What sort of documents do I have to show?
Everyone's circumstances are different. This is why BHC/BDHC don't ask for a set list of documents. BHC/BDHC has given you a general idea of the kinds of documents which will help the visa officer check that you have met the immigration rules. It is up to you whether you send BHC/BDHC these documents, or different ones. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have read the available information on the category of visa you want to apply for. The list below does not cover every single situation, and producing all the documents on it will not guarantee you a visa. Please make sure that you include all supporting papers with your application, and don't send or fax BHC/BDHC any papers separately.

Will you accept photocopies of documents?
Where possible, please send original documents. BHC/BDHC see a lot of forged documents, and it is easier for UK visas to confirm that an original document is genuine, rather than a photocopied one. BHC/BDHC can examine original documents to make sure that they have not been tampered with. But BHC/BDHC realise that some documents are too valuable for you to want to send them with your application, for example, a US Green Card. In these cases, please send BHC/BDHC a good-quality photocopy of the original. Also, please make sure that, wherever possible, you do not laminate your documents.

Will you accept documents which aren't in English?
If you want to send BHC/BDHC documents which are not in English, BHC/BDHC strongly advise you to get them translated beforehand. It will help the visa officer to make a decision if all supporting papers have been translated into English.

Are there any documents which you don't need to see?
Please don't send BHC/BDHC credit cards, or original airline tickets.

What happens if I don't send the suggested documents?
If you have not included the documents BHC/BDHC need to see with your application, the official at VFS, our commercial partners, will point this out to you. She or he will also ask you if you want to make your application, knowing that you do not have all the documents to support it. It is entirely up to you whether you go ahead with your application or not. You can find more detailed information on UK visa requirements by visiting http://www.ukinnigeria.com or by contacting a VFS official.

What if I want to apply for a visa for my child?
If your child is under 18, as well as meeting the immigration rules, they must show that they have a parent or guardian who is responsible for their care, and that they have suitable travel and care arrangements for when they travel to the UK. From 12 February 2006, the name of the adult accompanying them to the UK will now be on the visa, and the child must travel with this adult. If travel plans change and the child will travel on their own, or with another adult, you must apply for a new visa.

How do I make my application?
You must make your application in person due to the requirement to collect biometric data from all applicants. Please allow enough time for BHC/BDHC to process your application, and remember that at busy times of the year, it may take slightly longer for BHC/BDHC to make a decision about your application. BHC/BDHC recommend that you do not buy your ticket before BHC/BDHC have issued your visa.

• A passport, which is valid for at least six months. The visa BHC/BDHC place in your passport will take up one full page, so please make sure that your passport has at least one spare page with no stamps, visas or endorsements on it.
  
• A recent passport-sized colour photo, on a white background, 45 millimeters (2 inches) high and 35 millimeters (1.5 to 2 inches) wide. This should be glued, not stapled, to the application form.
  
• The correct fee.
  
• A fully filled-in and signed application form. Please make sure you use a current form, as BHC/BDHC cannot accept the out-of-date versions
  

You can send us the following documents.

To satisfy the visa officer that you plan to leave the UK at the end of your visit

• You could show evidence of your personal circumstances in Nigeria, for example, letters of employment, evidence of a regular salary (if you have one) in the form of wage slips or bank statements, and evidence of your assets.

To satisfy the visa officer that you have enough money to support yourself and live or stay in the UK without working or needing any help from public funds

• If your sponsor, employer or anyone else is supporting you, you could show evidence of his or her immigration status in the UK. This includes six months' itemized bank statements, pay slips and evidence that they are willing to pay for your stay in the UK.
  
• If you are paying for any part of the trip yourself, you could show evidence of your personal circumstances in Nigeria, for example, letters of employment, six months' itemized bank statements, and evidence of your assets.
  
• If you are visiting the UK, you could show evidence that you have somewhere to stay, for example, a hotel reservation or a letter from your sponsor confirming that you are staying with them.
  
