Visa Formalities |
- Extension of leave as a student continuing your course
- Extension of leave as a student waiting for a new course to begin
- Extension of leave as a visitor (when their course has finished)
- Extension of leave as a spouse/child of a student
- Extension of leave for other purposes
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| The entry clearance certificate, more commonly called a visa, is placed in your passport or travel document. The job of an entry clearance officer at a British mission overseas is to decide if you qualify for entry before you travel to the United Kingdom. Entry clearance officers work to strict rules and procedures. Go to the Immigration Rules and Diplomatic Service Procedures - Entry Clearance for further information. |
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If you have a valid UK visa, you will not normally be refused entry to the UK on arrival unless your circumstances have changed, you gave false information, or you did not tell the entry clearance officer important facts when you applied for your visa. <<Top>> |
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| The visa tells the immigration officer at a UK port of arrival: |
· The purpose of your travel;
· how long you can stay in the UK; and
· the latest date that you can enter the UK.
Normally, you may enter and leave the UK as many times as you like during the validity of your visa. |
| UK Student Visa |
| 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. <<Top>> |
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| 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. <<Top>> |
| You must intend to leave UK at the end of your studies. |
For more information, please visit |
| http://www.londonsam.co.uk/applicationprocedure.htm |
| Extending your stay |
| Extension of leave as a student continuing your course |
| This information is for students wanting to renew their leave to remain in the UK (student visa) to finish their current course. (If your course has finished and you wish to stay to attend graduation please see Extension of leave as a visitor.) |
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| The Home Office renews student visas. You must apply by post or in person BEFORE your current permission to stay expires. You should not apply for an extension more than 5 weeks before your expiry date. Postal applications cost £155 and personal callers pay £250. The University's immigration advisers in the Student Advice, Funding and Information team can check your documents and offer free advice if you follow these steps. <<Top>> |
- Print out the visa renewal form FLR-S from the Home Office web-site.
- Print out the visa renewal help notes and use them to complete form FLR-S.
- Include your spouse/children's details if they also need to renew their dependant's leave to remain in the UK.
- Collect an enrolment/attendance letter and transcript showing University examination results.
- Collect other documentary evidence listed on the form.
- Make sure you have your receipt for tuition fees paid to-date (or ask Finance for another copy).
- Make an appointment to see the Student Advice, Funding and Information team to check your application is correct and complete, 5-7 weeks before your visa expires.
- Post/take your application to the Home Office before your visa expires. <<Top>>
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| Extension of leave as a student awaiting a new course |
If you are waiting to enrol on a new course and your leave to remain in the UK (student visa) expires before you can enrol on your next course, this information explains what you must do. The next course must start no later than four months after your first course finishes otherwise your application is likely to be refused. <<Top>> |
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| The Home Office renews student visas. You must apply by post or in person BEFORE your current permission to stay expires. You should not apply for an extension more than 5 weeks before your expiry date. Postal applications cost £155 and personal callers pay £250. The University's immigration advisers in the Student Advice, Funding and Information team can only check your documents and offer free advice if your new course is at LondonSAM: |
- Print out the visa renewal form FLR-O from the Home Office web-site.
- Print out the visa renewal help notes from our web-site and use them to complete form FLR-O.
- Collect an enrolment/attendance letter and transcript showing University examination results for your last course.
- Make sure you have an unconditional offer letter for your next course.
- Collect other documentary evidence listed on the form.
- Make sure you have your receipt for tuition fees paid to-date (or ask Finance for another copy).
- Make an appointment to see the Student Advice, Funding and Information team to check your application is correct and complete, 5-7 weeks before your visa expires.
- Post/take your application to the Home Office before your visa expires. <<Top>>
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| Extension of leave as a spouse/child of a student |
| If you leave to remain in the UK as a student dependant |
You can extend your stay in the UK for as long as your student spouse is studying here.
If your leave to remain expires on the same day (or later) than that of your student spouse.
- Your spouse should include your (and your children's) details on his/her FLR-S or FLR-O application form and include your marriage certificate and passport/s in the application.
