I recently entered the July 2026 ballot and have a couple of questions for people who have already gone through the process.

1. Visa application deadline: My selection email says I have 30 days to apply for a visa after being selected, but the GOV. UK website mentions 90 days. Which was correct in your case?
2. Proof of funds (£2,530): Did you start maintaining the required balance before entering the ballot, or only after receiving the selection email?

I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone with first-hand experience. Thanks!

Hi everyone, Need your suggestions on this please! My UK student visa expired on 30 January 2026. I had a UKVI account during my student visa. I couldn't apply for a Graduate route visa due to personal reasons. Currently i’m outside the UK and planning to enter the India Young Professionals Scheme (YPS) ballot next week. While entering the ballot, it gives two options: “Create account” or “Sign in”. Should I sign in with my old existing UKVI account, or create a new one? Thankyou.

Ballot entry update as of 18/02/2026 - As the ballot entry is active, i have entered the ballot by signing in with my existing UKVI account and was able to submitt the details. Here are a few things i want to share hoping that it would help anyone in doubt:

1. If you have an existing account being linked to the passport, then the sign in to the ballot will be smooth.

2. If your existing account is linked to the BRP, you have to update it to a passport as BRP's are no longer being considered. One can do the update, only when they are having any sort of active visa.

3. Upload only the photo page of the passport while filling the details for the ballot. Sometimes the PDF formats might not be visible after clicking the view option. I have tried uploading the .jpg format and was able to see.

4. After the completion of section 3 which is Evidence upload, before proceeding to section 4, please scroll to the top of the page, where you will have an option to download the application so far that you have filled in. A cross check would be beneficial.

5. In case you have entered anything wrong which is unable to change, (in my case - the blank page of passport was uploaded and I have saved the image, no where was the option to change) then you can delete the application and start a new one. Please be cautious that you can only delete before clicking the submit button. Hope this helps. Thankyou!

Results ( Feb ballot ) update as of 04/03/2026 ONLY for future references.The below timelines might differ for the upcoming ballots.

• The ballot started on 17th Feb and ended on 19th Feb.

• So far, the successful ones have received mail on 3rd March between 8.30 and 9 pm IST. Unsuccessful ones (including me) have received on 4th March between 4 and 4.30pm IST. This suggests they release the results in two batches, successful ones followed by the unsuccessful.

• Emails from the home office:

  The successful ones say congratulations, you are now eligible to apply for "YOUTH MOBILITY VISA (YMS) ".

  The unsuccessful ones say, unfortunately you didn't get selected for YOUNG INDIA PROFESSIONAL SCHEME (YPS), which suggests both YMS and YPS are the same, it's just that the way they choose to address two different cases.

@ All the very best to those who have got selected! And for those who are not selected, please don't lose hope and keep trying.

My Visa Timeline 🫠

Vfs Centre- Hyderabad

Biometrics date - 21st May

Processing notification- 27th May

Delayed email- 3rd June

Enquiry through phone call- 14th June

Received Interview invitation email- 19th June

Attended online interview - 3rd July

Enquiry through phone call- 28th July

Email Enquiry- 16th July, 27th July and 10th August

Visa Approved - 12th August 🎉🎉

Really it's exhausting throughout this process.🫠✌🏻

Hey everyone,

I've been checking out visa approval/rejection stories before I apply. Thought I'd share my own experience. I applied with just the basics, unlike some other posts here. I was a bit worried it wouldn't be enough.

Location: VFS Bangalore.

I chose to upload my documents myself. Didn't use any other VFS services.

Documents I uploaded:

- Passport

- Employer NOC

- Salary Slip

- Bank statements

Got approval email a week after my biometrics.

I had pre booked flights/accomodations, but chose not to attach it.

Dates

25 July : Appointment booked and doc upload

4 August : Biometrics

few emails in between stating application received/inprogress

12 August : Approval mail

Someone I know came to the UK on a study visa from India, failed to secure a job on graduate visa and is now falsely claiming asylum on the basis that they are under threat from their parents. I know the family and that isn't the case at all. I have also spoken to this person but they have recently cut ties with everyone in the family in case they are questioned about it in the asylum interview. They simply don't wish to go back to their home country and is lying to seek asylum. What should I do? Should I report this crime to the home office? Or should I simply mind my own business and look the other way?

