International Students - Visa

Visa


Entering UK as a student can be a long process and involve a lot of paperwork, especially if it is the first time you are studying abroad. However, as part of a campaign to encourage more overseas students to come to UK universities, the Government made the passage much easier by streamlining visa and entry procedures. It is always advisable and one of the most important aspects to take onboard is to apply EARLY!

There are restrictions for foreign nationals entering the UK and also “working in the UK” - and in the last few years things have got a bit tighter, especially for students coming from certain countries. However it is important to keep in mind that UK Universities are amongst the best in the world and a great way to pave your future career.


Preparing for the Visa

If you need a visa to enter and study in the UK, you'll need to apply for this at your nearest British Embassy/consulate. Leave plenty of time for this, but no more than six months before you plan on coming to the UK. You also need to make sure that you have secured all the relevant documents from your chosen University like a University offer letter confirming your place to send along with your visa application. You can find more information on how to apply UK visa on the UK Border Agency website, along with the important information on newly placed tier system for prospective students.

Working in UK

If you are applying for a student visa from your respective country (except those of EU nationals) there is a government legislation in place whereby students can work no more than 20 hours a week during the academic period and full time during the holidays.

It is also important to know that after 2005, the UK border agency has become extremely vigilant about who enters the UK, and have actively pursued their objectives to reduce illegal working in the country. However, holidays in UK are stretched throughout the year, and it would not be a problem for students who want to earn extra cash for weekends to find part time work even during their academic year. It is also noteworthy that after 2008 a newly passed legislation allows prospective graduates to apply for the Post Study work Visa, which allows living and working full time in the UK for two years to gain that valuable job experience.

Post Study Work Visa

In order to be eligible for the Post Study work Visa (PSW), Students have to pass a point based assessment. The points calculator lets you to do a self test from one of the Government’s website and figure out if you are actually qualified to apply for this visa. In order to be qualified to apply for the tier 1 PSW, students have to score minimum of 75 points on the pre-requisites, and 10 points on English Skills along with 10 points on available funds. Failure to score and provide these documents will result in the application being refused by the Home Office.

Extending your visa

Extension of the UK visa is a daunting task if you do not have the required documents in place at the right time. It is always advisable to apply for the extension a month and half before its initial tenure is close to expiry. For that, you would need to print out the relevant application form, get the student letter from the University’s registry office, and call the bank for a three months bank statement.

From 2009 onwards, students who are applying for the tier 4 student visas must go to the relevant government department to do their biometrics, without which the application will not be processed further. The cost of the visa in recent years has significantly increased, and is currently at £357 for an application made by post or courier (which usually takes ages to get processed) or £565 for applications made in person at the public enquiry offices (the quickest, most expensive but easiest way).







Research by Satish Pradhan