Do I need a visitor visa for the UK?

Source: SA Migration, 22/03/2016

Do I need a visitor visa for the UK?
March 15, 2016 – SA Migration

The United Kingdom is still one of the most popular tourist
destinations for South Africans. With the large South African
community in the UK, there is also a very large number of South
Africans who visit the UK to spend some time with their families.
Others need to travel there for business purposes.
The most important thing for South Africans to keep in mind is that
they need to apply for a UK Visitor Visa before they travel to the UK
because South Africa is a visa-national country.
The standard UK Visitor Visa is granted for six months. It is also
possible to apply for long-term visit visas if you travel to the UK
regularly. These visas are valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years, but you are
only allowed to stay a maximum of 6 months during any given year.
Below we have compiled some answers to the most frequently asked
questions on the UK Visitor Visa.
I will be visiting Europe later this year. Will I be able to use my
Schengen Visa to enter the UK?
No, it is very important to remember that you need to apply for your
UK visitor visa before travelling to the UK. The Schengen visa is only
valid to travel to countries part of the Schengen agreement. The
United Kingdom is not a member of the Schengen agreement.
Do I need to do a TB test for the UK visitor visa?
Fortunately, there is not a Tuberculosis (TB) testing requirement for
the UK visitor visa. The TB testing requirement is only required for
South Africans applying for UK visas that allow them to remain in the
UK for more than 6 months at a time.
My daughter has established herself in the UK, and we are planning to
visit her often. Are there options for long term visit visas?
Yes, it is possible to apply for long-term visit visas, if you travel
to the UK regularly. These visas are valid for 1, 2, 5 or 10 years,
but you are only allowed to stay a maximum of 6 months during any
given year.
I have successfully applied for a 2-year visit visa to the UK. Will I
be able to stay for the entire duration the visa has been granted?
Unfortunately not, even though the Visitor Visa is granted for two
years, you are still only allowed to say in the UK for six months
during any given year.
I am planning to visit a friend of mine who lives in London, and in
between my stay in the UK want to do some sight-seeing in France and
Italy. Will I be able to do that on my same UK Visitor Visa?
You will be allowed to enter and leave the UK on multiple occasions,
provided that your UK visitor visa is still valid. You must also
inform your BIC consultant that you will be leaving the UK, for them
to apply for a dual entry visa. If your UK visitor visa is endorsed as
a single entry, you will only be allowed to enter the UK once. Please
also keep in mind that South African citizens who travel to European
countries such as France and Italy need to apply for a Schengen visa.
I am a South African citizen currently visiting my British partner on
a Visitor Visa in the UK and would like to apply for my settlement
visa while I am in the UK without needing to return to SA.
Unfortunately, South Africans can only apply for a visa in the UK if
they have a type of residence permit. The visitor visa only gives a
person tourist status, and therefore, they will have to return to
their country of residence and apply for entry clearance under a new
category.
I will be applying for my UK Visitor Visa. Am I also liable to pay the
new UK Immigration Health Surcharge?
Fortunately, the UK Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable by
persons applying for the UK Visitor Visa.