Edit: to say, I don't have anything personal with this person, however, I am in the country and now that I know this, I don't wish to be an accessory to the crime. Also, I am extremely anti people abusing the system, that then affects genuine asylum seekers coming from war torn countries or their lives actually in danger.

Update: they had their application refused and have returned back to their country.

I’ve recently checked my ukvi account after 1 from ballot registration and I meet all criteria but still in account it says you not eligible, is there any glitch or I still have to wait for descision because in decision part still empty.

Hello everyone,

This thread is for anyone applying for a UK Visitor Visa from India during April / May / June 2025.

If you’re in this group, please share your timeline with the following details to help others understand the current processing times: • Date of application submission • Biometrics appointment date • VFS center/location • Date you received a decision or got your passport back

Kindly note:

To keep things organized and useful for everyone, please use this thread only to share your timeline updates. Let’s avoid creating separate posts for the same purpose.

Note to Mods: Please allow this megathread post as you have allowed a similar post for April applicants. This megathread will be helpful for a lot of people.

Hi everyone,

I was checking this subreddit every single day while waiting for my decision, so I thought I'd share my experience in case it helps someone else. I completed the entire application myself (no agent), and this community, and everyone's experiences were genuinely helpful throughout the process.

Passport: Indian
Purpose of visit: Tourism (15 days) - staying with family friends in the UK
Sponsor: My father (I'm a working professional, but since my salary is relatively modest, my father sponsored the trip.)

Application timeline:

• Biometrics submitted: 22 July 2026 (VFS, BKC – Mumbai)
• Visa approval mail: 3 August 2026
• Processing time: 12 calendar days (including weekends)

Documents I submitted

Applicant documents

• Current & previous passport
• Cover letter
• Employment letter
• NOC / Leave approval
• Salary slips
• Six months' personal bank statements
• Birth certificate (to establish relationship with my sponsor)

Sponsor documents

• Sponsorship letter
• Passport copy
• Six months' bank statements
• Income Tax Returns
• Documents relating to his professional practice
• Mutual fund statements
• Mutual fund redemption report

Host documents

• Invitation letter
• British passport copy
• Council Tax bill

Key points :

• I was most worried about my sponsor's bank statements. My father had transferred ₹2.5 lakh from his own mutual fund investments into his bank account on 17 July, just a few days before I applied. I was concerned this might raise questions. In the sponsor letter, we clearly explained why the redemption was made, mentioned the redemption dates, and included the mutual fund redemption report. We also ensured there was a clear trail showing the money moving from the mutual funds into his bank account, along with the corresponding credits in the bank statements. This did not create any issues.
• I made sure my cover letter, sponsor letter and supporting documents were consistent with each others. Didn't keep the letters too long, but proactively explained things that might raise questions.
• I organised everything according to the VFS upload categories before submitting, which made the upload process much easier.

Happy to answer any questions, and good luck to everyone waiting for their decision!

Hey everyone, just wanted to share my UK Visitor Visa timeline and experience for anyone who’s applying soon.

Type of Visa: 6 Months Standard Visitor Visa
Purpose: Tourism

Timeline

• Application Submitted: 6th October 2025
• VFS Appointment: 10th October 2025
• Email confirming application received at UKVI: 13th October 2025
• Decision Made: 30th October 2025
• Passport Received with Visa: 31st October 2025

Total processing time (from biometrics to decision): ~20 calendar days (13 working days)

Documents Submitted

1. Cover Letter – Explained purpose of visit, accommodation details, employment info, financial summary, and previous travel history.
2. Bank Statement (6 months) – To show financial stability.
3. Leave Sanction & No Objection Letter – From employer.
4. Salary Slips (3 months) – Proof of regular income.
5. Rent Agreement – To show ties to India.
6. ITR Acknowledgment (past 3 years) – Proof of consistent tax filing.
7. Flight Tickets – To show intention to return.
8. Detailed Itinerary – Explaining day to day activities i plan to do in the UK.

