What happens if my visa application is refused?

Question

I applied for a UK visa and it has just been refused. I am not sure what my options are or whether I have to leave straight away. What should I do?

Samuel James · Accepted Answer

The first thing to do is read the refusal letter carefully, because it sets out the exact reasons for the decision and, crucially, what options you have and the deadlines for each. Depending on the type of visa and the grounds for refusal, you may have a right of appeal to the immigration tribunal, or a right to ask for an administrative review where the decision is checked for a caseworking error, or you may simply be able to make a fresh application that fixes the problem that led to refusal. These options are not interchangeable and each has a short, strict time limit, so it is important to act quickly rather than wait. If you are outside the UK the refusal usually just means the application failed; if you are inside the UK, whether you can stay depends on your current status and any existing leave.

Alexander Scott · Answer

Whatever you do, do not ignore it or allow yourself to overstay, because staying without valid leave can seriously harm future applications. Work out from the letter whether an appeal, an administrative review or a reapplication is the right path, and address the specific reason for refusal head on with better evidence. Given the deadlines and how much can turn on the wording of the refusal, this is an area where tailored advice early on is genuinely valuable. General information only.

What happens if my visa application is refused?

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