UK Visa Process for students outside United Kingdom
If you are over 16 and want to study in UK for more than six months, you can apply for UK student visa. Applying for general student visa is based on transparent points based system. You need to score 40 points.
| Points | You get points for | Documents needed |
| 30 | Doing a course (at an acceptable level) with an approved education provider |
A visa letter, which you get for studying a course at an
acceptable level with an approved Education Provider and
supporting documents. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk |
| 10 | Having enough money (also known as maintenance or funds) for your course fees and living costs. | Bank statement or letter confirming that you have enough money available to cover your course fees and monthly living costs as specified, at the time you submit your application |
You need to make sure that you have sufficient maintenance funds to finance your studies. Having sufficient funds will earn you 10 points of the required 40.
| Course Duration | Location | Money needed |
| Nine months or less | In London |
Course fees plus |
| Nine months or less | Outside London |
Course fees plus |
| More than nine months | In London |
First year of fees plus |
| More than nine months | Outside London |
First year of fees plus |
These amounts must be held in your personal bank account for a minimum period of 28 days. The end of that 28 day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application, for which you must show bank statements or other evidence.
Once you have made a final decision where you would like to study you request educational institute to provide you Visa letter. The letter should confirm your acceptance to study at that institution. It should contain details about you and the course you plan to study there; including how much the course costs and what evidence the sponsor received of your qualifications. Your visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. Having a visa letter does not guarantee your visa application will be successful. You must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
Once you have been accepted onto a course by a licensed institute and have your visa letter and funds arranged, you are ready to apply for a student visa.
Steps to apply for a student visa:
1. Choose the course you want to study and check if it is at an acceptable level. You can find out the acceptable courses of study http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-i-apply/type-of-study-or-work-placement/
2.Make sure the institution where you are applying is licensed by UK board of agency. You can see which educational institutes are licensed at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk . If the educational institute is not licensed, you will not be able to get a student visa.
3. Figure out the maintenance funds you would need to finance your studies at the time you submit your application.
4. Ask the educational institute of your choice to provide you with the visa letter (you get 30 points for your visa letter), and get all the documents you used to get your visa letter.
5. Get all the documents and proof you need to prove the availability of funds (you get 10 points for your money).
6. Fill in the "application form" http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/vaf9 and provide it with the fee for your student visa and your documents and proof to the nearest Visa office http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/wheretoapply/india. The current visa fee is £145, for more details kindly visit http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/visafees/
7. Also arrange to give your biometrics in person, which are usually taken at the visa issuing post. Biometric details are scans of all 10 fingers and a full-face digital photograph. The whole procedure should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Your visa application will not be processed until you have met this requirement. More information about biometrics is available http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/biometricvisa/
If you accurately provide all the correct information in your application, your visa should arrive in 10-15 days. During peak season it may take up to 1 month. Visa office might call you for an interview session; you should be ready with few FAQ's that an officer can ask.
Please Click Here for few samples of visa interview questions.
Students granted a general student visa will have permission to work (paid or unpaid, and including integral internships) for up to 20 hours per week in term-time, and full-time in University holidays. You will be allowed to come to the United Kingdom a short time before the start of your course.
If you are doing a course that is six months or more, or it is a course to prepare you for study (known as a pre-session course) that is less than six months, you will be able to come to the United Kingdom up to one month before the date you start the course you are studying. When you arrive in UK with your visa keep your supporting documents in your hand luggage in case you need to show them again.
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