STUDENT
VISA PROCESSProcess to obtain British Student Visa for international students
Immigration and student visa Information for UK
For EEA Students
If you are a student from EEA country that is - European Union plus
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, then you can enter
United Kingdom with minimum formalities. If you are
from EEA then it is so easy for you to enter UK that
you don't even need to obtain UK Student visa.
However, you'll be
asked to present evidences that you have been approved
for the course of study you have selected and you have
sufficient funds to stay and study in United Kingdom.
In addition to this, you'll also need a valid
passport.
For Non EEA Students
If you do not belong to EEA (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway) then you'll have to fulfill some immigration
requirements. Students belonging to many countries
will need to obtain a British Student Visa to study in
UK. They can do this at the British
Embassy, High Commission or Consulate of Britain.
Students from some Commonwealth countries where
obtaining a student visa is not compulsory must also
have to get entry clearance before leaving their home.
This is to make sure a Right of Appeal in the unlikely event
that entry is refused. To verify either you need to
obtain a visa or not, visit Foreign and Commonwealth Office web page
at
http://fco.gov.uk/travel/imm_visa.asp
Documents Required to Obtain British Student Visa
- A
valid passport
- A
letter of unconditional acceptance for a full-time
course from a university
- Mark sheets of previously joined exams
- Evidence of your financial ability to meet, without working in
the UK, the costs of your course, accommodation and
maintenance and to support any dependants accompanying
you.
- Letters of recommendations are appreciated
Time of validity of the student visa to be received
is usually determined by the length of your course of
study.
When you arrive
in the United Kingdom, an immigration officer may question you, so
don't forget to take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.
Student Visa Doesn't Allow
- working
more than 20 hrs per week.
- your
placement is part of your studies, has the agreement
of your education institution and leads to a degree or
qualification awarded by a nationally recognized
examining body
- do
business, be self-employed or provide services as a
professional sportsperson or entertainer
- work
full-time in a permanent job
Passport
stickers, stamp and length of stay
When you apply for a student visa at a British Embassy,
Consulate or High Commission outside the UK, you will
receive a sticker known as vignette, in your passport
with the conditions and length of stay. When you
arrive at the airport, you will receive a stamp to
show when you entered the United Kingdom.
If you are applying for entry at a port of entry (you
can only do this if you are from a non visa required nation),
you will get a stamp in your passport with conditions and length of stay.
Most of the overseas students (from outside the European
Union) are initially given the right to stay for one
year. But there is nothing to worry about, if you want
to stay longer as a student then you may extend your
visa validity length as a student.
The Immigration Officer may endorse on your passport
with any other restriction that may apply to you.
