UK visa service in El Salvador Aug.

2023 - Questions and Answers (Q&A)

From 11 May 2022 all nationals of El Salvador have been required to obtain a visa in advance of
travel to or through (transiting) the UK. Please check here to see if you require a visa –
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

How do I apply for a visa? - If you require a visa, you can apply online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-
to-come-to-the-uk

How much does a standard visitor visa cost? - The cost of a standard 6-month multiple entry
visitor visa is currently £100. The current visa fees can be found at https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees
Customers completing an online application form will be charged in $USD.

Can UKVI support me with my UK visa application? - We recommend engaging with an

Immigration Specialist. A list of UK government Home Office recognised advisors is available at
www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser

How long do applications take to process? - The processing times for applications vary depending
on the visa you are applying for and the service available. The aim is to process visitor visas within 15
UK working days following attendance at a visa application centre. Further details here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk

Can my application be processed faster than the standard 15 working days? – this is possible
under our Priority Visa (PV) and Super Priority Visa (SPV) services. The majority of applications
submitted under PV service are concluded within 5 working days and those submitted under SPV are
normally concluded by end of the next working day. PV and SPV services are not currently available in
San Salvador, but are available at select service locations across the region. A list of other service
locations can be found here – https://visa.vfsglobal.com/gov/en/gbr

Can I apply outside of El Salvador? It is possible to apply in other locations. For a visit visa you can
apply at any visa application centre as long as you are legally in the country where you want to apply.
For other routes, you need to apply in your country of residence if there is a visa application centre there,
which there is for El Salvador. A list of other service locations can be found here –
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/gov/en/gbr

Are there any other additional mandatory costs to pay when applying in El Salvador? Yes, all
applicants need to pay a mandated user pay fee, which costs £55. This fee covers service provision in
San Salvador and document (passport) return via courier, which is currently DHL for El Salvador.

How long in advance can I apply? – For visitor visas, you can apply 3 months before your intended
travel date.

How frequent is the service in San Salvador and where is it? - Please visit the VFS Global website
by scanning the QR code above (or via https://visa.vfsglobal.com/slv/en/gbr/) for future dates, service
information and location. Service is typically once a month for two consecutive days, but can be more
frequent in the summer, dependent on demand. UKVI & VFS monitor demand continually to meet
customer demand.

Can I keep my passport whilst I wait for the UK visa outcome? – Yes, this an optional service that
attracts a charge of $80 USD, and needs to be paid online during the application process. More details
can be found on the VFS El Salvador website – see QR code above. They will be asked to courier their
passport to VFS Bogota when the outcome of their application is ready.

Are there any other additional (optional) pay to use services? During the online application process
on the VFS portal a translation service, SMS updates and document-scanning service can be paid for.
Further details can be found on the VFS El Salvador website – see QR code above.

Is there anything else worth noting? Yes, all customers need to self-upload their supporting
documents on the VFS portal during the online application process. They should do this with original
documents or good copies of the original. If a customer does not choose the (free) self-upload option,
they are charged the document-scanning fee at time of online application.

How do applicants contact UKVI for a visa status update? – Our contact centre pay to use service
can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk

What do I need to know before travelling to the UK? – visit here for information:
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control