How to Apply for UK Visas from the BVI
Visas to enter the United Kingdom
Applicants for UK visas from residents of the British Virgin Islands are handled by the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados - but all visas for the United Kingdom will be issued by the British Consulate General in New York.
You should complete your visa application online or using a paper form. Visa applicants will need to pre-book appointments online, and attend the Visa Application Centre in Bridgetown in person for finger-scanning, digital photographs and to submit your application for a visa to the United Kingdom. The High Commission will then forward the application and passport in individual sealed packages to the British Consulate General in New York by courier service. Applicants will not be required to travel to New York.
Once a decision has been made, the British Consulate in New York will inform applicants by email, and return applications by courier to the British High Commission in Bridgetown, who will notify applicants to collect their documents. The cost of the courier charge will be borne by the United Kingdom.
Visa applicants will not incur any additional charges for this service. However, applicants will have the option to request the British Consulate General in New York to return their documents directly to them, through payment of an additional courier charge when completing their application form.
It is envisaged that straightforward applications will be returned to the British High Commission within seven working days and all applicants should expect to receive decisions within 3 weeks of despatch of their documents to New York.
Further details on how to apply for a visa are available on the WorldBridge Service website.
Applicants will be required to pay the Visa fee by internationally recognised credit card at the time of completing the online Visa application form. Visa fees have been increased from 1 April 2008, in line with inflation. Details of the new Visa fees are available here.