- You should all be given the same renewal date and there is no extra charge in addition to the student's fee.
- See Extension of leave as a student continuing their course above for the application process. <<Top>>
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| If your leave to remain expires more than 6 weeks before the expiry date of your spouse's leave to remain in the UK, you will have to make a separate application to extend your leave to remain to the same expiry date as that of your student spouse. Your student spouse will then have to include you in a second application when s/he applies to renew her/his leave to remain in the UK. <<Top>> |
| The Home Office renews visas. You must apply by post or in person BEFORE your current permission to stay expires. You should not apply for an extension more than 5 weeks before your expiry date. Postal applications cost £155 and personal callers pay £250. The University Student Advice, Funding and Information team can check your documents and offer free advice if you follow these steps: |
- Print out the visa renewal form FLR-O from the Home Office web-site.
- Ask your spouse to give you a letter proving they are enrolled at the University, their receipt for tuition fees paid to-date (or ask Finance for another copy).
- Collect other documentary evidence listed on the form.
- Include your marriage certificate and your student spouse's passport in the application.
- Ask your spouse to make an appointment for you both to see the International Students' Advice and Information Officer to check your application is correct and complete, 5-7 weeks before your visa expires.
- Post/take your application to the Home Office before your visa expires. <<Top>>
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Applying for Entry & Visas |
| The process of applying for permission to enter the UK as a student depends on your nationality. If you know which immigration entry group you belong to, view the entry application procedures below. <<Top>> |
Visa nationals
Phase 1 nationals
Phase 2 nationals
EU accession countries |
| Visa Nationals |
If you are a visa national you must apply for a student visa BEFORE you arrive in the UK. Check if you are a visa national on the British immigration authorities' web-site http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/
- Find you're nearest British Embassy/Consulate or High Commission or apply through our overseas offices if you live in Bangladesh, China, India or Pakistan.
- Ask them about the application procedure, processing time and if an interview is required.
- Ask them to send you application form VAF1 to complete*.
- Apply in time with the fee.
- If you are successful, check you are given the correct entry clearance sticker and if you must register with police on arrival in the UK.
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*If your course is 6 months or less, and you wish to work during your stay, make sure you ask for permission to work otherwise you will be given conditions that prohibit you from working. <<Top>> |
| Phase 1 Nationals |
| (Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, United States)<<Top>> |
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| Courses over 6 months |
It is compulsory for you to apply for entry clearance (permission to enter the UK) as a student before you come to the UK.
- Find your nearest British Embassy/Consulate or High Commission
- Ask them about the application procedure, processing time and if an interview is required.
- Ask them to send you application form VAF1 to complete.
- Apply in time with the fee of £36.
- If you are successful, check you are given the correct entry clearance sticker.<<Top>>
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| Courses of 6 Months or Less |
| If you wish to be given permission to do paid or volunteer work during your stay, follow the procedure above. If you do not wish to apply for entry clearance until arrival in the UK, read our advice on the procedure at port of entry.<<Top>> |
| Phase 2 Nationals |
| Applicants who are not from ‘visa national’, ‘Phase 1 national’ or ‘EU accession’ countries.<<Top>> |
| Courses over 6 Months |
| You may choose whether to apply for entry clearance (permission to enter the UK) as a student before you come to the UK or on arrival at the airport. Applying for entry clearance before arrival means that you are more likely to be given permission to enter for the whole length of your course. If you apply at the airport you will only be given 6 months and will have to pay £155 for an extension in the UK.<<Top>> |
- Find your nearest British Embassy/Consulate or High Commission
- Ask them about the application procedure, processing time and if an interview is required.
- Ask them to send you application form VAF1 to complete.
- Apply in time with the fee of £36.
- If you are successful, check you are given the correct entry clearance sticker and if you must register with police on arrival in the UK.
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| Courses of 6 Months or Less |
If you wish to be given permission to do paid or volunteer work during your stay, follow the procedure above. If you do not wish to apply for entry clearance until arrival in the UK, read our advice on the procedure at port of entry.
