Student Visa: Advice From a UK Immigration Lawyer

Foreign students who have no indefinite leave toIf you submit a visa application online, at the end of the
remain in the UK or students from countries other thanprocess you will get a date for an interview at the
EEA need a student visa if they wish to study in thenearest embassy. As you wait for this important date,
United Kingdom. If this is your case, thenall the submitted documentation will pass a screening
1. Get an admission letter from a UK institution.process; meanwhile, you can learn how to introduce
• Start by choosing a study plan with at least 15yourself. To have a good chance, you need to
hours per week. The same institution must offer these.impress your interviewer favorably.
Evening classes do not countThe immigration officer at the embassy will ask
• Make sure you can demonstrate that you will bequestions to find out:a) whether you intend to work or
able to follow the course, generally speaking, that youdo business. Foreigners cannot work in the UK without
have the necessary financial support to pay the feespermit; as a student, you will not get such
required by the institution.authorization.b) whether you intend to stay in the UK
• Gather all the documentation you can find to showafter finishing your course. The government expects
that you will not need to depend on public funds forforeign students to return to their countries of origin
your maintenance, including any dependants. Bank(unless they meet certain criteria).
statements will help. Maybe a letter from your sponsor,How do you demonstrate your willingness to return to
if you have one, will do too; and one from friends oryour country? Usually, you need to show some form
relatives already in the UK willing to help and supportof ties to your homeland; for instance: property you
you will add some credibility.own (land, home or business). Other evidence could be
• Also, whenever possible, get a receipt from youra letter from an employer stating that the company or
institution. Showing that you paid the fees in advanceorganization will preserve the post for you until you
also pays when it comes to visa issues, especially ifreturn from a study leave. This could work if you have
you have an unconditional admittance offer from ana high quality job (one you would hardly quit).
approved UK institution.If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They'll
2. Find an immigration lawyer in the UK. Yes, you canthank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can
go through the entire process on your own; however,link to it or even post it to your own site (don't forget
visa matters and UK immigration law are complex andto mention as the original source.
your chances improve exponentially if you hire aPlease note that these articles and the information
competent lawyer.contained herein are purely for general guidance and
3. Apply for a visa online or at the nearest Britishdo not constitute a professional legal or any other
embassy in your country.opinion as to the merits of a particular application or
• Download the form from the UK Border Agency:whether specific immigration requirements have been
To submit a visa application online successfully, gathermet of a particular category. This information is generic
the following BEFORE logging in to the UK Borderand should not be relied upon as a definitive guide to
Agency website:fulfilling specific category requirements. However
• passport numbershould any individual do so it is at his or her own risk
• photographfor which UK Migration Lawyers Limited cannot be
• visa feeheld responsible in any way.
4. Get an interview date.