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All overseas nationals who wish to enter the UK must satisfy the Immigration Officer at the port of arrival that they meet the requirements of the UK Immigration Rules. Some people must have a valid entry clearance before arrival. An entry clearance is a visa or an entry certificate issued to a passenger prior to travel to the UK. If you have one of these you will not be refused permission to enter the UK unless there has been a change of circumstances.
You must meet the following conditions in order to enter the UK as a student:
If an institution is accredited by the British Council or BAC (the British Higher Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education) then it is generally considered to be bona-fide.
If you a national of one of the countries or territorial entities below then you must have a valid UK visa on each occasion that you enter the UK:
Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bangladesh; Bahrain; Belarus; Benin; Bhutan; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Burkina; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Colombia; Comoros; Congo (Republic); Congo (Democratic Republic); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; The Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Ivory Coast; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kirgizstan; Korea (North); Kuwait; Laos; Lebanon; Liberia; Libya; Macedonia; Malagasy (Madagascar); Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mauritius; Moldova; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Romania; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome & Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Surinam; Syria; Taiwan; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Yemen; Yugoslavia (Documents issued by former SFR of Yugoslavia or by present Yugoslav Authorities); Zambia.
If you are a national of the EEA (European Economic Area) then you do not need a UK visa for a visit or to study. The countries of the EEA are:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The UK.
You will need to complete form IM2A which you can get free from the British Mission. You will need to submit your application form together with:
You should send or take all completed items to your local British Mission. Check first, in case the Mission instructs you to send the documents to a different visa-issuing office. You may be asked to attend an interview with an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO). In some countries a medical examination may be required, and this may increase the amount of time for your application to be processed.
The cost of a single-entry visa for students is UKŁ33 (US$55) or UKŁ16.50 (US$27) if the applicant is under-25 years old. A six-month, one-, two- or five-year multiple entry visa is also available. Certain visa nationals are also required to register with the police as a condition of their entry and stay in the UK. The fee for a police registration certificate is UKŁ34 (US$56).
If you are a visa-national and your course lasts for six months or less then you will only be allowed into the UK for this length of time. If you know that you will want to travel out of the UK and return during this time you must apply for a multiple-entry visa before you leave the UK. This will mean ticking the appropriate box on the form IM2A. Otherwise you will need to apply for a fresh visa before each occasion you return to the UK. Students given permission to enter the UK by the Immigration Officer for more than six months can leave and return freely during that period.
Once you have been granted a visa, you do not have to travel at once. A visa is usually valid for six months, which means that you must travel within this time.
You will need the following documents and information before you apply for a visa or travel to the UK:
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 Rules. The letter should state how long the course will last. Where your course is more advanced or specialised, 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.
Depending on your circumstances, this could include evidence of government sponsorship, a letter from a sponsor in the UK confirming he or she can support you, together with evidence that he or she can do this, and/or your own bank statements. You should also provide a letter from your institution stating the full cost of the course, what arrangements are acceptable for payment and whether you have already paid fees or a deposit.
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 be adequate accommodation for them.
You may be asked to attend an interview as part of your visa application process. The ECO will want to see that your study plans are genuine and workable. You should prepare for the interview, in particular:
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?
You should answer all questions carefully and honestly. If you are not sure of an answer, say so. Be calm and remember that over ninety per cent of student visa applications are successful.
You need to apply to the Home Office to extend your visa. You should apply about one month before your current visa expires. You can visit the Home Office to make your application but it is recommended that you post your application to:
Home Office
Customer Information Service
7th floor
50, Queen Anne’s Gate
London
SW1H 9AT
Telephone: 0870 0001585
Fax: 020 7273 2065
E-mail:
public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Your application should include