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| EU Accession Countries |
Nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia
These countries will join the EU on 1 May 2004. The information below is only relevant if you are going to enter the UK before 1 May 2004. If you will arrive in the UK on or after 1 May 2004 you will have the right to free movement into and out of the UK.<<Top>> |
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| Courses over 6 Months |
| You may choose whether to apply for entry clearance (permission to enter the UK) as a student before you come to the UK or on arrival at the airport. Applying for entry clearance before arrival means that you are more likely to be given permission to enter for the whole length of your course. If you apply at the airport you will only be given 6 months and will have to pay £155 for a renewal in the UK.<<Top>> |
- Find your nearest British Embassy/Consulate or High Commission
- Ask them about the application procedure, processing time and if an interview is required.
- Ask them to send you application form VAF1 to complete.
- Apply in time with the fee of £36.
- If you are successful, check you are given the correct entry clearance sticker and if you must register with police on arrival in the UK.
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| Courses of 6 Months or less |
| If you wish to be given permission to do paid or volunteer work during your stay, follow the procedure above. If you do not wish to apply for entry clearance until arrival in the UK, read our advice on the procedure at port of entry.<<Top>> |
| Immigration Solicitors |
The Student Advice, Information and Funding team in Student Services is authorised to advice on most student-visa and visitor-visa related questions. There are however, some areas of immigration law in which these immigration
advisers are not authorised to give advice. If you need help with any of the
following areas below we can refer you to a solicitor (with a letter if
necessary): |
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- appeals
- citizenship of EU, admissions and residence in EU
- detention, release, removal or deportation from the UK
- nationality and citizenship in UK
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- refusal of leave to enter or remain
- settlement in the UK on the basis of marriage or concessionary policies
- student to Work Permit or TWES permit holder<<Top>>
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If you do need to use an immigration solicitor, make sure that they are properly trained and registered. One way to do this is by using a solicitor who belongs to ILPA (the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association). You may have to pay for their services. If you cannot afford to pay then ask
the solicitor if they can give you any advice free of charge (or by way of
'legal aid'). Some solicitors will advise for free if your income is below a
certain level.<<Top>> |
| Travelling to the Home Office |
| Some students choose to apply in person to extend their stay in the UK. The fee for applying in person is £250 and the process can take 2-5 hours depending on queues. The best time to go is at lunchtime. Early in the morning the queues are the longest. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 08.30 - 16.00. (Tel: 0870 606 7766)<<Top>> |
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| Visit Home Office Website <<Top>> |
| Visit UKVISAS <<Top>> |
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| Any Problems |
If you have any personal or academic issues which you may wish to discuss with a trained helper then an appointment may be made through:
- A member of your teaching team
- Your Personal Tutor
- The Student Service Office
Students, whether they are full-time or part-time, young or mature, enrol in the College to learn; learn new skills and acquire new knowledge.
