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UK VISA INFORMATION
UK Visa Categories
Visas for the UK are
divided into three categories as follows:
1. European
Area
If you are a national of a
European Union country or are from Norway or Iceland you are free to enter the
UK to study, live and work and you do not need a visa. European Union citizens
face fierce competition from British students and also have to pay the same
tuition fees of up to £1,000 a year depending on financial circumstances.
Icelandic and Norwegian students have to pay full fees as international
students, but do not need work visas and so can fund their course by working.
You must meet the following conditions
in order to enter the UK
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You must have been accepted for a course of study at a publicly
funded university or college, or a bona fide* private
institution , or a fee paying independent school.
>
You must be able and intend to follow a full-time degree course,
or a weekday full-time course at a single institution involving
at least 15 hours per week of organised, day-time study or a
full-time course of study at an independent fee paying school.
>You
must be able to meet the costs of your course and maintenance
(living expenses, including accommodation) and the maintenance
of your husband/wife and children (if they are with you) without
working in the UK or claiming public funds.
>You
must not intend to work in the UK, except part-time or vacation
work.
>You
must intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies.
2. Non-Visa
Nationals
Non-visa nationals are from countries that don't require a visa
to enter Britain, you can arrive with the necessary
documentation and be issued the visa when you arrive. You need:
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Proof that you have been accepted onto a full-time course at a
UK school, college or university (totaling 15 or more hours a
week).
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A letter from your new school, college or university, on their
official headed paper, to state that you have paid your deposit
and/or your tuition fees.
> Proof that you have
the funds to pay for your study and living expenses. This could
be in the form of travellers' cheques in sufficient quantity to
cover your expenses, a bank draft drawn on a UK bank, letters or
bank documents from sponsors, or a combination of all these
things. You will have to show that you will not have recourse to
public funds that you can support yourself financially without
relying on the British welfare state or by working to fund your
studies.
If you are staying for
longer than six months, your finances will be inspected much
more rigorously. It is advisable to submit your documentation to
the British Embassy/High Commission in your own country and get
entry clearance (a visa) prior to arrival. Your status can still
be challenged but you have the right to lodge an appeal and
remain in Britain while your case is heard. If you were
intending to be issued with a visa on arrival you could be sent
back at your own expense. There are plenty of scare stories
around, but this is unlikely to happen in practice unless you
have done something that arouses suspicion. This might include
travelling back and forth from Britain a number of times over a
short period, appearing to have little money, or enrolling at a
school with a reputation as a visa factory.
You can bring your
partner/husband/wife or children with you. However, they will
require a separate student dependent visa, which they must
obtain before they arrive (even though your own visa can be
issued on arrival). To obtain this you will have to show that
you can support them out of your own pocket. Remember that it
can be very difficult to find accommodation for families and
what there is tends to be expensive, so try and make
arrangements before you arrive. Most universities can offer
family accommodation, but space is limited. Be as organised in
your arrangements as possible, as this will make you look more
credible in the eyes of immigration officials.
You could also enter
Britain as a tourist. In theory non-visa nationals can then
apply to have it changed to a student visa without leaving the
country as an in-country application. In practice this is not
advisable as the immigration department is inherently suspicious
of people who change the purpose of their stay while they are in
Britain. You may succeed in getting your visa changed this way,
but you will get a grilling in the process. Many people come to
Britain on a tourist visa, and then look around for a school to
enroll in. Be careful, because you could end up being deported
if you are thought to have deliberately deceived the immigration
department. The best thing to do is to apply for a prospective
student visa in your home country. You will need to show that
you have the finances to support your course and will be allowed
to stay in the UK for a maximum of six months.
3. Visa Nationals
Visa nationals need to get a student visa from their nearest
British Embassy, Consulate or High Commission before arriving in
Britain. In order to get this you will need to show the
following:
> Proof that you have
been accepted for a full-time course (15 or more hours a week)
at a reputable UK college or university. If it is at a language
school it is preferable for it to be an ARELS or British Council
accredited school.
> A letter from your
new school, college or university, on their official headed
paper, to state that you have paid your deposit and/or tuition
fees.
