UK Standard Visitor visa refusal for job interview - under V4.2(a) for lack of own funds [duplicate]

I have received a refusal for a UK visit visa. Below is the relevant text of the refusal. What does this mean and what steps can I take to significantly increase my chances of success in a potential new attempt to apply?

The Decision

I have refused your application for a visit visa because I am not satisfied that you met the requirements of paragraph(s) V4.2-V4.10 of the Appendix V: Immigration Rules for Visitors because:

Home Office records shows that you have been previously been refused a UK visa (VAF Shefo/344051). However each application has to be assessed on it own merits using the information and evidence submitted.

You state that you wish to visit the United Kingdom to attend your interview with the British Army and you have provided a reference letter in support of this. You state that your sister will fund your trip and you have provided her bank statements. However, the onus is on you to qualify for a visit visa based on your own circumstances and your own intentions.

In order to be able to make a decision on whether or not to grant you a visit visa in this category, I have taken into account your stated circumstances in Ghana, the reason for your visit and your proposed travel arrangements. I note that you state you earn GHS 266.00 (48.44) pounds per month employed as a sales representative. You appear to have no property, investment,savings or asset in your own country. I must take into account your personal and economic circumstances in Ghana when coming to my decision and given that you would not be able to afford to fund this visit without third-party financial assistance, I am not satisfied that your personal circumstances in Ghana are such that you would have sufficient intention to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit as stated.

Given the statement you have made and the documentary evidence you have presented to support your application I am not satisfied that your circumstances in Ghana, coupled with your reasons for wishing to travel to the UK, are such that you have shown your intention are as stated or that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your proposed visit.

In light of all the above , I am not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor and will leave the UK at the end of your visit. Your application for visit visa has been refused under paragraph V4.2(a).

uk visa-refusals

Best Answer

I will give you as honest an answer as possible, being that I am originally from Ghana. You can get a job, home, spouse and kids, in Ghana, do some traveling and returning to Ghana within the limits set by the visa, and then you are ready to apply again to the UK however it doesn't guarantee anything. How do I know?

Well I am from Ghana but legally resident in the USA since 1998. I am married, have a great well paying job as an engineer here in the USA, have traveled several times to the UK and previously had two five year multiple entry UK visas, visited several other countries in Europe, own my own home and financially secure. I have never overstayed a visa in any country and travel extensively.

In November 2015 I applied for a simple 6 month visa to visit UK for one week and indicated I had $3500 of spending money. Lo and behold I was refused under V4.2E

I laughed out aloud! He said I do not have enough funds to spend in Britain for the duration (1 week) without working or recourse to public funds. Can you believe it? I a 41 year old married man with a great job with great travel experience and a permanent resident of the USA would recourse to public funds or work illegally in UK for one week? Lol methinks the consular officer thinks too highly of his country, or perhaps too lowly of me.

His explanation? I presented a Bank of America account with a balance of over $20k which shows huge deposits (of $25k plus each) and withdrawals not in line with my income of $9.5k/month. Now of course because UK visas are purely by mail, I am unable to explain to him those funds come from my own brokerage account because no sane person leaves such amounts just lying in a checking account earning 0.1% interest per annum. Did he expect me to send copies of all my financial accounts including brokerage, savings, checking, IRA's, 401k's etc for a simple UK visa?

I was refused without recourse to appeal, apparently UK visas no longer give appeals. But I am just giving you my case to make it clear to you that you may improve your profile however visa officers are able to refuse you with the most asinine of excuses, particularly if you're coming from a developing country. In my case I don't even live in a developing country.

I didn't apply again and plan to visiting the UK on an American passport next month without a visa. I just might be refused entry and you'll see me featured on an episode of UK Border Force getting deported.

So once again, take a few years and improve your profile like suggested in the first paragraph, bearing in mind there are no guarantees and there is some degree of randomness and madness in the visa approval process.

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UK Standard Visitor visa refusal for job interview - under V4.2(a) for lack of own funds [duplicate] - Smiling African American female guest gesticulating while having interview with journalist sitting near mic

UK Standard Visitor visa refusal for job interview - under V4.2(a) for lack of own funds [duplicate] - Ethnic businessman shaking hand of applicant in office

UK Standard Visitor visa refusal for job interview - under V4.2(a) for lack of own funds [duplicate] - Crop anonymous female filling questionnaire when applying for job sitting in employer office

What happens if my UK visa application is refused?

There are three options of what you can do after your UK visa is refused:

Appeal to an immigration tribunal.

Apply for an administrative review.

Make a new visa application.

How long does the UK embassy keep refusal records?

If the refusal is based on misrepresentation, we'll keep your fingerprints and photo for 10 years. If the refusal is based on health concerns, financial reasons or non-compliance, we'll keep your fingerprints and photo for 5 years.

Can you appeal a visitor visa refusal UK?

A UK visit visa refusal is not an appealable decision. This means that you cannot challenge it by way of an appeal. However, if you have ever been refused an entry clearance as a visitor you have the option of re-applying or submitting an application for judicial review.

Can I attend job interview with UK tourist visa?

You are permitted to take up interviews. However, this must be mentioned in the visa application. I don't think you would have mentioned it but it is difficult to convince EO that you did not intend to take that interview before you travelling to the UK.

MY UK VISA REFUSAL WITH REFUSAL LETTER

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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