next year? And if i apply for a standard visa now, would it also be refused or would it be accepted

For some more context, my college has a campus in UK and France, so I’m just doing 1 semester in the UK.

Hi everyone, Has anyone successfully switched from a UK fiancé visa to a Skilled Worker visa while still in the UK, without getting married first? I’ve received a job offer from a licensed sponsor and am currently going through the Skilled Worker visa application process. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar situation. Were you able to switch successfully, and did you encounter any issues with UKVI? Thanks in advance

Hello, everyone. I need advice on my immigration situation. I was previously on a skilled workers visa and working in the UK, when I had a mental health relapse. For context, I battle with depression, anxiety disorder, cPTSD and have been recently diagnosed with ASD and combined ADHD. At the time I was still working, the ASD and ADHD diagnosis had not been made yet but was suspected by my GP.

I had a relapse from severe stress and was dismissed at work in February 2026 following prolonged sickness absence from work and the mental health concerns raised by a mental health practitioner at the time. The combined stress of the job loss led me down a rabbit hole of regression and finally had to contact a helpline with my struggling health.

Long story short, I was advised by an immigration advisor from a nursing organisation to apply for a fee waiver application on medical grounds to give me time to recover, especially since I couldn’t even return home at my current state at the time as I come from an abusive background.

The months after that are a blur as I severely regressed into a childlike state as I am told by the charity organisation that have been taking care of me.

I recovered two months ago and was informed of a legal aid that the charity organisation found to help me process an asylum claim and medical grounds/human rights application. Now, they intend to go through with the application once the fee waiver decision has been made, because it’s now October and a decision on the fee waiver application has not been made yet and i applied in May.

This is my main concern, ever since recovering, all I want to do is go back to work. I had a successful interview with an NHS trust that is willing to sponsor and the interviewer said specifically that I would be placed in an easier ward as they know I just recovered from a long illness.

I was hoping to apply for a skilled worker visa once the COS comes through, but I started hearing that it is impossible and the legal aid said it might be rejected due to new laws and that the asylum and medical grounds claim is the way to go.

I’m worried as I do not want to lose this new job opportunity and and I researched and came across a page saying that I can request that the NHS trust run an ECS request with the home office under the Section 3C leave and that despite the fact that my fee waiver decision has not come in yet that the home office can grant a six month approval to work while the decision is pending.

My main reason for wanting to work despite the legal aid saying otherwise is I really want to promote my independence and start to work to sustain myself. I do not feel comfortable relying on the cha organisation help for i don’t know how long it will take to get a decision on the fee waiver and then a decision on the subsequent human rights and asylum visa claim that the legal aid wants to push.

I’m sorry for the rambling. I’m just looking for advice.

