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Obtaining a visitor’s visa to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a daunting and usually difficult task. I also think it is more difficult from some countries and therefore for some nationalities than others, although this is not admitted official government policy. Poorer people from poorer countries definitely have a harder time convincing embassy staff to grant a visa. This is not their personal vendetta, but a reflection of government policy, which, in turn, is supposed to be a reflection of the opinion of the majority of the British public. It is a good idea to bear this in mind when dealing with the embassy staff regarding a visa application for yourself or a friend.

It is worth pointing out here that a British (UK) visitor’s visa is valid for six months and multiple entries into the UK, although in practice, the first visa to be granted will usually be limited by a note pinned into the visitor’s passport. For example, if you have applied for a visa to visit friends for the month of, say, March, you would be granted a multiple entry, 180 day visa with a letter, signed by yourself, pinned into your passport, which states that you wish to visit the UK from March 1st to March 31st and that you will not attempt to extend that stay. The visa also precludes you from access to ‘public funds’ - social security, unemployment benefit, et etcetera.

Most people are refused a visa the first time because they do not have a strong enough, valid reason for going to Britain. If the reason is to visit a lover, then you have a far better chance if you can prove that you have had a ‘continuing relationship’ for at least six months. At this stage of the proceedings, all your efforts should be directed at validating the reason for your visit or proving your relationship.

I will concentrate on providing evidence of a continuing relationship. Most applicants from poorer countries will need a sponsor. This is usually an employer or a lover. Obviously, immigration stamps in a passport can prove how long it is possible that a couple could have known each other, but you will need more evidence than that. A letter from a friend, employer or relative stating when you met can help. However, you should keep all correspondence, telephone bills, bank statements (recording ATM transactions), restaurant receipts, theatre tickets, train and bus tickets, even menus and photos. In fact, anything that can help establish that you are having the relationship that you claim you are having and that you have had it for at least six months.

You could then obtain the application form (VAF 1,4) either by writing to or visiting the nearest British Embassy or Consulate or downloading it from the Internet. Most embassy sites provide excellent advice on what is required or recommended to put in the envelope with your visa application form, but it will include: two colour, passport-size photos; the application fee (about

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Is it possible? Yes. This guide gives you the low-down on how to see all the major landmarks and places of interest of Western Europe’s largest cosmopolitan city in only 48 hours.

10:30

It is possible to get acquainted with London relatively quickly. Arm yourself with an A-Z map book, the pocket version is perfectly adequate, a travel card, a good pair of walking shoes and London is yours to discover.

Start from somewhere central such as St James’s Park station and you can get around some of the major city sights as they are within easy walking distance of each other. You are already in the heart of Westminster. Straight ahead lies St James’s Park, the lake in the centre casts a viewpoint left up towards Buckingham Palace and right towards Whitehall.

11:00

Every morning at 11am the Queen’s regiments perform the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Wellington Barracks. They begin by warming up the band and marching the troops around the parade ground before heading over to the palace. They are joined by the Horse Guard coming up the Mall from St James’s Palace.

The centre piece in front of Buckingham Palace is the Victoria Memorial. To see if the current Queen is at home look to the roof. From the flag pole you will see either the Royal Standard, a white flag with the 4 crests of the Kingdom, which means she is at home. Or you will see the Union flag, the blue one marked with the red cross of St George (England), the red cross of St Patrick (Ireland) and the white cross of St Andrew (Scotland).

Green Park lies to the right of the palace. So named as the story tells that Charles I’s wife, on seeing her husband picking flowers for his mistress, stage actress Nell Gwyn, she ordered all the flowers beds to be ripped up. If Charles was not going to give her flowers he certainly wasn’t going to give them to anyone else.

Head down the Mall to the gates of St James’s Palace, just next door to Clarence House. Prince Charles resides in the Palace when he is in London, whereas the nation’s late favourite great grandmother, the Queen Mother, used to reside in Clarence House.

11:30

Westminster Abbey was begun by Edward the Confessor in 1055AD.Edward, obviously having something to confess, began constructing the Abbey but died before it’s completion. William the Conqueror continued the project in 1066 and had himself crowned inside. Every monarch has since been crowned in the Abbey.

The abbey was spared the hammer by Henry VIII because of this fact. Angered by the Pope’s refusal to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, Henry broke with the Catholic church and imposed an impossible annual

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Birmingham - known to the people who live there as ‘Brum’ - is the second-largest city in the UK (not Manchester, as people often mistakenly believe). It can trace its history all the way back to the Bronze Age, and there is still a Roman fort there today.

Originally, Birmingham was nothing more than a small farming village, and not a very good one at that - the soil there is of poor quality, and not really much good for farming. As late as the Domesday Book in the 11th century, Birmingham was a tiny village that no-one really paid much attention to.

It was the establishment of a market in 1154 that changed all that. All of a sudden, Birmingham was alive with trade, and started to develop large wool and leather trades. By the 16th century, Birmingham had become a centre of the metal and coal trades, as it was rich in natural materials that could be mined. It was during this time that Birmingham acquired a reputation for high-quality manufacturing, as transport costs to London and the coast forced Birmingham’s traders to go for high quality rather than low prices in order to make a profit.

By 1791, Birmingham was in the full swing of the Industrial Revolution, and was being described as “the first manufacturing town in the world”. Many of the inventions that would drive industry worldwide were first invented or tested in Birmingham, including the steam engine. Birmingham was covered first in canals, and then in railways, and was considered as important as London.

Today, Birmingham is a bustling city - although it is often considered grim compared to other British cities, there are some hidden pockets of greatness. It can be an interesting place to visit, as long as you plan where you’re going and take care not to wander off into the duller parts.

John Gibb is the owner of birmingham guides
For more information on Birmingham check out http://www.birmingham-did-you-know.info

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