UK Visa Interviews: How to Prepare

If you have submitted an immigration application to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you may be asked to attend an interview to answer questions about your circumstances and intentions. This normally follows notification that your application has been considered complex or 'not straightforward'. This guide is to help you understand why an interview request may have been made, which topics the interview could cover, and how to prepare properly for it.

Who can be interviewed for a UK visa application?

UKVI can request an interview with you, as the applicant, for any immigration application. In practice, there are some visa types which are more likely to attract an interview than others. For instance, credibility interviews are more common among applicants seeking to come to the UK as students than they are for short-term visitors. If there is any doubt as to the credibility of an applicant's finances, for example, the visitor would likely receive a refusal letter whereas the student may be given the opportunity to explain their circumstances in more detail.

What could be the reason for an interview by UKVI?

The reason for the interview by UKVI will not normally be disclosed to you beforehand. However, it's likely to be for one of these reasons:

UKVI needs to verify your immigration history

If your immigration history involves visa refusals, removals or deportation from the UK or any other country, or if your history is otherwise unclear, inconsistent, or complex, you can expect UKVI to delay the processing of your application and to ask you to provide more information about any particular event.

UKVI needs to verify your employment history

If your employment history involves working for a government department, agency or other state organisation, UKVI may ask additional questions to better understand your role and responsibilities.

UKVI needs to verify your financial information

This most commonly occurs when you appear to have insufficient funds to meet the financial requirements of your route, or you are relying on support from a third-party financial sponsor such as a parent, friend or sponsoring organisation. Reliance on other documents such as savings accounts in joint names or assets which are not clearly in your name may also be a reason for further inquiry. UKVI may inform you that it has been unsuccessful in its attempts to contact the financial institution which holds the funds on which you are relying. In this case, you will usually be given a short period of time to provide alternative documents.

UKVI needs to verify your relationship

Whether you are applying to come to the UK to visit family members or you are seeking to enter the UK as the partner or spouse of a British citizen, you can expect UKVI to undertake checks to confirm your relationships are genuine. Where there is a requirement to prove your relationship as part of your application, such as with various types of family visas, there will be greater scrutiny. You could be asked relevant questions to verify information you are expected to know, such as where and when you got married.

UKVI needs to verify your purpose of travel

You may be questioned if there is any doubt as to purpose of your intended travel to the UK. This can apply to any visa, but more commonly applies to those applying for a visitor visa or other short-term visas such as temporary work visas or short-term study visas. If it remains unclear why you have applied for your particular visa, what you intend to do whilst in the UK, or if you will return to your home country after your visa expires, your application could be refused.

UKVI needs to verify your English language ability

If there is doubt as to a qualification or the certificate you have provided in support of your English language ability, you can expect to be asked questions about the institution you obtained it from, what you had to do to obtain your certificate, or other general questions to ascertain whether your spoken English matches the level which you claim it is.

UKVI needs to verify your academic history

Much like with documents in support of your English language ability, UKVI may need to verify your academic certificates. You could be asked about the institution you studied at, the modules you took, the type of assessments you completed, or anything else relating to your course or grades.

UKVI needs to undertake additional security checks

If you are applying from a country involved in political tensions or with a history of ties to terrorist activity, UKVI may take more time to conduct necessary security checks. This also applies if you have a history of criminal convictions, including non-custodial sentences such as bans, fines or community service.

How will the interview be conducted?

Applications outside the UK

Applications made from outside the UK will normally involve an online or telephone interview with a representative of UKVI. This person will ask you questions relating to any of the points above, or about information given on your application form.

Applications inside the UK

Applications made from inside the UK will normally be online, but may be in person. Your interviewer will be someone who works for UKVI and is involved in some capacity in the decision-making process for your particular application. This person will ask you questions related to any of the points mentioned above, or about any of the answers in your application form.

How to prepare for the interview

Using the information in this guide, check your application form and supporting documents for any information UKVI could focus on. Make sure that you understand how this information may be questioned and prepare clear and concise answers to provide the interviewer.

What happens after the interview?

Every visa application is assessed on its own merits, so processing times can differ greatly between applicants. You shouldn't panic if you are told that your application is not straightforward or that you must attend an interview. Keep checking your email for updates, as interview invitations are usually sent this way. Once the interview has taken place, most applicants should receive a decision fairly soon afterwards.

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How we can help

If you have been notified that you will be interviewed as part of your UK visa application, contact us below for a full review of your application and supporting documents. We will advise on which aspect of your application you should prepare for, what kind of questions you may be asked, and give you the peace of mind to enter the interview with confidence.