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WHAT IS THIS GUIDANCE ABOUT ?
This guidance
explains what you will need to do
if you wish to travel to the United Kingdom (UK) to
study. It is
only a guide but aims to answer frequently asked questions. The
full criteria for entry to
the UK are contained in the
Immigration Rules
questions. The full criteria for entry to the UK are contained
in the
Immigration Rules
If this guidance does not answer your questions
please telephone or write to us for
further advice.
HOW DO I QUALIFY TO TRAVEL TO THE
UK AS A STUDENT ?
You must be able to show that you have been
accepted on a course of study at:
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a publicly funded institution
of further or higher education (e.g. a university) |
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a private-education
institution |
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an independent fee paying
school |
And that you are going to follow:
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a recognized full-time degree
course
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a weekday full-time course
involving at least 15 hours organized daytime study
per week .
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a full-time course of study
at an independent fee paying school |
You must also:
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be able to pay for your
course and support an accommodate yourself and any
dependants
without
working or help from public funds. |
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plan to leave the UK when you
complete your studies |
WHAT IS A VISA ?
A visa is an entry clearance certificate that is
placed in your passport or travel
document by an Entry Clearance Officer at a British mission
overseas. The entry
clearance certificate confers leave to enter the UK.
If you have a valid UK visa you will not normally be refused
entry to the UK unless
your circumstances have changed, or you gave false information
or you failed to
disclose important facts when you applied for your visa.
When you arrive in the UK, an Immigration Officer may question
you, so take all
relevant documents in your hand luggage.
DO I NEED A VISA TO STUDY IN
UK ?
You will need a visa if you:
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are a national of one of the
countries listed at the end of this guidance
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are stateless
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hold a non-national travel
document
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hold a passport issued by an
authority not recognized by the UK |
Other nationals do not have to have a visa to
study in the UK. However, you will
have to satisfy the Immigration Officer on arrival in the UK
that you qualify for entry.
If you are in any doubt about your eligibility you are advised
to apply for a visa before
you travel.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR A VISA ?
You will need to complete visa application forms IM2A and. IM2S.
You can also get
the forms from your nearest
UK Overseas Mission
where there is a visa section. You
should check with your nearest British mission whether they can
deal with your application. If they
cannot they will tell you
where to apply.
Applications may be made to the Visa Section of a
British mission in person or, in
some instances, by post *.
*Please contact your nearest British mission to enquire about
postal applications.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO MAKE MY
APPLICATION ?
You will need:
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Unconditional offer letter from a UK
institution. |
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Visa forms (VAF 1) (available from
www.britainonline.org.pk) |
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Three (3) recent passport-size color
photographs |
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Passport (with more then six months validity) |
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Visa fee (Rs 3,960 single entry) in the form
of a bank draft in favor of
British High Commission, Islamabad |
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Academic documents and transcripts – only
copies needed |
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Scholarship letter – if applicable |
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Sponsor’s letter in the form of affidavit
properly signed by the solicitor
– if applicable |
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Sponsor’s bank statements for the last six
months (A bank certificate is
acceptable only in case of
fixed deposit accounts) |
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Sponsor’s tax documents, including assessment
forms for the last three years
– if possible |
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Evidence of personal/sponsor’s business /
land / employment / income |
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Family registration form ‘B’ – if applicable |
IN ADDITION TO THE DOCUMENTS
LISTED ABOVE YOU MAY BE ASKED FOR :
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evidence of funds, for
example bank statements or pay slips, to show that you
can pay for your stay and your course of studies in the UK
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a letter from your host or
sponsor in the UK to say that he or she will support
and accommodate you during your course of studies, again with
evidence that
he or she can do so . |
WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I MAKE MY
APPLICATION ?
The Entry Clearance Officer will check that he or
she has all the information that is
needed to make a decision. If more information is required you
may be asked to
return with additional information before your application is
accepted.
After looking at your application the Entry
Clearance Officer may offer you the
opportunity to withdraw your application before you pay the fee.
You do not have to accept this advice.
If you wish to continue
with your application it will be accepted
and you will be issued with a receipt
for your fee.
Once your application has been accepted you might
have to be interviewed.
WHAT ARE PUBLIC FUNDS?
The Immigration Rules require that people who wish to travel to
the UK to study are
able to support and accommodate themselves without claiming
certain state benefits. Use this link to
see a list of them:
Public Funds
CAN I EXTEND MY STAY AS A
STUDENT ?