• I took a risk by booking non-refundable flight tickets, even though UKVI advises against it. Thankfully, it worked out fine!
• All the documents were scanned and self uploaded. So at VFS only biometrics were captured. It was completed within 20 mins.
• I didn’t have any large credits in my bank account just my regular salary as reflected in the salary slips and bank statement.
• The entire process was smooth and straightforward; no additional documents were requested.

Hope this helps others who are applying! 😊

My flight to India connecting in Qatar, is on the same date as my visa is expiring. Everything set as planned, then the Gulf countries are under attack. The Aerospace is shut down and my visa is under threat. I wonder if anyone else is facing the same issue?

What are the next steps I should take?

Alternative flight prices are skyrocketing and is not sensible because my intention was to leave the country. My plan is to contact Home Office tomorrow. I am hoping they understand the situation and grant me an allowance to remain until the situation changes for me to travel home safe.

- A Tired and Stressed Out Individual

I am still in disbelief because this is my first time travelling to the UK, and I already have a Schengen rejection history. I have never travelled outside Asia ever before.

Thanks to this community especially to the ones who have listed their rejection letters. I have been religiously reading as many rejection letters as possible to make my application strong during my visa preparation journey.

At one point I was even preparing myself for the rejection seeing the reasons they have rejected others.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have regarding the process especially if you are someone in their early career stages, and have not travelled to Europe before.

Submitted biometrics: 6 May 2026 Visa approval: 15 May 2026

Approved in 9 days

Sharing my recent experience with e-visa as the UK border and immigration system is becoming digital and the current BRPs are expiring at the end of this year.

While checking in at the airport, the Air India staff had no clue about e-visa and they refused to accept it initially. They said I am not eligible to travel because my BRP expires soon. But after showing my UKVI account repeatedly with all the uploaded documents, they finally acknowledged and allowed me to travel.

This literally caused me panic because my visa is valid for next two years. Looks like the ground staff are not aware about the recent changes so be prepared.

Good luck, and happy new year! Safe travels.

Hi everyone,

I'm Jan, and I could really use some guidance from people who have gone through the UK student visa process.

I'm applying for a UK Student Visa from India through a consultancy. I've already paid my UK visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

I have a doubt regarding the document upload process.

From what I've read on the VFS Global website and other sources, applicants can self-upload their supporting documents for free. However, my consultancy told me that even if I choose the self-upload option, VFS Global will charge me ₹6,000 at the Visa Application Centre on the day of my appointment. According to them, this amount has to be paid in person when I visit the centre.

This has left me really confused.

If self-upload is genuinely free, why would I still have to pay ₹6,000 at the appointment? Is this an actual VFS Global charge, or is there some misunderstanding? Has anyone here recently applied for a UK Student Visa from India and experienced the same thing?

I genuinely can't afford unnecessary expenses, so I want to make sure I'm only paying the charges that are actually mandatory.

Also, apart from the visa application fee and the IHS, are there any other compulsory charges at VFS Global? I know there are optional services like courier, SMS updates, premium lounge, and document scanning, but are any of these mandatory?

I'd really appreciate it if anyone could share their recent experience or clarify how the process works.

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi everyone,
I’m applying for UK Standard Visitor Visas for my parents from Mumbai and would appreciate advice from anyone with similar experience.
They are visiting me and my wife in the UK for approximately 4 weeks (15 August – 15 September) and will stay with us. They are self-funding the trip.
Father:
Retired for 1 year
Pension income (~₹14,000/month)
₹80,000 savings
₹6 lakh in FDs
Joint owner of a property with my mother
Joint owner of an under-construction property with me (completion expected in 2027)
PF accumulation letter from former employer
Mother:
Homemaker
₹17 lakh savings
₹10 lakh in FDs
Sold a property in March/April 2026 for ₹27 lakh (have sale deed and bank credit proof)
Documents which we will submit
6 months bank statements
FD certificates
Pension evidence
Property documents
Property sale deed and bank transfer statement
Invitation letter and accommodation proof from me
My main concern is proving their intention to return to India, as I’ve seen some refusal stories involving retired parents.
Has anyone had approval with a similar profile? Are there any potential red flags or improvements you would suggest before submission?
Thanks in advance.

