After gathering the supporting documents, starts filling the online application form. Indeed, the online form is fairly simple. If an applicant has done homework then it may not take more than 1-2 hours to fill and finalize the form.

GWF Number

A GWF number is an automatically generated number once an applicant initiates an online application. However, if an applicant fails to finalize the application within 30 days, the application automatically lapses. Please note, the print out of the application form before the payment will not have barcodes. However, the print out of the final application form after the fee payment will have barcodes on the top right side of every page- with GWF number at the bottom of the barcodes. Moreover, GWF number with barcode is machine-readable, which is automatically generated once an applicant pays the application fee. Accordingly, the final PDF form is generated automatically. Nevertheless, it may take a few seconds or minutes before the final PDF form becomes available for printing and downloading. However, at times due to workload, it may take a few hours before the final form is available for printing and downloading.

Review the Application Form

After completing the online application form it is advisable to review the form and supporting documents. Perhaps, if necessary, an applicant may take a printout of the draft application form. Therefore, after reviewing may proceed forward to select the relevant application centre in his/her country/city.

Application Centre

If there are more than one application centres in a country then the online application form enumerates a list of all available application centres. For instance, in Lebanon, there is only one application centre. However, in Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, China there are several application centres.

Service Type

Indeed, an applicant choose the service type (standard, priority or super-priority) on the application form. Moreover, the online application form also indicates whether priority and super priority visa service are available at a particular application centre. Therefore, if an applicant opts for priority or super-priority service then the final application form will highlight SERVICE OPTION: Priority service. And the total fee appears in the online form that will be inclusive of the priority or super-priority service charges.

Furthermore, the UK visa processing time indicates that 15-40% of the applicants use the priority service. However, the purchase of priority or super-priority does not guarantee a favourable outcome or processing of an application within the requisite time, especially if the application is non straightforward due to adverse travel history and complex personal and professional circumstance, which necessitates additional checks and verifications.

Payment

Please note: an applicant cannot make any changes in the application form after making the fee payment. Therefore, it is important to review the form 2-3 times before making the payment. Moreover, immediately after making the payment an applicant receives an email from noreply@visas-immigration.service.gov.uk with either of the following captioned subjects:

UK visa application: payment refused [Applicant’s Name] or

UK visa application: payment confirmation – what to do next [Applicant’s Name]

If the payment is refused then an applicant may try again using the same or different Credit/Debit card. Hopefully, after 2-3 failed attempts and talking to the bank may finally able to make the payment. However, in most of the cases, the payment process is quite hassle-free! Accordingly, after receiving the payment confirmation email, take a printout of the online application form and supporting documents checklist.

Final Application Form

The finally filled standard visitor visa online application form (PDF) usually has the following sections: