Here is some information about visas:
There are three types of visas normally given by Immigration: Student Visitor Visa, General Students Visa and Tourist Visa.
The Student Visitor Visa is for short term students who are coming for less than 6 months and then returning home. There are restrictions on this visa: no work is allowed and the student cannot extend or change the visa.
If you are a visa national (if you need a visa before you leave your country) you must apply for this visa at the local British Embassy.
If you don't need a visa before leaving your country, you can apply for this visa when you arrive at Immigration but it is important to have a letter from the school to show that you intend to study.
For this visa you should be able to explain why you want to study English in England rather than in your own country and how it will benefit your life/career. You should be able to show that the benefit is more than the money you are going to spend during your time here. It is helpful if you can show that you have already taken lessons at a school in your own country. You will also need to show that you have enough money to study without working.
It is also helpful if you can show a letter from a school/university or an employer showing that you have to return to your country on a certain date to start your course or job. One of the concerns for the Entry Clearance Officers is that you will not leave England at the end of your language course
The General Student Visa is for students who are coming for long term study (longer than 6 months and up to 3 years English or 4 years with University courses). These students will have permission for 10 hours work weekly and can extend their visas (within the 4 year time scale). Six months, in this case, is usually at least 28 weeks
You must apply for this visa before leaving your country. You must be able to show the Entry Clearance Officer that you have enough money to live without working for the full period of your stay. The Officer will use this information to calculate if you have enough money to qualify for the GSV:
The British Council estimate that you need a minimum of £800 per month (including accommodation) for living expenses. You have to be able to show the ECOs that you have this amount of money available and that it will not put a financial burden on the person / people whose money will pay for your course of study. They will not accept a large amount of money suddenly appearing in a bank account. The account(s) must show regular in and out goings and a good positive balance at all times before they will be satisfied that the money is available.
The Tourist Visa is for people who don't want to study but only visit the country for a holiday.
As you will see from our fees sheets we have designed our courses to fit with the government requirements.
Students who want to apply for a Student Visitor Visa can apply for a 15 lesson or 20 lesson (PLUS) course.
Students who want to apply for a General Student Visa MUST apply for the 20 lesson PLUS course as they must study a minimum of 900 minutes per week. (Our PLUS course is 1000 minutes and so is good for this visa).
If you have a General Student Visa in your passport you can work up to 10 hours part-time per week. You cannot work with a Student Visitor Visa or a Tourist Visa.
The school does not find work for you. You must find your own job but we can give you some ideas of where to look.
If you receive a Student Visitor Visa or a Tourist Visa at Immigration you cannot change it to a General Student Visa. If you want a General Student Visa you must leave England, return to your country and make another application there.
Practice Class courses have the required number of hours for a Student Visitor Visa application and Practice Class PLUS have the hours required for the General Student Visa.
If you apply for a General Student Visa before you leave your country you should check with the British Embassy and ask them what papers they want to see. There may be small differences but every Entry Clearance Officer will want to see the following:
1. That the school has issued a Certificate of Sponsorship for you. If you don't have this certificate your visa will be refused. You can only use this Certificate for 3 months from the date it is issued. It expires after 3 months.
2. An accommodation address in England for when you arrive.
3. Some proof showing that you have enough money to live without working or taking money from the state for the total period of your course. It is very common that the Officer will also ask you where the money has come from and who has given it to you or how you have earned it. If the money is from a sponsor you must also then show that this person can afford to pay for you. You will not receive a student visa if you have to work in England to pay for your course or your living expenses. Showing a bank statement that suddenly shows a large amount of money is no good. The Officer will believe that the money has been put there to look good but is not for the student to use to pay for studies and living expenses in UK. You need to show at least 2 months transactions in full to show normal movement of a bank account and to prove that it is not just for the visa application.
VERY IMPORTANT
The British Council estimate that you need a minimum of £800 per month (including accommodation) for living expenses. You have to be able to show the ECOs that you have this amount of money available and that it will not put a financial burden on the person / people whose money will pay for your course of study. They will not accept a large amount of money suddenly appearing in a bank account. The account(s) must show regular in and out goings and a good positive balance at all times before they will be satisfied that the money is available.
TOP OF PAGE |