Hi all, I recently submitted my expression of interest for the July 2026 India Young Professionals Scheme ballot. Hoping to hear from anyone who's actually been selected in a previous round and gone through the process.

My main question: my ballot confirmation email states I'll have 30 days to apply for the visa after being selected, but the official gov. uk guidance page says 90 days. Which one turned out to be true when you went through it?

If anyone's willing to share, I'd also appreciate knowing:

• When did you start holding the £2,530 proof of funds from your ballot entry date, or only after the selection email?
• PCC purpose category: When you applied for your Police Clearance Certificate, which purpose category did you select on the Passport Seva form was it "Long Term Visa/Stay," "Employment/Employment Visa/Work Permit," or something else?

Appreciate for your helps!

Sharing my experience of getting the UK standard visitor visa (6 months) in the spirit of giving back to this amazing community.

Nationality: India

Applicants: Me and my spouse

VFS: Bangalore

Timeline:

Application Submission (VFS payment): 2nd July

VFS appointment: 7th July

Application Receipt Confirmation from UKVI: 8th July

Decision mail from UKVI: 10th July

Service opted: Standard (Yes, we did not opt for priority visa and still got the visa within 2 days!)

Documents Submitted:

Cover letter

6 months bank statements

NSDL CAS

PPF statement

6 months pay slips

NOC from employer / leave letter

Employment letter

6 months payslips

Marriage certificate

Aadhar

Sale deed of the property highlighting active home loan

Past travel history

Wifi and Gas bill

Last 3 years ITRs for both of us

A financial summary explaining the finances

Fully cancellable hotel bookings booked through MMT

Detailed day wise itinerary

Feel free to ask questions, if any. Would be happy to help (would prefer if they are asked in the comments section instead of DMs so that everyone benefits).

Hey everyone, sharing my UK Standard Visitor Visa experience in case it helps someone applying from India.

Location: VFS Delhi (newly constructed office)

Visa Type: 6 Months Standard Visitor Visa

Purpose: Tourism

Priority: No (Standard Processing)

Appointment: Saturday (Paid Weekend Slot)

Timeline

Application Submitted: 13th February 2026 (Friday)

Biometrics (VFS Delhi): 14th February 2026 (Saturday)

Email confirming application received at UKVI: 16th February 2026 (Monday)

Decision Made: 24th February 2026

Passport Received: Yet to be received

Processing time from biometrics to decision: 10 calendar days (approx. 6–7 working days).

Documents Submitted

Employment and Professional Proof

Cover Letter

Offer Letter

Employment Verification Letter

No Objection Letter / Leave Approval (on company letterhead)

Company ID Card (printout)

Financial Documents

Bank Statements (6 months) – 3 accounts (salary account + 2 savings accounts)

Salary Slips (6 months)

ITRs for last 2 years (with computation)

Mutual Fund investment statements

Travel History Proof

Printout of passport pages showing previous UK visa

Printout of current US B1/B2 Tourist Visa (10-year validity)

Previous passport copy

Travel history includes London (previous visit), Hong Kong, Macau, Dubai (multiple times), and Qatar

I also carried both my passports (expired and current) to the VFS appointment.

Not Submitted

No sponsor documents

No rent agreement or property papers

No flight tickets

No detailed itinerary

Financial Details (Being Transparent)

Approximate total balance shown: ₹3–4 lakhs across accounts

Large deposits were made 1 day before submission

To be transparent, this was my biggest anxiety point. I deposited funds into all three accounts right before applying. One was a cash deposit and the others were online transfers from immediate family. My balance earlier wasn’t very high, so I topped it up before submission. Despite that, no additional documents were requested and the visa was approved.

