Can My UK Visa be Denied Because of Debt?

Are you worried about how your debt might affect your UK visa? You’ve come to the right place. Each month, over 12,000 people visit this website for advice on topics just like this one.

In this article, we’ll cover:

•  How your UK visa application could be affected by debt.
•  What happens if you have debts but need to travel.
•  How to manage your repayments and deal with debt collectors.
•  What happens when you return to the UK with outstanding debts.
•  How moving abroad could impact your debts.

We understand that dealing with debt can be stressful; some of our team members have been in your shoes.

We’re here to provide you with clear, straightforward advice to help you manage your situation and make informed decisions.

Let’s take a look at your questions about debt and UK visas.

Could your UK visa application be denied due to debt?

Just because you’re in debt doesn’t necessarily mean a UK visa application will be turned down. With that said, it could be a contributing factor to why a visa application is denied, but not the sole reason. Moreover, it rarely happens.

Then there’s the question of the type of visa you’re applying for whether it’s an immigration visa or a tourist visa that could be taken into consideration.

The most common reasons why UK visas are denied include incomplete declarations or because a person overstayed a previous visit.

Do you have to pay?

There are ways to have debt written off in the UK.

If you genuinely can’t afford your debt repayments then looking into whether you could have your payments lowered or written off might be just what you need. 

If you want to find out whether you qualify for having debt written off or payments lowered then fill out the short form below.

How will debt impact your immigration status?

Being in debt on its own should not affect an immigration status but some things will. 

For example, the following would impact your current immigration status and any future applications:

• A history of criminal offences
• A record of overstaying a permitted time in the past

It’s worth noting that being in debt is not a crime and therefore it shouldn’t affect your immigration status unless you’ve committed some kind of fraud.

But if you are in debt and worried about it, you should contact one of the leading UK charities. They provide free debt advice on debt solutions which could be invaluable in getting your finances back on track.

Can you travel when in debt?

Like many people these days, chances are you’ve run up some credit card debt or fallen behind with payments on something. That said, this shouldn’t impact your ability to travel.

Provided you can show that you’re able to pay for your travel expenses and stay in the UK, a visa application should be approved.

That said, in some instances a UK visa application could be denied if a person shows adverse financial stability on their records.

Can you lower your repayments?

If you’re struggling to pay back your debt, then you might qualify for a debt solution.

Some solutions lower your monthly payments while others write off a portion of your debt. 

To find out whether they could work in your situation, hit the button below.

Get Started

What happens when you return to the UK with outstanding debts?

The debts you accrued before leaving the UK are still there. In fact, the interest and other fees will have negatively impacted how much you owe!

In short, you could find that you owe much more than you did before you left the country!

To make matters worse and more complicated, you may find you have County Court Judgements on your credit file. Your credit rating could be ruined and getting any sort of loan could be an impossibility!

That said, if the debt is 6 years old or more, it could be statute barred. But you must meet specific criteria for the Limitations Act to apply!

Who do you contact about a UK Visa application?

I’ve listed ways to find out about the UK Visa application process in the table below:

Will my debts follow me if I move abroad?

No. Your debt won’t follow you if you move abroad. Your creditors have no legal right to file a legal lawsuit against you in another country.

However, creditors could seize assets you own in this country if they win a case against you by default!

Also, your debts will exist for 6 years and will appear on your record until they expire! The problem is that debts that get written off could negatively impact your creditworthiness.

More so than any late payments!

Can you be stopped at an airport for being in debt?

No. You can’t be stopped at an airport just because you’re in debt. That said, if there’s a conviction on your record over a fraudulent debt, you could be arrested and detained!

Could you go to prison for debt?

No. You can’t be sent to prison because you’re in debt and owe money. That said, if there’s a hint of fraud involved, you could receive a custodial sentence if convicted!

Could you apply for a US green card when in debt?

Your US green card application could be denied if you’re in debt. Why? Because US Immigration Services take into account your financial status when you apply for a green card since a new law was introduced in 2019.

That said, if you have a drug-related conviction on your record, you’d be denied a visa to visit the States.

Check out what happened to one person years after they were convicted:

Source: Moneysavingexpert

How long does it take for debt to be statute barred?

The Limitations Act makes debts that are 6 years old or more statute barred. Therefore, the debts are unenforceable. But for this to be the case, specific criteria must be met.

Although creditors can no longer make you pay what’s owed, the debt still exists!

Also, worth noting is that if a debt is still ‘secured’ and you still live in a property with a mortgage or other secured loan, the debt cannot be statute barred!

If there’s a County Court Judgement against the debt, there’s no time limit on how long the debt can be enforced. But if the CCJ is over 6 years old, a creditor could get permission from the courts to enforce it!

Another thing to bear in mind is that if it’s a tax debt it’s not likely to be statute barred!

Lastly, can your UK visa be denied because of debt?

It’s highly unlikely that a UK visa application will be denied purely because you’re in debt.

There’ll be other contributing factors why an application is turned down but not solely because you owe money. Maybe you overstayed a previous visit or the type of visa you’re applying for means a deeper dive into your financial stability.

You may like to find out how to get out of debt before applying for a visa to avoid disappointment.

All in all, a UK visa application correctly filled out and submitted with all the relevant details provided should be granted. But each and every application is assessed on its own merits!

“It will only get worse” 😩

It’s cliché to say, but with debt it’s true; the longer you leave it, the worse the problem gets. 

There are straightforward and effective ways to deal with debt, but you have to know your options. 

Fill out the short form to find out about the debt solutions that could reduce your monthly payments or even write off some of your debt.

Get Started

Are you being chased by debt collectors?

If you’re stressed out because debt collectors are chasing you for an alleged unpaid debt, you may like these other posts:

• Do I pay PRA Group Ltd or not?
• Should you pay Lowell Portfolio or not?
• Do you have to pay Cabot debt collection?

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I hope the information in the post helps answer any questions you have about a UK visa application and debt.