There are many reasons why you may wish to withdraw your UK visa application after beginning the process.
You may have made a mistake on your form, changed your mind about moving to the UK or simply experienced a change in circumstances that means you no longer need to apply.
No matter the case, there are important things to consider if you wish to withdraw your visa application.
Yes. According to the Home Office’s immigration rules, you can ask to cancel or withdraw your visa application if you’re still waiting for a final decision to be made.
Depending on the stage of your application at the time of cancellation, you may be entitled to a refund of your application fee, IHS or priority service fee.
You can withdraw a UK visa application at any time before a final decision is made.
If you cancel your application:
Your visa withdrawal process will differ depending on the below details:
If you were told to attend a biometrics appointment and are applying from within the UK, you’ll need to complete this online form.
If you were told to attend a biometrics appointment and are applying from outside the UK, you’ll need to sign in to your account via the link provided in your sign-up email, then visit ‘Section 6: further actions’ to cancel your application. You’ll also need to cancel any appointments at the visa application centre in your country of application.
If you used the smartphone app, whether inside or outside the UK, you can withdraw your visa application by signing into the app and selecting the ‘Withdraw this application’ option for the application you wish to cancel.
You may be eligible for a full or partial refund for some of the following fees if you choose to withdraw your application:
The amount you may be refunded will depend on how you were asked to prove your identity and when you cancel your application. Your application fee refund should automatically be paid to the account or card you initially paid with.
If you used the smartphone app, you’ll be refunded if:
If you were told to attend a biometric enrolment appointment, you’ll be refunded if:
Your fee likely won’t be refunded if you’ve already provided your fingerprints and photo.
You should get a refund of the Immigration Health Surcharge if your application is cancelled before a final decision is made. This should automatically be paid to the account or card you initially paid with.
If you paid for the priority service, a refund of this will not be automatically paid and you’ll need to ask for this. You can request a service fee refund online.
If you’ve made a minor error in your application, you may be able to correct it without withdrawing your application.
If there are multiple errors in your application, you can cancel your UK visa application and immediately reapply with a new application.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to contact UKVI or an immigration adviser to ensure you make an informed decision on any further actions you take regarding the application process.
Yes, the Home Office can choose to refuse a withdrawal request. In such a case, the Home Office would decide the outcome of the process.
The most common reason for this outcome is when there is suspicion of deception by the applicant in their current application, which is why it’s crucial for applicants to ensure accuracy at all points throughout the visa application process.
This differs from a withdrawn or cancelled application – this is when a grant of the initial application would no longer be possible. For example, an individual who dies before the application process is complete or an individual who is exempt from immigration control would fall under this category.
If you choose to withdraw or cancel your application, this is when the decision is actively made by the applicant to begin this process.
In some cases, you may be able to stay in the UK for a short period of time whilst making travel arrangements to leave, however, you’ll need to leave as soon as possible.
If you’re outside the UK when you cancel your visa application, you may not be able to re-enter.
It’s best to seek advice from an immigration adviser or UK Visas and Immigration to ensure you comply with UK immigration rules.
If you’re considering withdrawing your UK visa application for any reason, it’s essential to understand the implications and seek advice from an experienced immigration adviser. The UK immigration application process can be complex and daunting, but the team at Five Star is here to help.
Our skilled immigration law experts are skilled at understanding the best practices of your immigration application, and how to ensure your application, identify document choices and application form information are free of any significant inconsistencies or innocent mistakes.
For further information and expert advice, contact us today.
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