Hi everyone!
I’m looking for some advice from anyone who has successfully applied for a UK unmarried partner visa, particularly those who haven’t lived together for two years or whose partner receives PIP.
I’ve recently submitted my application and paid the fees, but I’m preparing my supporting documents and would really appreciate some honest feedback on how strong my application is and whether there’s anything I should improve.
Our circumstances:
I’m an Indian citizen currently living in the UK on a Graduate visa, which expires on 7 November 2026.
I moved to the UK in January 2022 on a Student visa and graduated from a UK university in 2024.
My partner is a British citizen.
We met through Hinge in August 2024 and started our relationship in September 2024, so we’ve been together for just over two years.
We started living together in June 2026, meaning we’ve only officially cohabited for around four months.
Before moving in together, I rented my own accommodation and regularly stayed over at my partner’s flat several times a week. We didn’t move in sooner because our relationship was still developing and he was already committed to a tenancy.
We’re a same-sex couple, and returning to India would create additional difficulties due to my family’s views on homosexuality and the pressure I’ve experienced to marry a woman.
Our financial situation:
I’m employed full time as an Assistant Manager and earn approximately £2,000 per month after tax. I’ve been with my employer since November 2024.
My partner receives Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit. He is also registered with HMRC as a self-employed sole trader working in events, so his earnings vary.
I understand that because my partner receives PIP, we may qualify under the adequate maintenance requirement rather than the standard minimum income requirement.
We rent privately and pay £1,700 monthly between us (£850 each), with council tax, water and WiFi included. We share electricity and household expenses.
My partner recently updated his Universal Credit claim to reflect that we live together, so his entitlement may be reassessed.
Relationship evidence we have or can obtain:
Photos together covering our relationship, including dates, holidays and special occasions.
Messages and communication history going back to 2024.
Bank transfers between us, including transactions from before we lived together.
Evidence of shared rent and household expenses.
Bank statements and other correspondence showing our current shared address.
A joint Revolut account, although it was only opened recently and hasn’t been actively used.
Potential supporting letters from our landlord, family and friends.
Evidence of our separate addresses before June 2026 and an explanation of why we weren’t cohabiting.
Most utilities are only in my partner’s name, so we don’t have much joint correspondence.
My main questions:
How strong is our unmarried partner visa application? Has anyone been approved with a relationship lasting over two years but only a few months of cohabitation?
What evidence is most important for proving a genuine and durable relationship when you haven’t lived together for two years? How much evidence should we aim to provide from before June 2026?
The Home Office document checklist asks for correspondence covering two years. Since we’ve only lived together since June, how should we approach this requirement?
For the adequate maintenance requirement, what financial documents should we submit? Would my payslips, my partner’s PIP award letter, UC statements and bank statements be sufficient, or is a separate calculation needed?
My partner is self-employed as a sole trader. What evidence should we provide for his income? Would bank statements and invoices be enough, or would HMRC tax returns and other records be necessary?
The application recorded “No” to whether my partner was working, because the following questions appeared to be designed for salaried employment. However, I separately declared his sole trader income under other income sources. Should this be clarified or corrected?
Would a landlord’s letter confirming we both live at the property, alongside evidence of our individual rent payments, be sufficient accommodation evidence?
Would you recommend including a personal relationship statement from each of us explaining how our relationship developed, why we initially lived apart, and our future plans?
For anyone who has been approved recently, what documents do you think made the biggest difference to your application?
I’m particularly interested in hearing from anyone whose British partner received PIP or UC, or who applied after the changes to the unmarried partner cohabitation guidance.
I want to make sure we’ve provided everything necessary and that our evidence presents our relationship accurately and clearly.
I’d really appreciate any advice, experiences, or potential red flags you can identify. Thank you so much!

Hello,

I'm researching a British citizenship-by-descent claim through a line that runs through a planter born in England who died in Ceylon in 1927. The claim goes to a son born in Ceylon around 1899, then to a grandson born there in 1942, then to a great-grandson born there in 1966.

What I have:

The planter's birth copy and probate record.
Ceylon directories, a government gazette and passenger lists placing him in Ceylon from 1905 to 1922.

The 1942 and 1966 birth registers, each naming the father.

A school letter from 1914 naming the planter as the son's guardian.

My questions:

Would a school guardianship record and a birth register naming the father be enough for paternity, or do authorities usually ask for a birth or marriage record that names the planter?

For a child born outside marriage in colonial Ceylon around 1899, what did solicitors ask for?

Has anyone had a Ceylon civil or church record request returned, and how long did it take?

I'm not looking for a verdict, just what evidence has worked for others.

I know it sounds extremely strange but hear me out.

I am a foreigner and did my masters degrees here After graduation I got the Graduate Visa and managed to find a sponsored role afterwards. However, after 4 months in this role, I feel that I am unstable to stand this job anymore and I wish to resign, look for another job and perhaps work on something of my own. But without my skilled worker visa I can’t stay. What should I do?

Thats the points the visa officer raised. She owns a boutique which is usually cash transactions. Father and my brother has their cash property business.
Honest advise plz. I am very tired of it now.

Provided I am Vietnamese passport holder and also US permanent resident. I will be transiting through UK with 2 separate tickets (LAX-LHR and then LHR-AMS-Beijing, 22 hours overnight layover). According to the UK Gov Immigration Rules, I am eligible for the TWOV via landside.

Is there any big chance I will be denied boarding at the 1st flight (at VA desk)? Because the Auto-check TIMATIC system would flag my final destination is London without proper VISA.

Even if I hand out my printed onward flight ticket, Immigration Rules, US PR card. Are they able to MANUALLY input the entire itinerary with visa exemption and issue my boarding pass?

It is totally up to the Border Force officer regardless TWOV scheme or transit visa. But should I just go ahead and apply the transit visa to be guaranteed processed at the 1st boarding gate? Thank you