Shit Elon says

T. A. Gardner said:
You do know, that today it is harder to get into the UK from the US than it is from India or Pakistan don't you?
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No, it is significantly easier for US citizens to enter the UK than for citizens of India or Pakistan.


Visa/Entry Requirements​


  • US citizens: For short stays (up to 6 months) for tourism, visiting family/friends, or business, US passport holders generally do not need a full visa. Since early 2025, they require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) — a simple, low-cost (£10–£20), online pre-approval valid for up to 2 years and multiple entries. Approval is usually very quick (often within hours or a few days) with high success rates, similar to systems like the US ESTA. No biometrics or extensive documentation beyond basic details is typically needed.
  • Indian and Pakistani citizens: They are visa nationals and must apply for a full Standard Visitor Visa (or other category) in advance. This involves a more detailed application, biometrics (fingerprints and photo), supporting documents (proof of ties to home country, finances, itinerary, invitation letters if applicable), and fees that are higher than an ETA. Processing takes longer (often 3 weeks or more for standard service).

Approval/Refusal Rates (Visitor Visas)​


Recent UK Home Office statistics show substantial differences in outcomes:


  • India: Around 82% approval rate for visitor visas (roughly 18% refusal).
  • Pakistan: Much lower, around 55% approval (about 45% refusal) — one of the higher refusal nationalities.
  • US: Not meaningfully comparable because most short-term travel doesn't require a full visa application. The ETA process has very high approval (near-automatic for eligible travelers with clean records).

Overall visitor visa grant rates hover around 77–80%, but they vary sharply by nationality due to factors like economic conditions, prior travel history, and perceived risk of overstaying.


Other Practical Differences​


  • Processing and Effort: US travelers face minimal hassle (online ETA). Applicants from India/Pakistan deal with appointments at visa centers (e.g., VFS Global), gathering extensive evidence of "genuine visitor" intent (strong home ties, sufficient funds, return plans), and higher rejection risks leading to appeals or re-applications.
  • Context: Higher refusal rates for some nationalities often relate to stronger incentives for migration or weaker average documentation. US citizens benefit from strong bilateral ties, high living standards, and low overstay risk in UK assessments.
  • Other Visa Types (work, study, family): Similar patterns apply — more scrutiny and documentation for Indian/Pakistani applicants, with additional restrictions or caps sometimes discussed for higher-risk countries.

Bottom line: For typical tourist or short-term entry, it's much easier from the US (quick digital pre-approval) than from India or Pakistan (full visa process with lower success odds). Always check the official UK gov.uk site for the latest rules, as they can change. Requirements depend on your specific nationality, purpose of travel, and personal circumstances.


 
christiefan915 said:
Why is that?
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Because the UK decided to require anyone wanting to go there who is not from the UK or a former crown colony (aka the Commonwealth) to pay for a visa (ETA) in advance of travel while you can still go with no visa from a Commonwealth country. Both India and Pakistan are former Commonwealth countries so no visa is necessary.

www.gov.uk

Entering the UK

UK border control - passport checks, visas for entering, customs, transiting and layovers.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
 
T. A. Gardner said:
Because the UK decided to require anyone wanting to go there who is not from the UK or a former crown colony (aka the Commonwealth) to pay for a visa (ETA) in advance of travel while you can still go with no visa from a Commonwealth country. Both India and Pakistan are former Commonwealth countries so no visa is necessary.

www.gov.uk

Entering the UK

UK border control - passport checks, visas for entering, customs, transiting and layovers.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
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No, that page does not prove me (or the data) wrong. It actually supports the correct position.


The linked page is a general overview of UK border control. It states:


"You may also need a visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to come into or travel through the UK, depending on your nationality."
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It then directs readers to Check which documents you’ll need to come to the UK. This is the key tool, and it confirms what I've said:


  • US citizens: ETA required (simple online process).
  • Indian and Pakistani citizens: Full visa required.

There is no mention on that page (or the linked check tool) of India or Pakistan getting visa-free entry due to Commonwealth status. That claim is simply false. Many Commonwealth countries do require visas for UK entry—the UK ended automatic rights for most Commonwealth citizens decades ago through immigration acts in the 1960s–1980s.


Quick Verification Steps (You Can Do This Yourself)​


  1. Go to the official UK visa checker: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa
  2. Select "Visit" (tourism/short stay) + your nationality.
    • United States → ETA.
    • India or Pakistan → Visa required.

T. A. Gardner's interpretation confuses historical Commonwealth ties with current policy. The facts on approval rates, process burden, and requirements remain as I described: entry is meaningfully easier from the US for short-term visits.

T. A. Gardner is mistaken on the facts.


The claim in that forum post—that it's now "harder to get into the UK from the US than from India or Pakistan" because the UK requires an ETA from non-Commonwealth countries while India/Pakistan (as former Commonwealth nations) can enter visa-free—is incorrect.


Accurate Requirements (as of 2026)​


  • US citizens need only an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for short visits: quick online application, low fee (~£10-20), high approval rate, valid for 2 years/multiple entries. No full visa required.
  • Indian and Pakistani citizens are visa nationals and require a full Standard Visitor Visa in advance. This is a more involved process with applications, biometrics, supporting documents (proof of funds, ties to home country, itinerary, etc.), higher fees, and longer processing times.

India and Pakistan do not enjoy visa-free access to the UK for tourism/short visits. Commonwealth status does not grant automatic entry rights today—many Commonwealth countries (including India and Pakistan) have been subject to visa requirements for decades due to historical immigration policy changes.


Why the Confusion?​


The poster appears to be mixing up outdated or incorrect assumptions about Commonwealth privileges. While some Commonwealth citizens historically had easier access, modern UK policy distinguishes based on nationality-specific risk assessments, not just colonial history. Visa-free or ETA-eligible countries are mostly high-income, low-overstay-risk nations (e.g., US, Canada, Australia, EU countries, etc.). India and Pakistan fall into the visa-required category with documented lower grant rates for visitor visas.


My previous analysis stands, backed by UK government sources and statistics: short-term entry is substantially easier and less burdensome from the US. The ETA is a minor pre-clearance step, not comparable to a full visa application. Always verify on gov.uk for your specific situation.
 
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