UK Visa Rejection Rate 2020 Visit, Student, Spouse, Dependents

This article delves into the statistical landscape of the UK visa rejection rate 2020. Specifically, we’ll dissect the figures for various visa categories, including Visitor, Study, Tier 4 Student, Family (Spouse) Settlement, Work, Tier 2 Skilled Worker, and Tier 5 Temporary Worker visas. Our focus is on applications lodged from outside the UK, providing you with a comprehensive analysis of the approval and denial trends.

1. UK Visa Rejection Rates Across Different Categories in 2020

According to the Official Statistics, in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced the volume of UK visa applications, resulting in just 1,169,394 submissions – approximately a third of those recorded in the previous year. The Home Office processed a total of 1,196,584 decisions during this time, of which 996,636 resulted in approved visas. On the flip side, 193,272 applications faced rejection, 6,647 were withdrawn, and twenty-nine were left unattended, causing them to lapse. The overall UK visa approval and rejection rates stood at 83.29% and 16.15%, respectively.

However, the rejection rates varied across different categories of visas. Visitor visas saw a refusal rate of 18.84%, while Work visas were rejected at a lower rate of 4.93%. The refusal rate for Study visas was even lower at 3.78%, and Family visas had a 13.05% rejection rate. Dependents Joining or Accompanying had a close rejection rate to Visitor visas, at 18.81%.

When it came to permits, EEA Family Permits had the highest refusal rate at a staggering 65.05%, while EUSS Family Permits followed with a rejection rate of 30.38%. Transit and Other types of visas faced a refusal rate of 13.30%. It’s important for applicants to understand these figures as they consider their application process, as the rates do highlight the varying levels of scrutiny across different visa categories.

2. Examination of UK Visa Rejection Rate 2020 for Visitors

In 2020, amidst the global turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 589,838 applications lodged for UK visitor visas. Of these, 627,805 decisions were processed leading to the approval of 506,644 visitor visas. In contrast, 118,292 applications were denied, 2,846 were withdrawn, and twenty-three fell into lapse. Consequently, the success rate for UK visitor visas in 2020 was 80.7%, and the refusal rate was at 18.84%.

However, an analysis of the refusal rates by applicant nationality reveals considerable variation. The highest rejection rates were observed for applicants from Nigeria (39.31%), Pakistan (39.01%), Ghana (46.23%), and Algeria (44.01%). In contrast, applications from Russia (3.20%), China (4.96%), Thailand (5.10%), and South Africa (4.10%) saw significantly lower refusal rates. Some other nationalities with notable refusal rates included Turkey (23.42%), Egypt (22.67%), and Morocco (29.25%). Understanding these country-specific trends can provide valuable insights for future applicants about the possible scrutiny they may face during the application process.

3. Analysis of UK Visa Rejection Rate 2020 for Students

In the year 2020, a total of 260,324 applications for UK student visas were received, leading to 264,883 decisions. Of these, a remarkable 253,694 UK Student Visas were granted, while 10,016 applications were rejected. Furthermore, 1,171 applications were withdrawn and two applications lapsed. This resulted in an impressive success rate of 95.77% for UK student visas, with a relatively low refusal rate of 3.78%.

Digging deeper into the data, the rejection rates vary across different student visa categories. For the Sponsored Study, Students, and Tier 4 categories, the refusal rates were 2.34%, 2.57%, and 2.37%, respectively. The rates were even lower for the Child Student category at 0.84% and the Tier 4 Child Student category at 0.58%. However, there was a noticeable increase in refusal rates for Other Study and Short Term Study (Previously Student Visitor) categories at 16.76% and 16.77% respectively. These statistics highlight the complexity and variability of the student visa application process, underscoring the importance of understanding the specific requirements for each visa category.

4. A Deep Dive into 2020’s Sponsored Study Visa Rates

In the calendar year of 2020, the UK saw 237,243 applications for Sponsored Study visas. The immigration authorities made 238,328 decisions, out of which a substantial 232,192 visas were granted, and a comparatively small number of 5,565 applications were rejected. This culminated in a high success rate of 97.43% for UK Sponsored Student Visas, against a low refusal rate of 2.34%.

When assessing the rejection rates by country of origin, it’s noteworthy that China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea (South), Canada, Japan, and Thailand each reported minuscule refusal rates of under 0.5%. Contrarily, higher rates of rejection were seen in applications from countries such as India (5.78%), Nigeria (3.83%), Pakistan (4.28%), Bangladesh (5.14%), and Ghana (13.86%).

