Your document readiness report

Genuine visitor: intention to leave at the end of the visit

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(a)

• The applicant must satisfy the decision maker that they are a genuine visitor, which means the applicant: (a) will leave the UK at the end of their visit;

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(a)

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• their personal and economic ties to their country of residence

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Genuineness and credibility: assessing personal circumstances

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• the applicant has few or no family and economic ties to their country of residence, and has several family members in the UK

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Reasons for doubting whether the applicant is a genuine visitor

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• An application for a visit visa which, if granted, could result in permission to spend more than 6 of 12 months in the United Kingdom is likely to be scrutinised rigorously but it is wrong to refuse someone entry clearance as a general visitor just because they have spent more than six of the last twelve months in the United Kingdom.

  Oppong (visitor - length of stay) Ghana, Headnote

  Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) · [2011] UKUT 00431 (IAC) · decided 4 October 2011 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

  Decided under the former visitor rule (paragraph 41 of HC 395), since replaced by Appendix V. Check that the point still holds before relying on it.

Genuine visitor: permitted purpose and no prohibited activities

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(b) to (d), V 4.4 to V 4.6

• (c) is genuinely seeking entry or stay for a purpose that is permitted under the Visitor route as set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities and at V 13.3; and (d) will not undertake any of the prohibited activities set out in V 4.4. to V 4.6;

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c) and (d)

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• V 4.5. Permitted activities must not amount to the Visitor undertaking employment, or doing work which amounts to them filling a role or providing short-term cover for a role within a UK based organisation and where the Visitor is already paid and employed outside of the UK they must remain so.

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.5

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Maintenance and accommodation: funds for the visit and the return journey

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(e) and (f), V 4.3

What is thin: A credit of 56,400 GHS on 2026-09-11 is larger than your stated monthly income of 9,400 GHS and no source is stated.

What would address it: State where the money came from and evidence it: a sale agreement, a loan agreement, a gift letter from the person who sent it with their own statement, or a maturing deposit. A large credit with no explanation reads as money borrowed for the application.

• (e) must have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to their visit without working or accessing public funds, including the cost of the return or onward journey

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(e)

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• V 4.3. In assessing whether an applicant has sufficient funds under V 4.2.(e), the applicant’s travel, maintenance and accommodation may be provided by a third party only if that third party:

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.3

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• financial documents provided by any applicant should confirm the declared income / source of support and show sufficient funds available, such as bank statements which detail the origin of the funds held.

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Evidence: other documents

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Purpose of visit: consistency between the purpose, the invitation, the itinerary and the money

Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c)

• (c) is genuinely seeking entry or stay for a purpose that is permitted under the Visitor route as set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities and at V 13.3;

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(c)

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• the applicant should be able to explain what their main reason for coming to the UK is at the visa application stage, on entry and when applying to extend their stay.

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Standard and burden of proof and evidence

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• there are discrepancies between the statements made by the applicant and the statements made by the sponsor, particularly on points where the sponsor could reasonably be expected to know the facts but does not

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Reasons for doubting whether the applicant is a genuine visitor

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

Previous immigration history and travel history

Part Suitability, SUI 11.1 to SUI 11.4 (previous breach of immigration law), and Appendix V: Visitor V 4.2

• SUI 11.3. An application for entry clearance or permission may be refused where the applicant is, or has been, in breach of immigration laws as defined in SUI 11.4.

  Immigration Rules, Part Suitability, SUI 11.3

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• (b) will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home;

  Immigration Rules, Appendix V: Visitor, V 4.2(b)

  checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• A pattern of travel that shows the applicant has previously complied with UK immigration law may indicate the applicant is likely to be a genuine visitor, as might travel to other countries, especially the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Schengen countries or Switzerland.

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Travel / immigration history

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

• Where the applicant is a first-time traveller, you will need to rely on other evidence to satisfy you they are a genuine visitor.

  Visit guidance, for Home Office staff, Travel / immigration history

  Version 18.0 · dated 8 October 2026 · checked against the page on 18 October 2026

The document checklist

UK Visas and Immigration asks you to upload documents to the online account, or to take them to the visa application centre. Send them in this order, named as listed.

1. Passport, and every previous passport you hold The stamps are the evidence of travel you completed and returned from.
2. Cover letter It tells the officer what they are about to read, and names the document behind each statement.
3. Bank statements, 6 months, stamped by the bank or officially downloaded The balance has to cover the trip, and the statements have to explain how the money got there.
4. Employment letter with role, start date, salary and the exact approved leave dates The strongest ordinary tie, and the one most often left unevidenced.
5. Payslips for the same months as the statements They show the salary in the letter arriving in the account.
6. Itinerary summary, with flight and accommodation bookings The dates have to be the same in the itinerary, the bookings, the invitation and the leave letter.
7. Invitation and undertaking from your sponsor or host It gives their address, their status where they live, the dates, and what they are paying for.
8. Sponsor bank statements, payslips and proof of their immigration status A sponsor letter with nothing behind it does not add funds to the application.
9. Property documents in your own name Property is a tie only where the document names you.
10. Birth certificates or school letters for your dependants People who rely on you at home are a reason to return, and they need documenting.