UK visa

• Hotel bookings in England at special prices, better than on websites.
• Flight bookings.

In addition to the documents listed above, supporting documents are also attached to a UK visa application. These documents help the visa officer understand the applicant's situation better and ultimately make the right decision. There is no single list of supporting documents. Every applicant's situation is different in some way, and everyone attaches their own documents. Choosing the best set of supporting documents for a UK visa deserves special attention: the outcome of the application often depends on them. Below is a list of documents worth paying particular attention to.

1. Old international passports. For the British, your visa history is not the most important factor in the visa decision. Most often a visa is issued without problems even if you have never been abroad (provided your financial documents are convincing). But frequent trips abroad show your financial means and that you respect other countries' visa rules. If the applicant returns to Russia after every trip, it is very likely that this trip, too, will be only temporary.
2. Marriage certificate / children's birth certificates. If you are married or have minor children in your care, take copies of the supporting documents. Ordinary photocopies of the marriage certificate / children's birth certificates are enough. The copies do not need to be notarised. Documents showing that you support elderly parents play no role for the British: a different mentality. By the way, if you are married, you can provide a certificate from your spouse's employer, even if you are travelling alone.
3. Documents from your place of study. If you are studying, it makes sense to attach documents from your school or university to the visa application. The certificate is issued by the dean's office using the university's standard form. You can add a copy of your student card and record book (if your grades are good – to show that you have no reason to drop out). Please note that in 2020 the Embassy views long trips by students during their studies negatively. In such cases you should get a certificate stating that the trip has been agreed with the university.
4. Property documents. Contrary to popular belief, property documents do not play a big role in the visa decision. Still, if any property is registered in your name, we recommend attaching the supporting documents. For a flat this is the certificate of state registration of ownership or an extract on ownership from the Unified State Register of Real Estate (EGRN); for a car – the vehicle registration certificate. If nothing is registered in your name, there is no need to worry. The property document may belong to your parents or spouse.
5. Documents of the trip's sponsor. If you feel that your financial documents are not convincing enough, it is worth providing the documents of a person who can act as your sponsor. The sponsor can be a close relative: parents, a spouse (including a common-law spouse). In addition to their financial documents, a sponsorship letter from this person must be attached. Financial documents include a certificate from the employer and a bank statement. Note: the British recognise common-law marriage, and it can be proved by trips abroad taken together.
6. Parents' consent to travel. If the visa is for a minor child, the parents' consent for the child to leave Russia should be attached. If the child travels with one parent, permission from the other parent is needed. If the child travels without parents – the consent of both parents for travel accompanied by a third person. The consent is provided as a copy; you keep the original. The copy does not need to be notarised. No other documents, including copies of the parents' passports, are attached to the consent.
7. Cover letter. As is well known, there is no interview for a UK visa. That is why it is important that the applicant's situation is completely clear. If anything is unclear, the visa officer will most likely not call to check the information but will simply refuse the visa. If you are worried that your documents do not give an accurate picture of your situation, it makes sense to attach a short cover letter explaining certain points of the application. The letter is written in English.