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Making an immigration application as a student visitor

7 December 2012


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Warning: The UK Border Agency (UKBA) makes regular changes to the guidance it issues on student applications. Before you make your application, check the UKCISA information sheets [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php] to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of this information sheet.

Who is this information sheet for?

This information sheet is for you if you are currently outside the UK and you want to come to study in the UK as a 'student visitor' (or as a 'child visitor' if you are under 18 years old) because either:

  • you are not eligible to apply for a Tier 4 student visa OR
  • you have chosen not to apply for a Tier 4 student visa as you meet the requirements for a 'student visitor' or 'child visitor' visa.
This information sheet explains what you need to do to get immigration permission in order to come to study in the UK as a 'student visitor' or as a 'child visitor'.

If you are a national of the European Economic Area (EEA), or of Switzerland or the family member of such a person, then the procedures in this information sheet do not apply to you. Instead, you should read the information for EEA and Swiss students [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/eea.php].

If you are applying as a student visitor and you have family (spouse, partner and/or children) who want to come with you to the UK, they must apply to come to the UK in their own right as general visitors. As general visitors they will be allowed to come to the UK for a maximum of six months and will not be allowed to work. If your dependants want to study, they should also apply as student visitors.

If you are eligible, and choose, to apply under Tier 4, then your family may be able to apply as your dependants, in which case you should read the information sheets Making a Tier 4 (General) application [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/immigration_uk.php] and Your family's immigration [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.php].

What's new?

We have added some advice for non-visa nationals applying on entry to the UK as student visitors, in the section Student visitors who wish to come to the UK for up to 6 months

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Introduction

'Special visitor: Student visitor' is a category of the Immigration Rules that allows students who are 18 years old or over to enter the UK for up to 6 months to study a short course. Under a concession within the Entry Clearance Guidance for Special Visitor: Student visitor, there is also an English Language concession which allows someone to come to the UK for up to 11 months to study an English language course. The guidance states that this concession was introduced in January 2011 "for a limited period", and therefore it could be withdrawn at any time.

As a student visitor, you must leave the UK on or before the date that your immigration permission ends. Student visitors are not allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while still in the UK. If you wish to continue studying in the UK after your immigration permission as a student visitor has come to an end, you will need to return home and apply for entry clearance as a Tier 4 (General) student, or in another appropriate immigration category.

As a student visitor, you cannot do any kind of work or work placement during your studies in the UK. If you want to be allowed to work in the UK during your studies, you would need to apply to enter the UK as a Tier 4 (General) student or in another appropriate immigration category. For information about which Tier 4 (General) students can work in the UK, see Making a Tier 4 application [www.ukcisa.org.uk/info_sheets/immigration_uk.php]applying_home_country.php].

For further information, please read the UK Border Agency (UKBA) information [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/student/visa/].


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Student visitors who wish to come to the UK for up to 6 months

Students who want to come to the UK under this route must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be at least 18 years of age
  • You must already have an unconditional offer to study in the UK
  • The period of study must be completed within 6 months. This includes students who may need to come back to the UK to re-sit an exam or repeat a module, and distance learning students who do not meet the requirements for Tier 4 but occasionally need to visit the UK. In this case, the overall course of study might be more than 6 months in total. However the time required to re-sit an exam, repeat a module or undertake study which is part of a distance learning course in the UK must be less than 6 months
  • You must intend to study at an education provider which:
  • The course does not have to lead to a specific qualification
  • There are no minimum academic requirements for immigration purposes, the course can be at any level, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria
  • You are not required to have a minimum English language ability, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria
  • There are no minimum hours which you must be studying during your time in the UK (you are allowed to study part-time or full-time as a student visitor)
  • You will not be allowed to do any kind of work or work placement (even if it is part of your course, or is unpaid)
  • If you are a visa national, you must apply for entry clearance (see the Immigration Rules, Appendix 1 [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendix1/] for a current list of visa nationals).
  • If you are a non-visa national, you can apply for entry clearance or you can apply to enter the UK as a student visitor on arrival at the port of entry.
  • You can change your course of study as long as the total length of the course is within the period of leave you have been granted, and the place of study still meets the criteria

If you are a non-visa national and you intend to apply for permission to enter the UK on arrival, you should carry with you all documents required to support your application to enter the UK as a student visitor. This includes evidence of your unconditional offer to study in the UK and evidence of your finances. You will have to show these documents to the Border Force Officer (BFO) on arrival at the port of entry. It is important you ask to be admitted as a student visitor (rather than as a general visitor) - you will need to make a special effort to talk to the  Border Force Officer to explain that. Make sure that they look at your student visitor visa letter (which confirms your unconditional offer and acceptance on the course), and ask that the stamp you get in your passport indicates you are here as a student visitor.

