Visa information for students

Immigration law in UK has changed, The New Student Visa – Tier 4 Points Based System – please read this information carefully.

Some students may need to apply for a visa (entry card) to study in the UK. To find out if you will need a visa and to see where your nearest British Embassy or Consulate is, you can visit this website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

General Student Visa (Adult student)

The General Student Visa, applying from outside of the UK will cost 145 GBP and have a full range of entitlements:

1. to switch to another visa category (such as a Tier 1 highly-skilled migrant and work in the UK)
2. to work part-time (maximum 20 hours a week during the course, and full-time in vacations)
3. to extend your stay by applying while in the UK
4. to bring in dependants (such as partner or children) who may themselves work if the student has a visa for 12 months or more. Your dependants have to apply for a dependant visa.

To apply for General Student Visas, students must:

1. be 16 or over
2. be enrolled at an accredited institution which is on the Register of Sponsors (RoS) and have a Sponsor License Number (SLN)
3. be enrolled on a course with a minimum of 15 hours a week of organised daytime study. You can study full time (15 hours per week), intensive (21 hours per week) or intensive plus (24+ hours per week). • and, if the course involves work placement, the study element of the course must be no less than 50% of the total and the course and work placement must both be at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3 (A level equivalent) • and, if English language students, the course must be at Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level A2 (total beginners at A1 must come through the Student Visitor route).>
4. have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) or visa letter from a school of English.

Those on a General Student Visa studying below degree level will be able to spend a maximum of 3 years following such courses.

To apply for a General Student visa, a student must be able to follow a course at CEFR level A2, ie already have studied English to the level of competence set out as A1 and be prepared to move on to A2.

You must have reasonable evidence to suppose that this is the case before a visa letter/CAS can be issued.

You could submit any ONE of the following documents as evidence (original copies must be sent):

1. an internationally-recognised certificate in English, eg Cambridge English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) Key English Test (KET)
2. college or university certificate showing attendance at/achievement in an English course
3. a secondary school attendance record or leaving certificate showing that the student had had English classes for 3/4/5 years (A translated and verified copy is required)
4. a secondary school examination certificate showing some form of English language achievement
5. attendance certificate from evening classes in English
6. a reference from an appropriately-qualified person to state that the student has previously studied English, citing the course and dates and giving the referee’s contact details, and preferably certifying that the person has interviewed the student and finds their level of English to be adequate to take the intended course

Students must be able to show that they have enough money available to pay for their course fees and living costs in the UK without working or using public funds.

The money must be:

1. in cash
2. in an account on which the student is the named account holder or is one of the named account holders
3. in a bank or financial institution which has signed up to the international anti-money laundering agreements
4. held in the account for at least 28 days prior to the date of the visa application

The proof of funds can be:

1. bank account statements
2. building society/savings account type passbook
3. dated and signed letter from the financial institution saying that the named student is an account holder, the account number, and the funds in the account over the 28 day period (which must be enough to cover the course fees and living costs at the current exchange rate as calculated by www.oanda.com/convert/classic).

The amount of funds required are:

1. the course fees for the actual length or first year of the course, whichever is the shorter
2. living costs for the length of the course or 9 months, whichever is the shorter.

Living costs are:

1. £800 a month if the main study site is in London
2. £600 a month everywhere else

Students who leave the education institution to which their visa is tied without an agreed transfer will be held to have broken the terms and conditions of their visa and may be deported.

Student Visitor Visa

If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a visitor to study you must:

• genuinely be seeking entry as a student visitor for the limited period you tell us you require that does not exceed six months;
• have been accepted on a course of study that will be provided by an organisation included on the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills' register of education and training providers (Crest Schools of English is included on the register);
• leave the United Kingdom at the end of the visit you told us about;
• support and pay for accommodation for yourself and any dependants without help from public funds; or
• ensure that you and your dependants will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends and not take employment; and
• be able to meet the cost of the return or onward journey.

You must not:

• take employment in the United Kingdom;
• engage in business, produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including selling goods or services direct to members of the public;
• study at a government-funded school;
• be a child under the age of 18;
• undertake part-time (up to 20 hours), or full-time vacation employment;
• undertake a work placement or internship (paid or unpaid) as part of your course of study; or
• extend your stay in the United Kingdom.

The difference between General/Student visa and Student Visa

General Student Visa (also known as Adult Student Visa) - up to three years stay

You can apply as a general student if you are studying on either a full-time degree or a course of 15 hours a week, weekday, daytime study AND the course is at NQF level 3 or above OR A2 in the European Framework (for English courses)

You must apply from your country of residence

Your permission should include permission to work a limited number of hours

You will be able to apply to extend this permission from inside the UK (if moving onto a suitable course within one month of expiry).

If you’re under 18, your application must be supported by your parent/ parents or legal guardian.

You must meet the financial requirements (an information sheet on this is available)

There may be an obligation on the University to report non-enrolment, non-attendance etc. (in specific circumstances).

Student Visitor Visa - up to six months stay

You can apply for this ONLY if you intend to undertake a short course or period of study which will be completed within the period of the student visitor leave (maximum of six months)

You can apply on entry to UK if you are a non - visa national*

Visa nationals* must apply from an appropriate British Diplomatic Post outside the UK.

You will NOT be given permission to work (this includes unpaid work and internships etc.)

You will NOT be able to extend this permission.

You will have to leave the UK before your permission expires.

The course or period of study does not need to meet the requirement of general student permission . It does not need to be a full-time course of study or need to consist of a minimum of 15 hours daytime study per week.

The course or period of study can be undertaken any time of the day or evening.

You will need to show you can maintain and accommodate yourself (and any dependants) adequately out of resources available to them without recourse to public funds or taking employment or show that you will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends.

You will have to show that you can meet the costs of the return or onward journey

You must be over 18.

* If you are not sure whether you are a “visa national”, please look at the following website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk

Please see full document from home office for all other visas.

StudyStore will not be held responsible for changes introduced by the Home Office which might affect students’ status and will not be held liable for the above information. For more information, please visit UKBA website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/