>Proof that you have
the funds to pay for your study and living expenses. This could
be in the form of traveler's cheques in sufficient quantity to
cover your expenses, a bank draft drawn on a UK bank, letters or
bank documents from sponsors, or a combination of all these
things. Immigration officials prefer a bank draft as this is the
most difficult to forge and can be checked with the issuing
bank. You will have to show that you will not have recourse to
public funds. The longer your proposed stay, the more convincing
your financial credentials will need to be.
You will need to get
your visa, and bring it along with all the above documentation
when you enter Britain, as immigration officials may wish to see
on arrival. If you have been given entry clearance in your home
country this is usually sufficient. However, your right of entry
may be challenged if immigration officials believe that there
has been a change of circumstances or you have not disclosed, or
have hidden, some relevant information. In this situation, you
have the right to remain in Britain while you lodge an appeal.
If you entered the UK
as a tourist you will not be able to get your tourist visa
changed to a student visa in Britain. You will have to leave the
country, and re-apply for a student visa before re-entering.
How to apply for entry clearance ( visa)
You must apply for entry clearance at the British Embassy or
High Commission in the country of your nationality, or the
country in which you are living. You should ask for form
IM2A.The IM2A form is now accompanied by an IM2S form, which is
intended to be completed by all visitors to the UK who intend to
be students. Once you have the form, you should take the time to
fill it in carefully. It is a good idea to do it in pencil first
in case you make a mistake. In any event, you should keep a copy
of the completed form for your own records.
You must then submit
the following (by hand or post) to the British Embassy or High
Commission:
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The completed form
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Your passport
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2 recent passport-sized photographs
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The fee is currently £33 for single entry - paid in local
currency and non-refundable
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The relevant documents showing that the requirements of the
above Immigration Rules can be met
Do not send cash
through the post but use a postal/money order or bank draft
payable to the High Commission/Consulate.
Required documents
All persons seeking entry clearance as students will be expected
to produce various documents to show that they meet the
Immigration Rules for students.
The institution where
you have a place to study should send you appropriate
documentation for entry clearance purposes. If you do not have
such documentation to give to the entry clearance officer (or to
the immigration officer at the port of entry), the immigration
authorities may have to make a judgment without the benefit of
adequate information. This could easily lead to a refusal of
entry clearance or entry to the UK.
Entry Clearance Checklist
This is a list of the documentations and information you should
have before you apply for the Entry Clearance
A letter of
acceptance on the course
This will be a letter from your institution confirming that a
place has been offered to you and that the course is full-time
as defined by the Immigration Rules. The duration of the course
should be stated. Where your course is more advanced or
specialized, the letter should also state what level of English
is needed for the course (giving minimum test marks, if
appropriate) and confirm that you satisfy this requirement.
Evidence that you
can pay the course fees and support yourself and your family (if
applicable)
Depending on your circumstances, this could include evidence of
a government sponsorship, a letter from a sponsor in the UK
confirming s/he can support you together with evidence that s/he
can do this, and/or your own bank statements. You should also
provide a letter from your institution stating the full cost of
the course, what arrangements are acceptable for payment and
whether you have already paid fees or a deposit.
Accommodation
Although the Immigration Rules do not require unaccompanied
students to show that accommodation has been arranged, the
institution may have provided you with information about its
availability and you should bring this to the attention of the
entry clearance officer. If your family are coming with you to
the UK, you will need to show that there will be adequate
accommodation for them. If the institution cannot confirm that
family accommodation will be available, you may have to consider
travelling to the UK alone and making arrangements for your
family to join you when accommodation has been secured.
Problems
Even if you think you have provided all the correct information
and documentation, you may still face problems obtaining entry
clearance. If your entry clearance has been refused or if the
entry clearance officer has not refused your application but
says that s/he is not satisfied with the evidence you have
provided, you should contact your institution for assistance as
soon as possible. If you cannot do this, for instance if the
institution is closed for the holidays, you can contact your
nearest British Council office.
For complete
Information on visa requirements and visa applications,
Please vist
www.ukvisas.gov.uk
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