If you enter the UK with a student visa and wish to extend your
stay for further
studies you can apply to do so at the Home Office Immigration
and Nationality
Directorate (IND)
If you are a visa national, you cannot stay on as a student
unless you entered the UK with a student
or prospective student
visa.
WILL I BE ALLOWED TO WORK ?
If you are admitted for a course lasting more
than 6 months, you may, without a work permit or
permission from
the local Job Centre, take part-time or holiday-work, but
you must not:
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work for more than 20 hours
per week during term time unless your placement
is part of your studies, has the agreement of the education
institution and
leads to a degree or qualification awarded by a nationally
recognized examining
body .
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do business, be self-employed
or provide services as a professional
sportsperson or entertainer
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work full-time in a permanent
job |
If you are admitted for a course lasting 6 months
or less, permission to work is
granted at the entry clearance, or immigration officer's
discretion.
CAN I SWITCH TO WORK PERMIT
EMPLOYMENT WHILST IN THE UK ?
You may be able to switch if you meet the following
requirements:
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you have completed a
recognized degree course at either a UK publicly funded
further
or
higher
education institution or bona fide private education institution
which
maintains
satisfactory records
of enrolment and attendance .
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you hold a valid work permit
for employment .
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If sponsored by your
government or international scholarship agency you have
their written consent .
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you do not have an adverse
immigration history . |
CAN I BRING MY HUSBAND OR WIFE
AND CHILDREN WITH ME
Your husband or wife and any of your children under 18 can come
to the UK with you during your studies
as long as you can
support and accommodate them without help
from public funds.
WILL MY HUSBAND OR WIFE BE
ALLOWED TO WORK ?
Your husband or wife will be allowed to work in the UK if you
are given permission to
stay in the country for 12 months or more.
CAN I GO TO THE UK TO ARRANGE
MY STUDIES ?
You may travel to the UK as a prospective student to arrange
your studies for up to
six months. You will need to show that:
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you plan to enroll on a
course of study within six months of arriving in the UK
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you can pay for your course
and support and accommodate yourself and any
dependants without
working
or help from public funds .
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you plan to leave the UK when
you finish your studies or when your permission
to stay ends if you are not able to qualify to stay in the UK as a
student . |
Note: You should not buy a ticket, or pay all or
part of the cost of a course of
studies, if delay or refusal of your application will result in
financial loss. The entry clearance officer
may ask you for
other documents: production of those listed above
does not guarantee that a visa
will be issued.
You can get further advice and guidance about
visas from:
UK visas
LONDON SW1A 2AH
General enquiries: (+44) (0)20 7008 8438
Application forms: (+44) (0)20 7008 8308
E-mail:
Visas.ForUK@fco.gov.uk
Please go to the following link for up-to-date
info on immigration needs for students
2002-2003.
http://www.ukcosa.org.uk/images/before_leaving.pdf
The main site
www.ukcosa.org.uk
is excellent for all info on studying in the UK
You can get further advice and guidance about
extending your stay once in the
United Kingdom from
Immigration
and Nationality Directorate
Corydon Public Caller Unit
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
CORYDON CR9 2BY
General enquiries: (+44) (0)870 606 7766
Application forms: (+44) (0)870 241 0645
E-mail:
public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
DRUGS WARNING
The United Kingdom has severe penalties against
drug smuggling. Drug traffickers may
try to bribe travelers. If you are traveling to the United
Kingdom avoid any
involvement with drugs.
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
Advice on importing personal effects and goods
into the United Kingdom may be obtained from:
HM Customs and Excise
Dorset House
Stamford Street
LONDON SE1 9PY
Telephone: (+44) (0)845 010 9000
HEALTH INSURANCE
Before you travel, please check that you have
adequate health insurance cover.
Medical treatment in the UK can be expensive and students are
not covered by the
UK’s national health insurance scheme (unless they are covered
by a reciprocal
health care agreement or they are enrolled on a course that is
of six months duration
or longer).
LIST OF VISA NATIONALS
If you are a national of one of the countries
listed in the link below, or if you are
stateless, hold a non-national travel document or passport
issued by an authority not recognized by
the UK you must hold a
valid UK visa on each* occasion that you
travel to the UK.
VISA NATIONALS
If you are a national of a country not listed, you do not need a
visa to enter the UK
as a visitor or student. You may need to apply for prior entry
clearance if you wish to come to the
UK in another immigration
capacity.
*Visas are not required if you are settled in the UK or if you
already have permission
to stay in the UK and are returning to the UK before your
permission to stay expires.