• If you are spending a longer period of time in the UK, for example, as a student or with a work permit, the visa officer needs to be satisfied that you have somewhere to live, that it is suitable for you and your family, and that the person who owns or rents it is willing to let you live there. You could do this by providing a local-authority property report, or written confirmation from the mortgage lender.

If you are going to the UK with a work permit

• You must present the original work permit within six months of it being issued, and travel to the UK before the work permit runs out. BHC/BDHC cannot accept photocopies or out-of-date work permits

If you are going to the UK as a student

• You need to show that you can pay for your course, support yourself and any dependants, and live in the UK without working or needing help from public funds - see the previous page.
  
• You need to show that you plan to leave the UK when you complete your studies (see the previous page), although if you are a degree student and you successfully complete your studies, you may be able to take work-permit employment if you meet the requirements for this.
  
• A good way to show your academic ability is to provide any relevant diplomas or educational certificates that you have. If you have a degree, it is helpful to send BHC/BDHC any passing certificates as well as your degree certificate.
  
• A good way to show that your English is good enough for you to follow the course is to provide an original certificate from an organization which tests English ability. Two such organizations are International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
  
• A good way of showing that you have been accepted and that the course meets the immigration rules is to provide a letter from the institution confirming this, together with a statement of charges for the course.
  
• Your chosen educational establishment must be included on the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) Register of Education and Training Providers.
  
• You'll need to fill in another checklist along with your visa application form. Or you can apply on-line (see the previous page).

If you are going to the UK as a dependant of someone who is already there

• You can show BHC/BDHC that you are related to them by sending us a copy of your marriage certificate. If children are applying to join a parent in the UK, we need to see their birth certificates.
  
• You can also send BHC/BDHC evidence of their immigration status there, for example, a copy of the work-permit pages of their passport.

What documents do I need to live in the UK permanently (this is called a settlement application)?
You must provide the following documents:

• A passport which is valid for at least six months. The visa we place in your passport will take up one full page, so please make sure that your passport has at least one spare page with no stamps, visas or endorsements on it.
  
• A recent passport-sized colour photo, on a white background, 45 millimeters (2 inches) in height and 35 millimeters (1.5 to 2 inches) wide. This should be glued, not stapled, to the application form.
  
• The correct fee.
  
• A fully filled-in and signed application form. Please make sure you use a current form, as BHC/BDHC cannot accept the out-of-date versions.

You can send BHC/BDHC the following documents:

• To show that you are legally married to each other or are in a civil partnership recognized in the UK (see note below): You could show a letter from your official sponsor, evidence of your relationship, evidence of your sponsor's immigration status in the UK, and a copy of your sponsor's passport.
  
• To show that your husband, wife or civil partner is present and settled in the UK (see note below): You could show a letter from your official sponsor, evidence of your relationship, evidence of your sponsor's immigration status in the UK, and a copy of your sponsor's passport.
  
• To show that your husband, wife or civil partner is not under 18: You could show a letter from your official sponsor, evidence of your relationship, evidence of your sponsor's immigration status in the UK, and a copy of your sponsor's passport.
  
• To show that you both plan to live together permanently as husband and wife or as civil partners: If your relationship has lasted for some time, you could provide evidence that it is ongoing, for example, letters and phone bills.
  
• To show that you have met each other before: You could show photographs, or your marriage certificate may be enough.
  
• To show that you can support yourselves and any dependants without any help from public funds: It helps if you show evidence that you or your sponsor (or both of you) will be supporting you. This could include evidence of your sponsor's immigration status in the UK, six months' itemized bank statements, evidence of your or your sponsor's savings, your P60, or a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (if relevant).
  
• To show that you have suitable accommodation, which is owned or lived in only by you and your household, and where you and your dependants can live without any help from public funds: You could provide evidence in the form of a letter from the mortgage company or tenant to show that the accommodation you plan to live in is owned outright, mortgaged or leased. You could also provide a property inspection report, or another independent report to show that the accommodation is suitable for your family circumstances, for example, that there are enough bedrooms for you all.
  
  Note: You can find more information on what 'legally married' and 'civil partnership' mean by visiting www.ukvisas.gov.uk and reading Guidance - Husbands, wives and partners (INF 4).