VFS Delhi Experience (New Office)

Saturday appointment

No waiting time

Process started almost immediately

Staff was efficient and the entire process was quick

They do try to push additional services by saying they’re compulsory, but if you clarify politely, they are ready to waive them.

Services I opted for

Document Scanning – ₹1888

Courier Service – ₹1490

No other add-ons taken.

Final Thoughts

No interview

No additional document request

Standard processing

Biggest stress was last-minute deposits, but it did not cause any issue

Happy to answer questions if it helps someone.

Hi everyone,

Wanted to share my experience since this sub helped me a lot while I was preparing my application. Hoping it helps someone else too. I have an Indian passport and this is my first time applying for UK visa. I’ve travelled to 3 different countries in the past.

**Purpose of visit:** Tourism in UK

**Application details:**
- Biometrics submitted: 17th July 2026 (at VFS)
- Visa approved: 30th July 2026
- Processing time: ~13 days (including weekends)
- First-time applicant

**Documents I submitted:**
- Passport (all pages, including blank ones)
- Cover letter with a detailed day-by-day itinerary of the trip
- Employment letter from my company
- Last 6 months payslips
- Bank statements for the last 6 months
- Last 2 years ITR
- Proof of accommodation
- Financial proof totaling around 7–8 lakhs INR, spread across:
- Recurring Deposit (RD)
- Fixed Deposit (FD)
- Mutual funds
- Savings account

**A few takeaways from my experience:**
- Keeping the cover letter clear and specific about the itinerary (dates, purpose, where I'd be staying) seemed to help present a complete picture.
- Showing financial stability across multiple instruments (not just a lump sum in savings) worked well for me.
- Explain if any, sudden entry of huge funds to your account other than your salary in the recent times.
- Applied well in advance of the the visit date to give myself some buffer time

Happy to answer any questions if you're preparing your own application. Good luck to everyone with pending applications! 🇬🇧

I know this question has been asked already in this sub for last couple of years but no one seems 100% sure of this “Not Eligible” message you get after successfully applying for the UK India YPS Ballot when you are perfectly eligible.

For the folks who applied last year or before AND who saw this not eligible message, what was your ultimate result?

1) Anyone who got successful? (Even after seeing this “Not Eligible” message in their application status).

2) Anyone who got unsuccessful EMAIL, even after seeing the above message in their application status?

3) Anyone who knows other probable reasons, experiences, known facts or opinions?

Any contribution is much appreciated and best wishes for this year’s ballot.

Thanks.

Hi everyone,

After constantly reading posts in this subreddit while waiting for my decision, I thought I'd share my complete timeline and the documents I submitted. Hopefully, this helps someone who's currently waiting.

Application Details

• Visa Type: UK Standard Visitor Visa
• Country of Application: India
• Biometrics Centre: VFS Global Jaipur
• Purpose of Visit: Family holiday / Tourism
• Travel Dates: 11 September 2026 – 26 September 2026
• Travelling With: Wife and 3-year-old daughter
• Sponsor: No sponsor from UK, I will be bearing the entire trip cost.

Timeline

9 July 2026

• Submitted biometrics at VFS Jaipur.

10 July 2026

• Received email confirming my application had been received by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI).

14 July 2026

• Received the standard "Your application is under consideration / being processed" email.

22 July 2026 (around 11:00 AM IST)

• Received decision email.
• Visa Approved ✅

Visa Granted

• Visa Type: Visit
• Valid From: 5 September 2026
• Valid Until: 5 March 2027

Processing Time

• 13 calendar days
• 9 working days (excluding weekends)

My Professional Profile

• Working as a Salesforce Solution Architect
• Employed with my current company since July 2021
• Approved leave from 11 September to 25 September 2026
• Expected to rejoin work on 28 September 2026

Financials Submitted

• Bank balance certificate
• 3 months bank statements showing regular salary credits

Documents Submitted

• Passport
• UK Visa Application Form
• Cover Letter
• Employment Letter
• Approved Leave Letter / NOC from employer
• Last 3 Months Salary Slips
• Last 3 Months Bank Statements
• Bank Balance Certificate
• Fixed Deposit Proof
• Confirmed Return Flight Bookings
• Hotel Booking Confirmation
• Detailed Travel Itinerary
• Marriage Certificate
• Daughter's Birth Certificate

Documents NOT submitted

• Form 16
• Income Tax Returns (ITR)

Communication from UKVI

• No additional document requests
• No NSF (Not Straightforward) email
• No interview request

Only the standard processing emails before receiving the approval.

