Overview
A UK Standard Visitor Visa seems straightforward — yet refusal rates are high, and a refusal can affect future applications for years. Whether you are trying to visit family in the UK, attend a business meeting, receive medical treatment, or attend a wedding, the Home Office applies a rigorous test: are you a genuine visitor who will leave at the end of your permitted stay?
Marsl Sharifi helps individuals and their sponsors build visitor visa applications that answer that question with clarity and compelling evidence. He reviews applications, advises on common grounds for refusal, and where a refusal has already occurred, advises on whether to reapply or appeal.
Who this service is for
- You are a national of a country that requires a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.
- You wish to visit a spouse, parent, sibling, or other family member.
- You are attending a wedding, graduation, or other family occasion.
- You are taking a holiday or tourist trip.
- You are attending a business meeting, conference, or training (without working or being paid in the UK).
- You wish to receive private medical treatment.
- You are transiting through the UK on the way to another country.
- You are a UK-settled person or British citizen whose family member has been refused a visitor visa and you need advice on supporting a strong reapplication.
What you'll need
- Completed online application form.
- Valid passport with at least six months' validity.
- Bank statements from the last three to six months showing regular income and savings (sudden large deposits shortly before application are often questioned).
- Evidence of employment, self-employment, or business ownership in your home country — payslips, employment letter, business registration.
- Evidence of ties to your home country — property ownership, family responsibilities, a fixed-term employment contract, or other commitments that make clear you will return.
- Details of your proposed trip — purpose, itinerary, accommodation, return travel booking.
- If visiting a sponsor in the UK: the sponsor's letter of invitation, their proof of immigration status or British citizenship, their evidence of address and finances.
- If attending a specific event: invitation letters, event details, booking confirmations.
Fees
Marsl's professional fees for a visitor visa are £900 + VAT. Visitor visa applications are straightforward in scope but require careful preparation. Fees depend on the extent of work required — a review and advice service differs from a full preparation and submission service. The government visa application fee is currently £115 for a Standard Visitor Visa. In accordance with the SRA Transparency Rules, a full costs estimate is provided at the point of engagement.
The process, step by step
- Step 1
Initial advice and application review
Marsl reviews your situation, advises on the evidence required, and identifies any issues that need addressing before submission.
- Step 2
Application preparation
Marsl works with you to prepare the application form and assemble the supporting evidence package. Where a sponsor in the UK is involved, Marsl advises them on their supporting letter and documentation.
- Step 3
Submission
Visitor visa applications are submitted online, with a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre in your home country or country of residence.
- Step 4
Decision
Standard visitor visa processing times vary by country but are typically three weeks. Priority services (where available) can reduce this to five working days.
- Step 5
Refusal and next steps
If refused, the refusal notice will state the reasons. Marsl will advise on whether to appeal (limited grounds for visitor visas) or reapply with stronger evidence. In most cases, reapplication with properly addressed evidence is the most effective route.