UK Tourist visa for parents

[chandnip]

Hi,
My husband is a work permit holder in UK and I also work here on dependant visa. We want to bring our parents here for 1 month in June.
I have some queries about the UK tourist visa:
1)Can I submit the application,passport and documents by post?
Can I submit the application online at VISA4UK website?
2)Why is an appointment required at the Visa Application centre?Is it mandatory for every applicant to be interviewed?
3)Is a biometric test compulsory fromApril 2008 as per the website?Can anyone provide more details about when biometric details are collected and where.
4) Is it safer to submit application through an agent so that it doesnt get rejected?

Actually the main problem is that our parents live in a place where the Visa Application centres are not there. So they have to travel to nearby cities for the visa.
Any help is much appreciated.
Reards
Chandni

[vinny]

Assuming that your parents are applying from India:

VFS Global Ltd provides an on-line application system for UK visa applicants in India, Russia and Nigeria. Due to a technical problem the VFS on-line application system is currently unavailable.

How do I apply?

You must submit your visa application in person at the UK Visa Application Centres. This is because your biometrics details will be taken at the same time. We strongly recommend that you visit an Application Centre by prior appointment, saving you unnecessary waiting time.

The only way is the legal way

You may decide to submit your application to VFS via an independent Travel Agent, Immigration Agent or Consultant. These agents will charge for their services. Any such charge should be reasonable.

You should be careful when dealing with agents who make unrealistic claims. Agents cannot guarantee that they will be able to obtain a work or study visa for you. They cannot guarantee that your application will be resolved without an interview. They cannot guarantee the outcome of a visa application. They may be cheating you if they make these claims.

Many agents charge exorbitant fees for their services - often many times the actual cost of the visa. If an agent charges you anything more than a small and reasonable service charge, they may be overcharging you or they may be supplying you with false documents and statements. Visa officers will detect false documents and statements, and the visa application will be refused. You will lose all your money.

Remember the visa application is your application. You are the owner of the information and any supporting documentation. A genuine agent will only be able to help you to complete the form and advise as to what supporting documents you need to include. If you are suspicious, take advice from VFS. If you consider that you have been misled or cheated by an agent, then you should report the matter to the Police.

[chandnip]

Hi All.
I have got a few more problems with the UK tourist visa for my Mother and inlaws. They all are Indian nationals and live permanently in India.Currently I am staying in a studio flat.
1)I have read that the Visa officer might consider overcrowding in the flat.Will they know the size of the flat from the tenancy agreement that we provide?
What if we provide our bank statements as our proof of residence and do not provide the tenancy agreement?Will the visa be refused?
We will be taking up a bigger house once the visa is stamped.Can we just mention it in the application form. We can show good savings and a good salary to support our parents.
Also I am planning that I will apply my mother's visa first and after it is stamped we can apply for my in laws.This will not make the visa officer think about overcrowding and monetary support.

2) Secondly ,my mother is a widowed and lives with her son and daughter-in-law in India. Shw will be visiting me for the first time for 3-4 weeks. What reason can I show for her (in the application form)to return back to her India after the stay?
She was a housewife and has never worked all her life.

Please advise what we should do
Regards
Chandni