# Standard Visitor visa: questions Indian applicants ask

Answers to the questions Indian applicants ask the desk about the Standard Visitor visa, from bank statements to reapplying after a refusal.

Source: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/standard-visitor-visa/faq · Updated 2026-10-08 · Reviewed by UK Visa Desk counselling team, licence 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · UK Visa Desk, a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, Patiala, India. WhatsApp +91 91155 80911, Mon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM IST.

**How much is the UK visitor visa from India in 2026?**
£135 for the 6-month visa, which the Home Office charges in rupees at about ₹17,865. Add about £500 for priority or £1,000 for super priority if you want a faster decision, plus any VFS add-ons you choose. Our fee calculator converts the total at today's rate.

**How much bank balance do I need for a UK tourist visa?**
There is no fixed figure. The officer compares the cost of your trip with your income and savings over 6 months. A balance built up gradually that covers the trip comfortably, with normal salary credits and spending, is far stronger than a large sum deposited last month.

**Can my parents in Punjab get a 6-month visa to visit me in the UK?**
Yes. Parents usually apply with a sponsor letter from you, your payslips and bank statements, your eVisa share code and your tenancy. They still need their own ties: pension, land records, other children in India, and a history of returning from previous trips.

**Is a 2, 5 or 10 year visa worth it?**
Only if you have a reason to travel often, such as children settled in the UK. Each visit is still limited to 6 months. Officers also look at your past visits: if you stayed close to 6 months every time, a long-term visa may be refused or cut to 6 months without a refund of the difference.

**Can I appeal a refused UK visitor visa?**
No. Visitor refusals from India carry no right of appeal or administrative review. The remedy is a fresh application that answers every paragraph of the refusal letter. Paste your letter into our refusal decoder to see what each paragraph means and what to fix.

**How long does the UK visitor visa take from India?**
The Home Office target is 3 weeks for a standard decision. Priority (about 5 working days) and super priority (next working day) are usually offered at Indian centres but can be switched off in busy periods. Our processing-times tracker shows the current position.

**Can I attend a business meeting or conference on this visa?**
Yes. Meetings, conferences, trade fairs, site visits and negotiating contracts are permitted business visitor activities. You cannot do the work itself for a UK client, be paid by a UK company, or fill a job. Carry the invitation and your Indian employer's letter.

**Can I come for medical treatment in the UK?**
Yes, as a medical visitor. You need a letter from the UK clinician naming the condition, the treatment, its cost and the expected length of stay, and you must show you can pay privately. If treatment is likely to take more than 6 months, an 11-month medical visa exists.

**Do I need a sponsor letter if I am paying for the trip myself?**
No. A self-funded applicant needs only their own funds and ties. A sponsor letter helps when a relative is hosting you or paying, and then the sponsor's documents must be as complete as yours.

**Does a Schengen or US visa help my UK application?**
A clean travel history with timely returns is strong evidence under V 4.2. It does not replace funds and ties, but a file that shows past compliance is usually assessed more favourably than a first-time traveller's.

Full guide: https://ukvisadesk.com/visas/standard-visitor-visa.md

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UK Visa Desk is a brand of Pro Lifeset Overseas Private Limited, a visa consultancy licensed by the Government of Punjab, India. We are a private company, not affiliated with the UK Government, and we are not regulated by the UK Immigration Advice Authority. We serve applicants who are in India; applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated UK adviser. We do not handle work visas. Information here is general, not legal advice, and no visa outcome is guaranteed.
We do not handle UK work visas. Applicants already in the UK are referred to a regulated adviser.