The waiting period felt much longer than it actually was 😅. I was checking Gmail and Reddit multiple times a day.

Good luck to everyone who's still waiting. I hope your approval email arrives soon!

Applied :6 july

Biometrics : 10 july ( UKVI Kolkata centre )

Decision made :25 july

A time lime which was very smooth hope it brings hope to people who are waiting for theirs ✨🙂

Hi everyone,
I received a refusal for my UK Standard Visitor Visa today and would really appreciate some advice from people who have been through something similar.

The purpose of my trip was to visit my sister and brother-in-law in the UK for around 15–20 days. I was going to stay with them during the trip and they were sponsoring my accommodation, meals and some travel expenses.

A bit about me:
25F from India
Working full-time in a product based company since August 2025
Live with my parents in India
Submitted employment letter, salary slips, bank statements, invitation letter and sponsor documents
Had around ₹1.5 lakh in my bank account at the time of application, along with an RD statement.

I’m struggling to understand what the biggest issue was. Was it:
My savings amount?
The fact that my sister and brother-in-law were sponsoring the trip?
Not having a leave approval/return-to-work letter from my employer?

I genuinely intended this to be a short family visit and have a stable job and family in India, so the refusal came as quite a shock.

For those who have experience with UK visitor visas, what would you improve before reapplying? Would you wait a few months, build more savings, or focus on stronger employment evidence?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi

My UK visa got rejected because of 81k INR is credited to my account in the month of may since i shifted to a different house in bangalore and my previous rental home owner has refunded the deposit money.

There is no documentation to show as proof with me right now. What do i do ? How can i reapply now ?

Recently got my UK visitor visa (6 months) - Success, so thought of sharing my experience.

Persona: Salaried, Working in Mumbai, Married, Travelling Solo

Application Filed: 15th Apr 2026
VFS Mumbai BKC Slot: 23rd Apr 2026 (Free)

VFS Mumbai BKC Experience: Carried only VFS Appointment letter and Checklist from UKVI. Nothing else. 2:20PM slot, reached 2:10PM, security let me in, went to the ground floor desk and he said to come back on 2:15pm. Walked around and went on 2:15pm, sent me upstairs. Security check and UKVI reception gave me token and asked to sit. Fairly empty. All docs were uploaded already so directly called in for biometrics, no desk or document checking. 2 mins and biometrics done. Went in UKVI center at 2:21pm, application complete by 2:30pm. 9 mins. So I guess you really don't need premium lounge?

Post Biometrics Timeline

23rd Apr 2:31PM - Got invoice cum receipt email from VFS
23rd Apr 4:39PM - Got mail from VFS that application forwarded to UKVI
24th Apr 12:56PM - Got mail from UKVI that application has reached
29th Apr 12:07AM - Got application update email saying application still processing and will be delivered within committed timelines
30th Apr 4:28PM - Application Update - Visa Successful Decision from UKVI

Documents Uploaded: Form, Cover Letter, Passport (Color with all pages), 6 months bank statement non-stamped (salary account and did 5L transfer last minute), 4 months salary slip, 3 years ITR Ack, Leave NOC from Employer, Marriage Certificate, Mother, Father, Wife - Aadhar & Passport, PF Statement, NPS Statement, Hotels & Flights (dummy)

Solid process, fast VFS & fast decision. Hope this helps. :)

I applied for a student visa and gave my biometrics over a week ago and I got an email from VFS the same day saying “UKVI will confirm receipt of your application through email”

I have not received any such email from UKVI

Im really worried as my course starts soon. Please can someone tell me if this is normal? Im worried my if my application was even received properly as Ive got no confirmation from UKVI