AGENTS have taken to
Travelinfo’s Open Jaw
Facebook group to
report a rise in the decline of
UK visa applications made
by SA passport holders.
They say visa applications
to the UK are being rejected
more frequently. In a survey
conducted by TNW, 39%
of respondents said they
had noticed an increase in
visa applications for the UK
being denied.
Susan Thesen, gm of
British T.I.P.S., believes the
UK government has become
concerned about South
African passengers entering
the country due to the sheer
volume of travellers visiting
family in the UK as well
as those South Africans
emigrating to the country.
Those who over-justify in
their visa applications may
also get rejected, she says,
as it may arouse suspicion
from the UK government
that the applicant has no
intention of returning to
South Africa.
Visas International has
also seen an increase over
the past few months in
visa applications for the UK
being rejected, says Craig
Hill, senior visa consultant.
Craig believes the concern
the UK government has
is that applicants have
neither the means nor the
motivation to return home.
However, he adds that he
does not believe that the UK
is singling out any nationality
as he has also had foreign
passport holders rejected.
An agent seasoned
in dealing with visas
who wished to remain
anonymous, denounced
the claim that the UK
government is concerned
about South Africans
overstaying their visas
and says this is simply an
excuse made by consultants
who do not have the correct
knowledge about visa
application requirements.
The agent says, from his
experience, 95% of rejected
applications are due to
incorrect documentation.
“Agents should improve their
knowledge about visas, and
those agents that process
visas should check the
applications thoroughly
and flag any concerns with
clients before sending it to
the consulate, he says.
The British High
Commission in Pretoria
was unavailable for
comment at the time of
going to press.