Coming from an exciting variety of backgrounds, students are differently motivated to learn. Some students wish to progress into employment, others to Further and Higher Education, while others are focused on their own personal development. <<Top>> |
| The College also recognises that students are not "learning machines." Students' ability to learn can be adversely affected by very real factors which, from time to time, encroach on the learning experience. Factors such as finance, health, part-time work, depression, poor/unsatisfactory accommodation, and many more, can become barriers to effective learning. <<Top>> |
| Student Immigration Rules |
| Remember that the you had to show evidence of in order to get your entry to the UK as a student (student visa) remains throughout the whole of your stay as a student. <<Top>> |
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| To apply for permission to enter the UK as a student you must apply to your closest British Embassy . They will explain the application process and ask you to prove you meet the following requirements: |
| you must have an unconditional offer of a place on a course; <<Top>> |
| the course must be provided by either: <<Top>> |
| i) a publicly-funded institution of further or higher education, <<Top>> |
| ii) A 'bona-fide' private educational institution that keeps adequate enrolment and attendance records;<<Top>> |
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| the course must be either: |
| i) a full-time degree at a publicly-funded institution of further or higher, OR |
| ii)a weekday course consisting of a minimum of 15 hours' organised daytime study each week. Day-time courses must be delivered by a single institution. If more than one subject is being taken in order to total the 15 hours, the subjects have to be related to each other (except for English language which is considered relevant to all subjects if English is not your first language); |
| you must have the ability to follow the course; |
| you must intend to follow the course; |
| you must intend to leave the UK at the end of your studies (unless you are a degree student hoping to stay on to work when you finish your studies and you are not sponsored by your government or an international scholarship agency); <<Top>> |
| you must not intend to work or conduct any business unless the immigration authorities allow you to do so; |
| you must have sufficient money to : |
| i) Pay your tuition fees, AND |
| ii) Pay for your accommodation and living expenses (and of your spouse and children if they come with you). |
| Read also proving you meet these requirements section below to identify useful documents to use in your application. |
| Bona fide' educational institutions |
| According to the UK immigration authorities, a 'bona fide' educational institution is defined as a genuine (i.e. not involved in fraud) private education institution which is: |
- accredited by the British Council, OR
- accredited by the British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education, OR
- accredited by the Association of British Language Schools, OR
- a member of the Association of Recognised English Language Services, OR
- a member of the British Association of State English Language Teaching. <<Top>>
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| Visit British Accreditation Council<<Top>> |
| Proving you meet the entry requirements |
| You will be asked to prove that you meet the requirements to enter the UK as a student. Examples of evidence you could use include: |
| Unconditional offer letter |
| an unconditional offer letter from our admissions department offering a place on a full-time course; |
| Ability and intention to follow the course |
| your academic and English language qualifications or a reference from your employer (if you have relevant work experience but no qualifications); be prepared to answer questions about the structure and content of the course; |
| Intention to leave the UK at the end of the course |
| dependants you can return to (marriage certificate/children's birth certificates);
a company letter confirming they will employ you after you complete your UK course;
show advertisements for jobs in your home country for which the particular qualification is required;
evidence of home ownership.<<Top>> |
| Proof of sufficient money to support yourself |
(if self-funding)
your last three months' bank statements;
(if sponsored by a government or scholarship agency)
a letter confirming how long the scholarship is due to run for and what costs it will cover;
(if sponsored by private individual e.g. parent)
a letter confirming what the sponsor's connection is to you, that they will be sponsoring you for the length of the course, whether they will provide for costs of living expenses as well as tuition fees, what levels of payment they will provide and how often, where that money will come from AND proof that they have the money to sponsor you (e.g. wage slips, bank account statements, other source of income/savings). <<Top>> |
| Not working without permission from the British immigration authorities |
| Knowledge of how many hours you are allowed to work; proof of enough finances to not need to work (as explained above). |
| Visitor's Immigration Rules |
| After your course has finished it is possible to extend your stay in the UK as a visitor if you wish to attend your graduation or go sight-seeing. The rules for visitors to the UK are: |
- intention to leave the UK at the end of the period of the visit
- intention not to undertake employment in the UK
- intention not to produce goods or provide services in the UK
- intention not to study at a maintained school in the UK
- ability to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds
- ability to meet the cost of the return/outward journey
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| It is therefore not advisable to extend your stay as a visitor if you need time to look for a permanent job and do not wish to apply for a work permit outside the UK. <<Top>> |
| Useful British government websites |
| British government Site - www.homeoffice.gov.uk |
| UK Visas information service - www.ukvisas.gov.uk |
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| http://www.fco.gov.uk/ - The purpose of the FCO is to work for UK interests in a safe, just and prosperous world. |
| Official UK Visa Sites |
| www.workingintheuk.gov.uk - site aims to provide you with clear information about the various routes open to Foreign Nationals who want to come and work in the United Kingdom. <<Top>> |
| www.ukvisas.gov.uk - If you are not a British Citizen or a citizen of one the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, you may need an entry clearance before you travel to the UK. <<Top>> |
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