These statistics not only serve to illustrate the variation in rejection rates by nationality but also highlight the overall high success rate of Sponsored Study visas, underlining the UK’s commitment to welcoming international students from around the globe.

5. 2020 in Review: UK Family Visa Rates

In the tumultuous year of 2020, a total of 41,901 applications were lodged for UK Family Visas. Of the 46,496 decisions made, 40,255 were in favour of the applicants, resulting in visas being granted. Conversely, a total of 6,068 applications were unfortunately rejected. These figures translate to a promising success rate of 86.58%, juxtaposed with a refusal rate of 13.05%.

The ‘Family’ route encompasses applications from individuals seeking visas based on their relationship to a person who is either a British citizen or settled in the UK. This includes a range of applications such as spouse settlement visas, adult dependent relative visas, and parent of a British child visas, among others. It is worth noting that the ‘Family’ route does not cover ‘joining or accompanying’ entry clearance applications, which are intended for those applying for a visa due to their relationship to another migrant who is not settled in the UK or a British citizen, and who is on a path that does not include a specific visa for dependents.

When delving into the data by country of origin, higher rejection rates were observed among applicants from Nepal (31.96%), Eritrea (30.50%), Sudan (27.72%), and Syria (27.20%). On the other end of the spectrum, lower refusal rates were observed in applicants from countries such as the United States (4.93%), South Africa (6.30%), and Hong Kong (2.39%). These figures shed light on the global landscape of UK Family Visa applications, highlighting both the successful applicants and those who faced barriers in their journey.

6. 2020 Work Visa Statistics: An Overview

The year 2020 saw a total of 146,080 work visa applications made to the UK authorities. Out of 132,529 decisions that were taken, 125,173 applicants were granted work visas while 6,528 faced rejections. Consequently, the success and refusal rates for UK work visas in 2020 stood at 94.45% and 4.93% respectively.

When scrutinized according to the type of application, ‘High Value’ applications exhibited the highest rejection rate at 7.49%, followed by ‘Others’ at 22.74%, ‘Temporary worker’ at 1.40% and ‘Skilled’ at 0.36%.

Work Visa UK Refusal Rate by Country 2020

The data also reveals interesting patterns when assessed on a country-by-country basis. Applicants from Turkey experienced the highest rejection rate at 42.80%. Conversely, countries like Australia, Canada, Ukraine, and the United States witnessed relatively lower rejection rates, falling at or below 0.58%. The comprehensive data, while offering a bird’s eye view of the global dynamics of UK work visa applications, also underscores the variance in experiences depending on the applicant’s country of origin.

7. Snapshot: Tier 2 Skilled Workers Visa Rejection Rate 2020

In 2020, the UK authorities received a total of 72,476 applications under the Tier 2 Skilled Workers category. Out of the 78,215 decisions made, an overwhelming majority of 77,760 applications were approved while only 280 faced rejection. This translates to an incredibly high success rate of 99.42% and a correspondingly low refusal rate of 0.36%.

A country-specific breakdown of the rejection rate indicates a pattern of low rejections across all nations. Applicants from Japan, Korea (South), and Australia enjoyed a 0% rejection rate. The rejection rates for applicants from India, the Philippines, and the United States were also significantly low at 0.14%, 0.31%, and 0.08%, respectively. Even the countries with the highest rejection rates, like Zimbabwe and Malaysia, had a refusal rate of only about 1.10% and 1.08%, respectively, thus reinforcing the high acceptance rate of Tier 2 Skilled Worker Visas in 2020.

8. 2020 Overview: Tier 5 Temporary Workers Visa

The year 2020 saw the UK authorities processing 25,074 applications for the Tier 5 Temporary Workers category. From the total of 27,309 decisions rendered, 26,500 applicants received the good news of their visas being granted while only 383 faced rejection. This denotes a favorable success rate of 97.04% compared to a minimal refusal rate of 1.40% for the UK Skilled Tier 5 work visa in 2020.

Assessing the rejection rate by nationality, most countries recorded extremely low rates. Applicants from Belarus and Moldova were particularly fortunate, registering a zero rejection rate. The rejection rates for countries like Ukraine, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand were also notably low, all under 0.31%. While India and Nigeria had the highest rejection rates at 7.98% and 7.73% respectively, they were still significantly low in comparison to the high approval rate for Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visas in 2020.

9. FAQ Section

UK Visa Rejection Rate 2020: Key Points

Please note that the rates and statistics could vary greatly depending on the specific visa category, nationality, and other situational factors.