UK visa, second time round (Indian passport holders). Wife has a clean passport. Agent or DIY?
Got my UK visa solo in 2019 on my Indian passport, no issues. It's in my old (now cancelled) passport. This time applying with my wife, also an Indian passport holder, who has zero visa history.
Also just had three back to back Georgia visa rejections (name mismatch twice, then a made up reason on attempt three, which was via an agent). So my faith in agents is shot right now.
Agent's quote for the UK visa for 6 months multi entry tourist visa:
- Agent fee: ₹3,000/person
- VFS "scanning fee": ₹1,700
- Embassy fee: £135
Questions:
- Does my old visa history change the paperwork for either of us? Old passport needed physically at VFS, or scan enough?
- Is ₹1,700 a real VFS line item or agent markup? I've read VFS's own service charge is usually ₹2,000-3,500 total, not a separate scanning fee.
- Is ₹3,000/person fair for a standard visit visa case?
- I applied myself in 2019 with no issues. Worth an agent this time, or is that just Georgia-induced anxiety talking?
- Any recent refusal patterns for Indian applicants I should watch for?
- Can any part of the VFS fee be avoided by doing the paperwork or formalities ourselves (self-scanning, self-upload, direct submission) instead of paying for it as a bundled service?
Want this frugal but not at the cost of another rejection.