Note: It is a good idea to carry with you all of the documents that you submitted with your immigration application, even if you have already obtained entry clearance as a student visitor before travelling to the UK. The BFO may ask to see these documents when you arrive in the UK.


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Student visitors who wish to come to the UK for up to 11 months to study an English language course

Students who want to come to the UK under this extended route must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be at least 18 years of age
  • You must already have an unconditional offer to study an English language course in the UK
  • You must be intending to study an English language course only (you are not allowed to combine an English language course with any other studies)
  • Your English language course must be completed within 11 months
  • You must intend to study at an education provider which:
  • The English language course does not have to lead to a specific qualification
  • There are no minimum academic requirements for immigration purposes, the course can be at any level, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria
  • You are not required to have a minimum English language ability, but your course provider may have specific admissions criteria
  • There are no minimum hours which you must be studying during your time in the UK (you are allowed to study part-time or full-time as a student visitor)
  • You will not be allowed to do any kind of work or work placement (even if it is part of your course, or is unpaid)
  • You must apply for entry clearance before travelling to the UK. It does not matter if you are a visa national or a non-visa national.

Note: It is a good idea to carry with you all of the documents that you submitted with your immigration application for entry clearance as a student visitor. The Border Force Officer (BFO) may ask to see these documents when you arrive in the UK.


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How do I apply for entry clearance as a student visitor?

You must apply for entry clearance as a student visitor before travelling to the UK if

  • you are a visa national (see the Immigration Rules, Appendix 1 [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendix1/] for a current list of visa nationals) AND you want to study any course for up to 6 months
  • you want to study an English language course which will last for more than 6 months but less than 11 months - it does not matter if you are a visa national or a non-visa national.
Entry clearance as a student visitor can be applied for from within any country outside of the UK.

If you are a non-visa national, you do not need to obtain entry clearance if you wish to come to the UK as a student visitor for up to 6 months. You can choose either to apply for entry clearance or you can apply to enter the UK as a student visitor on arrival at the port of entry.

Your application for entry clearance as a student visitor must include the following:

  • The completed application form - VAF 1D Student Visitor
  • The current application fee in local currency (£78 for student visit visas up to 6 months, £140 for student visit visas up to 11 months)
  • Your current travel document
  • One passport sized colour photograph
  • Evidence of your unconditional offer to study in the UK (this can be the offer letter from the institution that you intend to study at)
  • Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself (pay for your tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses) while you are in the UK. There are no specific requirements which state the amount of money you must show when you apply for a student visitor visa. However you must show that you have enough money to support yourself without recourse to public funds (see Definition of terms below) and without working. It is advisable to provide evidence that you have enough money to cover your course fees plus accommodation and living expenses. Using the Tier 4 maintenance figures as a guide only, it would be reasonable to show that you have the equivalent of £800 per month, or £1000 per month if studying in Inner London, for the duration of your course. If you will be staying with friends or family while in the UK, which will decrease your living costs, you can include evidence of this.
  • All other supporting documents listed in the UKBA's website information for visiting the UK [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/student/documents/].

You must submit the original documents along with a photocopy of each. You will also need to provide a translation of any documents which are not already in English. Please read the UKBA's information on supporting documents [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/out-of-country/visitors.pdf] for further details.

You must submit your completed immigration application to your nearest UK Embassy, High Commission or Consulate (or the local visa application centre). You may be able to submit your application online, please see the UKBA information entitled Apply online [https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal].

When your entry clearance is granted, check the vignette (sticker) in your passport to make sure it states:

  • The date that your entry clearance is valid from - do not enter the UK before this date
  • The date that your entry clearance ends. You should be granted immigration permission to enter the UK for the full 6 months, if your period of study is 6 months or under. You should be granted immigration permission to enter the UK for the full 11 months, if your English language course will be over 6 months and no more than 11 months
  • whether it tells you to register with the police on arrival in the UK, or not. If it does, you will be expected to register with the police within 7 days of your arrival. Not all student visitors are given entry clearance that requires them to register with the police.

NOTE: You must leave the UK on or before the date that your immigration permission ends, as stated in your entry clearance vignette. If you obtain permission to enter the UK on arrival, your immigration permission will end 6 months after the entry date stamped in your passport. You will not be able to extend your stay as a student visitor from within the UK. Nor will you be allowed to apply for permission to stay in the UK under any other immigration category.


