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UK
Student Visa
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Visa applications
have to be made on IM2A forms, which are available free of cost at the British Embassies.
This form has to be filled up by the student and submitted to the embassy, along with the
Visa application fee and the required documents as mentioned below.
Immigration Rules for Students |
You must intend to study at a
publicly funded university or college, a
bonafide private institution or a fee-paying independent school.
You must be able to and
intend to follow a full time degree course, or a weekday, full time course at a
single institution involving at least 15 hours of organized, daytime study per week.
You must be able to pay for your
course and the living expenses of your husband or wife and children (if they
are with you) without working in UK or claiming public funds.
You must not intend to work in UK
unless you are accepted for a
course lasting longer than six months, when you may work part-time or
during vacations.
You must intend to leave UK at
the end of your studies.
Documents Required For a Student Visa
- A letter of acceptance on the course
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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 law. The letter should state how long
the course will last. Where your course is more advanced and 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
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Depending on your
circumstances, this could include evidence of government sponsorship, a letter from a
sponsor in UK confirming they can support you, together with evidence that they can do
this, and/or your own bank statements. You should also provide a letter from your place of
study 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, your place of study may have given you information about
its availability, and you should bring this to the attention of the ECO. If your family is
coming with you to the UK, you will need to show that there will adequate accommodation
for them. If your place of study 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 you have found somewhere to live.
The Interview
Interview is a part of your visa application process.
The interview is to give you the opportunity to clarify for the ECO certain parts of your
application. The ECO will be aiming to satisfy him or herself that your study plans are
genuine and workable.
The interview is a normal part of the process, but you may feel quite nervous before it
and find it an uncomfortable experience. ECO’s are trained professionals who will try
to make the process as painless as possible, but the questions are necessarily very direct
and personal.
You should prepare for such an interview carefully. In particular:
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Be familiar with all your study
plans; why you chose the particular institution and course; how the course will help your
future career;
Be clear about the cost of living
and the course and your finances: do you have enough money to complete the course? Can you
prove it?
Be as clear as you can about your
likely future career in your country: what are you going to do on your return
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