I’ve never had to cancel my UK visa application, but a friend of mine once did.
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He applied for a student visa, and while still on it, he got a better offer elsewhere – for his dream course.
He had to cancel his UK application to take up the new offer.
Read also: What happens if I withdraw my UK visa application?
The UK authorities allow applicants to cancel their visa application – whether you applied for a tourist visa, work visa, or study visa – anyone.
However, there are conditions involved. If you wish to cancel your UK visa application, below is how to do it.
How to cancel a UK visa application
How you cancel your application depends on how you proved your identity when you submitted your application:
There are two ways to prove your identity when submitting your visa – the one you used when you submitted your application determines how you’ll cancel your visa.
Either you were told to:
- Attend an appointment in person to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) and submit your identity documents.
- Or, use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app on your smartphone to upload your photo and scan your identity documents.
For applicants who attended the biometrics collection
If you attended a biometric appointment in person to prove your identity when submitting your application – and you applied within the UK, you can cancel your UK visa application by filling out the online form here.
If you attended a biometric appointment when submitting your application but you applied from outside the UK:
- Sign into your account using the link in your sign-up email which you received from the UK Visas and Immigration when you signed up.
- And, go to ‘Section 6: further actions’ and select the option to cancel your application.
After cancelling your visa application, cancel any appointment you already booked at the visa application centre.
For applicants who used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ smartphone app
If you used the UK immigration smartphone app as a means to prove your identity when you submitted your application,
- Sign in to your account using the link from your sign-up email.
- Go to your dashboard
- Select ‘Cancel this application’ for the application you want to cancel.
- And, click cancel – and your application will be cancelled
If you’ve applied for a UK visa, visa extension, or citizenship, you can follow the same steps to cancel your application as long as you haven’t received a decision yet.
However, the refund you’ll receive will depend on how far along your application is when you cancel.
You don’t need to cancel your visa application, if:
- You only need to request the return of your passport or other documents.
- You applied from within the UK and now want to switch to a different visa.
Once your cancellation request is received by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you cannot undo it.
Read also: A complete list of requirements for international passport in Nigeria
If you’re currently in the UK, cancelling your application means, you’ll lose the permission to stay in the country.
Can I cancel my UK visa application and reapply immediately?
Yes, you can cancel your UK visa application and reapply immediately, but you should wait for confirmation that your cancellation request has been processed before submitting a new application.
Common UK visa cancellation reasons
Your UK visa can be cancelled if you:
- Submit incorrect documents or provide false information during your application.
- Change your circumstances like your job, study, or sponsorship ends.
- Breach your visa conditions like working without authorization or exceeding the allowed hours.
- Overstay your visa validity period without extending your visa.
- If you are convicted of a crime.
- If you fail to report changes in your circumstances like address or job.
- If your sponsor like an employer or educational institution withdraws their support.
- If you are considered a threat to national security or public safety.
How long does it take to cancel a UK visa application?
It takes a few days to process and conclude the cancellation of your UK visa application after you submit a cancellation request, but it will take up to 28 days to get a refund.
Upon submitting a cancellation request, you’ll receive an acknowledgement of your request from the authorities and the cancellation process will begin.
If you cancel your application before biometrics, the process is quick, and you should receive confirmation of the cancellation shortly.
Read also: How do I cancel my biometric appointment for a UK visa
However, if you have already completed biometrics or if your application is further along in the process, it will take longer for the cancellation to be processed.
Can I cancel my UK visa application after biometrics?
The short answer is yes, you can cancel your UK visa application after completing biometrics, however, you’ll not receive a refund.
When you cancel your UK visa application, your chances of getting a refund depend on how far along your application is.
In this case, biometrics has been concluded – which means, the processing of your application has already started.
You’ll not get a refund if you cancel at this stage of the process.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my UK visa application before biometrics?
Yes, you can get a refund if you cancel your UK visa application before attending your biometrics appointment.
Recent cancellations show that the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) refund the application fee if the cancellation is made before your biometrics have been submitted.
You can get a refund of the:
- application fee
- immigration health surcharge
- priority service fee (if you used this service)
However, other fees paid for services already rendered like appointment bookings for biometrics are not refundable.
When my friend cancelled his visa, he never got a refund even though he only just booked his biometric appointment but hasn’t gone for it.
He wasn’t also refunded the money he paid for the biometric with VFS.
Conditions for a refund after cancelling your UK visa application
The refund is automatic if you haven’t provided your fingerprints and photo yet.
If you use the smartphone app, refunds are possible if you haven’t confirmed and uploaded your evidence, or if you cancel before the upload deadline.
You’ll receive a full refund of the immigration health surcharge if you cancel before a decision is made.
Again, this refund is automatic and will be returned to the account or card you used.
To get a refund of the priority service fee, you need to request it, as it’s not given automatically.
If you want to cancel your application and hope for a refund, you must act quickly, as refunds are only processed if the cancellation occurs before the biometrics stage.
What happens after cancelling your UK visa application?
Upon submitting a request to cancel your UK visa application, the authorities will stop processing it.
You’ll receive your passport back if you’ve submitted it, but the application fee is generally non-refundable.
The Home Office can also decide to continue processing the application if they suspect any issues.
Cancelling your visa application after biometrics does not negatively affect future applications.
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) does not penalize applicants for cancelling an application, as long as it was done properly and they didn’t notice any form of deception.
Read also: Can a pregnant woman apply for a student visa in Australia?
If you decide to reapply in the future, your application will be treated as a fresh submission.
This means that the UKVI will assess it based on the current information and documents you provide, without holding your previous cancellation against you.
However, if the reason for your cancellation was due to a change in personal or professional circumstances, explain this change clearly in your new application.
When should you not cancel your visa application?
There is no need to cancel your application if:
- Your application is near approval.
- There are no significant changes in your circumstances.
- Your reasons for cancelling are temporary.
- A decision has already been made on your application.
Under any of these conditions, cancelling your application is not the best option.
If a decision has been made before you send a cancellation request, the authorities will proceed with your application as planned, and the cancellation request will be ignored.
In such cases, the visa decision stands, and you’ll receive your visa or a refusal, depending on the outcome of the application review.
Can I get my passport back after I cancelled my UK visa application?
Yes, you can request your passport back after cancelling your UK visa application. Once you cancel your application, you’ll inform the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you’d like your passport returned.
You can do this by contacting the visa application centre where you submitted your documents or by filling out an online request form.
The time it will take to get your passport back depends on how far along your application is in the review process.
If your passport has not yet been processed or stamped with a visa, it should be returned relatively quickly.
However, if your application is already in the advanced stages, it’ll take longer for the passport to be retrieved and sent back to you.
Do not forget that cancelling your application does not automatically trigger the return of your passport, so send a request for its return.
Also, the return of your passport can be delayed if your request coincides with busy periods or high application volumes.
How do I get my passport back after I cancelled my UK visa application?
To get your passport back after cancelling your UK visa application, submit a passport return request through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online portal or contact the visa application centre where you applied.
Include your application reference number and personal details to help locate your passport quickly.
Once processed, you can either go to the visa application centre in person or use a logistics company to collect your passport and other documents you submitted.
If you’re using a logistics company, give them your details and who to contact at the visa application to pick up your passport.
You can cancel your UK visa application at any stage of its processing as long as a decision has not been made.
Read also: If my UK visa is rejected when can I apply again?
However, if you cancel after submitting your biometrics or when the processing has started, you’ll likely not get a refund.
To increase your chances of getting a refund, cancel your application as early as possible.
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