Table Of Contents:
- What is a UK Visa Biometric Appointment
- What happens at UK visa biometric appointment at a VAC
- What happens at a UK visa biometric appointment at a UKVCAS
- What you need to do
- Making your appointment
- Getting a Decision
- Summary
Biometrics (fingerprints and facial photographs) underpin the current UK immigration system to automatically recognize identity and suitability checks on foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control. The Home Office uses biometric information to verify and confirm the personal identities of all non-UK nationals applying for a UK visa. For example, those applying for a Standard Visitor Visa, an Electronic Travel Authorisation, an entry clearance, or a visa extension to extend their stay in the UK for more than 6 months, and those applying for British citizenship.
Enrolling biometric information is an important part of the UK visa application process, as it also helps the UKVI to identify people who are involved in organised criminality or terrorist activities and prevent them from coming to the UK.
You can submit your biometrics online or by making a UK visa biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) (if applying from outside the UK) or at a UKVCAS service point (if applying from inside the UK).
What is a UK Visa Biometric Appointment?
If you are not eligible to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, which is used to scan and upload your identity documents online, you will usually need to book a biometric appointment to enroll your biometric information in the form of your fingerprints and facial photograph.
A UK visa biometric appointment is a part of the visa application process. It means choosing a VAC or UKVCAS centre and booking an appointment at a date that suits you and is available. On the appointment date, each applicant included in the same application or applying separately will need to visit the VAC or UKVCAS. And have their biometric information taken.
You must, in most circumstances, enroll your biometric before the UKVI starts considering your application. It enables them to confirm your identity and assess your suitability.
What happens at UK visa biometric appointment at a VAC?
Biometric Enrolment in your country of origin or the UK is a relatively straightforward visit. During the visit, the individual applying for a UK visa will have their fingerprints and photo taken. And will be asked to sign their name also. The goal of the UK visa biometric appointment is to cross-check the individual’s fingerprints, photograph, and signature.
Most visa applicants need to book an appointment online to submit their personal biometric information.
1. Arrive at the VAC (Visa Application Centre) in Time
You should arrive at the VAC a few minutes before the booked time of your UK visa biometric appointment to allow for security checks.
Please note that you may have to wait until your scheduled appointment time before you are admitted to the VAC if you arrive more than 15 minutes early for your appointment.
If you arrive after your scheduled appointment time, the VAC may not be able to accommodate yoo. And therefore, you may need to book a new appointment.
2. Attend the Appointment in Person
Unless exempt from providing biometrics, you must attend the UK visa biometric appointment in person for your visa application. You cannot send someone else in your place.
3. Keep a blank page in Your Passport
Unless you are applying for a visa category where you will receive an eVisa only, you should bring your valid passport. The passport must contain at least one blank visa page.
4. Be prepared for your deadline being extended due to High Demand
You need to to submit your biometrics information in person. At the VAC, you should bring a printed copy of the appointment confirmation letter and a QR code of your passport.
Please note that, due to the potential high demand for these appointments in Britain, there may be an extension of the deadline.
5. VAC may keep Your Passport
If you are applying for a visa category where you will receive an eVisa only, the VAC will usually return your passport to you the same day as your biometric enrolment. However, if you are applying for a visa category where you will receive a physical vignette, the Visa Application Centre will retain your passport. Unless you have chosen the Keep My Passport service – you will need to pay a fee for this option.
6. Your Fingerprint Biometrics may be Reused
Where you apply for leave to enter or remain in the UK, which meets the requirements of the reuse of biometric guidance to enable your fingerprint biometrics to be reused, such as when you are:
• Applying for leave where you can provide evidence of your immigration status in the form of an online status only, such as an eVisa
• Applying for permission under a route set out in the biometric reuse guidance
• Updating your facial image details through Update My Details
You can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to upload your facial image (jpg or jpeg file format) or submit your facial image through an online form. The facial image must be new and live. You must not use a previously taken photographic image.
What happens at a UK visa biometric appointment at a UKVCAS?
When you apply for a leave to remain, indefinite leave to remain (also known as ‘settlement’) or British citizenship from inside the UK, you’ll usually need to make a UK visa biometric appointment at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) service point in the UK.
At the UKVCAS, you can provide:
• Your biometric information (fingerprints and facial photo)
• Supporting documents for your application
What you need to do?
To provide your biometric information, you’ll usually need to attend an appointment at a UKVCAS service point.
You can either upload your supporting documents to the UKVCAS online service or have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment.
If you’re applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, you will not be able to scan your supporting documents at your UKVCAS appointment. You must upload them when you apply instead.
Making your appointment
To apply and make your UK visa biometric appointment online, you’ll need to create a UKVCAS account. You can check service point locations in the UK here.
At the UKVCAS service point, you’ll need to bring:
• A copy of your appointment confirmation document with a QR code
• Your passport or a valid travel document
• Other supporting documents (unless you’ve already uploaded them when you applied online)
You’ll see a list of supporting documents that you need to submit when you apply for your visa online.
If your application includes your family members, you must all go to an appointment together.
Getting a Decision
Whether you submit your biometric information at a VAC or a UKVCAS service point, you will not get a decision when enrolling your biometric data on the date of your UK visa biometric appointment. You should not call these centres to know the progress or outcome of your application. The decision depends completely on the type of application instead.
Summary
Submission of your biometric data at a UK visa biometric appointment is the last step in almost all visa applications. You start by choosing the correct visa application form, then fully complete and submit it. You may submit the supporting documents at this point or later at the biometric appointment.
You will be taken to a booking calendar to schedule your biometric appointment after you select your type of application and pay the relevant application fees.
Choosing a convenient date will help you make travel arrangements well in advance for attending the appointment. Especially if you do not live in the same city as a service point.
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