The United Kingdom is a haven for lots of international students due to various reasons. According to Studing-in-UK.org, the number of international students grew from 400,000 to 600,000 within the space of seven years which goes to show how many students apply to study in the UK annually.
UK Students Visa
The Students Visa is one of the visas issued by the UK Government to foreign students who want to study in the country. The Students visa is categorized into Child Student Visa and General Student Visa.
The child student visa is issued those between 4 and 17 years that want to study at an independent school in the UK. To be eligible, applicant must meet the following conditions:
- Parental/Guardian consent
- Unconditional offer of a place on a course at an Independent School
- Proof of funds
The General Student visa is issued to those above 18 years that are fluent in speaking and writing English Language and meet the following conditions:
- Have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor
- Have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course – the amount will vary depending on your circumstances
Documents Needed To Apply For A UK Student Visa
There are documents that must be provided when applying for a student visa and some of them include the following:
- A current passport or other valid travel documentation
- A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your course provider
- Proof of funds
- Valid ATS Certificate
- Proof of or other legal guardian consent if you’re under 18
Processing Fee
According to the UK Government official website here, it cost £490 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK and also to extend it or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK.
UK Students Visa Application Guidelines
It is mandatory to apply for the visa online and for those who are applying from outside the United Kingdom, its vital to prove your identity either by submitting your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre or using the UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document.
Processing Time
The estimated timeframe to receive a response is three weeks but it might be longer. It’s advisable to apply six month earlier in order to avoid delays in the processing.