What happens if I withdraw my visa application?
- Lace Law
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Withdrawing a visa application may be necessary due to a change of circumstances or plans. If you have submitted a visa application to come to or stay in the UK, and want to withdraw it, what will happen next will depend on the type of application you made, when you made it, and whether you are inside or outside the UK.
How to withdraw your visa application
To withdraw your visa application, you must contact the Home Office by email/post, or complete the specified online form.
Withdrawing an application before biometric enrolment
If you have submitted your application but not yet booked or attended your biometric enrolment appointment, you will normally be entitled to a full refund.
Withdrawing an application after biometric enrolment
If you have submitted your application and attended your biometric enrolment appointment, you will only receive a refund of the Immigration Health Surcharge, if this was applicable to your application type.
What happens if I submitted an application before my visa expired?
If you had permission to be in the UK and submitted an application to extend or switch your visa before your visa expired, you will benefit from protection (known as Section 3C Leave) preventing you from being an overstayer. However, if you decide to withdraw your application before it has been decided, the Home Office will notify you that your permission expired on the original expiry date. In other words, you will have no valid permission to remain in the UK and must either leave or make a different application without delay.
Will a withdrawal request be automatically accepted by the Home Office?
Not necessarily. Each request to withdraw a visa application will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The Home Office will normally accept a withdrawal request unless it has reason to suspect that the application involved deception or the reason the withdrawal request was made is to avoid adverse immigration or legal consequences.
If you are thinking about withdrawing your application and are unsure of your refund eligibility or the impact it may have on your immigration status, contact us today for a discussion about your circumstances.