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What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission as a student visitor?

As a student visitor you will be granted immigration permission subject to the following conditions:

  • you will not be allowed to work while you are in the UK, this includes paid or unpaid work
  • you will not be allowed to undertake a work placement as part of your study - if this is a requirement of your course, you should apply for immigration permission as a Tier 4 student, if you are eligible to
  • you must leave the UK before your immigration permission as a student visitor expires
  • you will not be allowed to extend your stay in the UK beyond the date that your original immigration permission ends (6 months or 11 months)
  • you will not be allowed to apply to switch into any other immigration category while you are still in the UK as a student visitor
  • you will not be allowed to bring your family to the UK as your dependants. They must apply to enter the UK in their own right under the immigration category for general visitors. As general visitors, your family members will be granted a maximum of 6 months immigration permission, even if you have been granted immigration permission for more than 6 months. General visitors are prohibited from studying.
  • if you have been granted entry clearance for up to 11 months under the extended student visitor category, you may be required to register with the police within 7 days of your arrivial in the UK. If you are required to register with the police, your entry clearance vignette will state this. Not all students are given entry clearance that is subject to this condition.


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Applying for a child visitor visa, if you are under 18 years of age

The Immigration Rules do not allow you to enter the UK as a student visitor if you are under 18 years of age. However you can apply to enter the UK as a child visitor in order to study for a short period, up to 6 months. This can be part-time or full-time study.

You must intend to study at an education provider which:

If you are a visa national, you must always obtain entry clearance before travelling to the UK (see the Immigration Rules, Appendix 1 [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendix1/] for a current list of visa nationals).You should apply for immigration permission (also called entry clearance) as a child visitor using the application form VAF 1A. The application fee for this is currently £78 (payable in local currency).

If you are a non-visa national, you do not need to obtain entry clearance as a child visitor, before travelling to the UK. You can choose to apply for entry clearance or you can apply to enter the UK as a child visitor on arrival at the port of entry. There is no charge if you apply to enter as a child visitor on arrival.

If you are a non-visa national and you intend to apply for permission to enter the UK on arrival, you should carry with you all of the documents that support your application to enter the UK as a child visitor. This includes evidence of your unconditional offer to study in the UK and evidence of your finances. You will have to show these documents to the Border Force Officer (BFO) on arrival at the port of entry.

Note: It is a good idea to carry with you all of the documents that you submitted with your immigration application, even if you have already obtained entry clearance as a child visitor before travelling to the UK. The BFO may ask to see these documents when you arrive in the UK.


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Definition of terms

Tier 4 sponsor licence

A Tier 4 sponsor licence is awarded to education providers which have been approved by the UKBA. The Register of Tier 4 sponsors (approved education providers) [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation] is available to download from the UKBA's website.

UKBA approved accreditation body

The UKBA have stated that child visitors and student visitors are allowed study at education providers which have been accredited by one of the following:

  • Accreditation UK,
  • the British Accreditation Council (BAC),
  • the Accreditation Service for International Colleges (ASIC), or
  • the Accreditation Body for Language Services (ABLS)

The institution that you intend to study with will be able to tell you which accreditation body they are accredited by.

without recourse to public funds

Public funds are defined in the paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/introduction/] as a list of specific benefits available. When applying for immigration permission to enter the UK, you must provide evidence that you have sufficient money to pay for all of your tuition fees and living expenses, without having to claim any of these benefits.


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Where to go for help and other useful contacts

If you need help with your application contact the international student adviser or welfare officer at the school, college or university where you intend to study, or its students' union or guild.

If you have any questions about this information sheet telephone UKCISA's advice line Monday to Friday 1300-1600 hours (UK time): Tel: (+44) (0)20 3131 3576(or write to: UKCISA, 9-17 St Albans Place, London N1 0NX, UK)

Telephone numbers

If you are calling from outside the UK, do not dial the (0) in the telephone numbers above. For example, if you want to call UKCISA from outside the UK, dial +44 20 3131 3576. If you are in the UK, do not dial +44, but do start the number with 0. For example, if you call from within the UK, dial 020 3131 3576.

Textphone numbers are only for those who use a textphone (minicom) because of difficulties with speech or hearing.

© UKCISA
This information sheet may be printed and reproduced provided it is copied unaltered and in its entirety, including UKCISA's logo, disclaimer, copyright statement and the reference to UKCISA's website as a source of further updates, and provided that no charge is made to any persons for copies. NO PART OF IT MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

The information in this Information Sheet is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. UKCISA, however, accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.

   

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