If your child is under the age of 12, and holds or is applying for a Child Stude
If your child is under the age of 12, and holds or is applying for a Child Student Visa or an old Tier 4 visa in the UK, you can apply for a companion visa to accompany your child in the UK. This visa is designed to ensure that underage students can get care and support from their families during their studies and help them better adapt to the new environment.
The validity period of the accompanying visa is usually 6 months or 12 months, and you can apply for an extension as needed until the child reaches the age of 12. This provides flexibility for parents to ensure that they can give necessary care and support in their children's learning process.
In addition, there is a visiting visa option, which allows you to obtain a two-year multiple-entry visa. However, it should be noted that the cumulative stay in the UK each year cannot exceed 6 months, and you must leave the country after the expiration, and you cannot apply for an extension in the UK.
Generally speaking, choosing the accompanying visa not only allows you to provide support for your children, but also allows you to experience their study life and help them better integrate into the British education system.
1. Application conditions for accompanying visa
Parents who apply for an accompanying visa in the UK need to meet a series of specific conditions. The following are detailed instructions:
1. Age limit for students
The applicant's children must be under the age of 12 and attend private schools in the UK. This regulation aims to ensure that underage students can get care and support from their families during their studies. Due to the particularity of studying abroad at a young age, the accompanying visa is mainly aimed at the parents of young students.
2. Visa requirements
Children must have or are applying for a Child Student Visa in the UK. This type of visa is designed for students under the age of 12 to ensure that they can receive education and get the necessary support in the UK.
3. Proof of economic ability
Applicants need to provide sufficient financial proof to show that they have the ability to bear all the living expenses during their stay in the UK. This includes but is not limited to:
accommodation expense
diet
Transportation cost
School-related expenses (such as school uniforms, books, etc.)
Usually, applicants need to provide bank statements, income certificates or other relevant financial documents to prove their financial ability.
4. Proof of residence
Applicants are required to provide proof that they have a second home outside the UK. This requirement is to ensure that applicants have no tendency to emigrate, indicating that they will return to their original country of residence after completing the accompanying study task. The certificates that can be provided include:
property ownership certificate
lease contracts
Other legal residence documents.
5, departure commitment
Applicants must prove that they will leave the UK before the accompanying visa expires. This means that applicants need to clearly indicate their plans to return to China and provide relevant travel arrangements, such as air ticket reservation or plans to return to China.
6. Repatriation expenses
Applicants need to prove that they have sufficient financial ability to pay all the expenses for leaving the UK and returning to their country of residence. This includes the cost of return air tickets and other related expenses to ensure smooth departure after the visa expires.
2、Materials required for accompanying visa
When applying for a visa to accompany students in the UK, you need to prepare a series of specific materials. The following is a detailed list of materials and instructions:
1. Valid passport
Requirements: Passports must be valid for at least six months and have at least two blank pages.
Note: Make sure that the passport is valid during the application period and has not been damaged or defiled.
2. Visa Application Form
Requirements: Fill in the online application form on the UK Visa and Immigration Service (UKVI) official website.
Note: Make sure the information is accurate when filling in the application form, and keep the confirmation page of the application form.
3. Recent photos
Requirements: Provide recent white passport photos, which meet UKVI's photo requirements.
Note: The photos should be clear, with simple background and standard size (usually 45mm x 35mm).
4. Letter of Admission for Children
Requirements: provide a formal admission notice issued by a British school.
Note: The admission notice should include the name and address of the school, the name of the child and the date of admission.
5. Economic proof
Requirements: Provide proof of bank deposit, showing that there are enough funds to support life in the UK for at least 28 consecutive days.
Note: The capital certificate should show sufficient deposit balance, and usually it is required to cover at least the monthly living expenses (including accommodation, food, etc.).
6. Proof of accommodation
Requirements: Provide proof of residence in the UK, such as a rental contract or an invitation letter from a host family.
Note: The proof of accommodation should clearly show your address and include the name and contact information of the landlord.
7. Proof of kinship
Requirements: Provide documents such as birth certificate to prove the relationship between the applicant and the children.
Note: The birth certificate should be an official document, showing the names of parents and the birth information of children.
3、Accompanying visa application process
1. Fill in the application form online
Steps: Visit the UK Visa and Immigration Office (UKVI) in official website, register an account and fill in the visa application form for accompanying parents.
Note: Make sure that the information filled in is accurate, especially personal information and contact information. When finished, save the confirmation page of the application form.
2. Pay the visa fee
Steps: Pay the visa application fee through the online system.
Note: confirm the payment amount and keep the payment voucher as a reference for subsequent applications.
3. Booking a visa center
Steps: Choose the nearest visa center and make an appointment to submit materials and collect biological information.
Note: Make an appointment in advance as far as possible to ensure that the application can be submitted within your planned time.
4. Submit materials and collect biological information
Steps: Go to the visa center at the appointed time, submit the application materials and enter the fingerprints.
Note: Bring all the prepared materials and their copies to ensure that they can meet the requirements of the visa center when submitted.
5. Wait for the audit result.
Step: After submitting the application, wait for the visa review result.
Processing time: The visa processing time is generally 15 working days, but it may be extended under special circumstances.
Note: During this period, you can check the application status through the inquiry system provided by the Visa Center.
4、Notes on accompanying visa
When applying for a visa to accompany students in the UK, there are several key points that need special attention to ensure that the application is successfully passed and unnecessary troubles are avoided:
1. Ensure that all materials are true and effective.
Note: All application materials submitted must be true, accurate and valid. Any forged or false documents will lead to the rejection of visa applications, and in serious cases, it may also affect future visa applications.
Suggestion: Check all documents carefully to ensure their authenticity, and keep the originals and copies for inspection.
2. Prepare proof of funds in advance.
Note: you need to provide a bank deposit certificate when applying, showing that you have enough deposits to support your life in the UK for 28 consecutive days. The exact amount usually depends on your cost of living in the UK.
Suggestion: Plan the funds in advance to ensure that this requirement is met when applying. The account balance can be maintained by time deposit or other means.
3. Understand visa restrictions
Note: You are not allowed to work or engage in any business activities in the UK while holding a parent's accompanying visa. This is very important, and violation of the regulations may lead to the cancellation of the visa.
Suggestion: understand the specific terms and restrictions of the visa and ensure that the relevant regulations are observed within the validity period of the visa.
5、Summary of accompanying reading policy in Britain
The accompanying reading policy in Britain is mainly divided into two stages:
1. Children under 12 years old
Accompanying visa: Parents can apply for accompanying visa, allowing them to accompany their children to study in the UK until their children reach the age of 12.
2. Students aged 12 and above
Visiting visa: Parents can only apply for visiting visa. The visa allows parents to travel to and from the UK for multiple times, but the cumulative stay time for each time should not exceed 6 months, and it is valid for two years.The accompanying visa is mainly for parents studying abroad at a young age to accompany and look after their children. Unlike the work visa, it has many restrictions.
First of all, the accompanying visa cannot be converted to other types of immigrant visas after its expiration; Secondly, visa holders cannot work or study full-time in the UK, and can only accompany their children. In addition, visa holders cannot enjoy public welfare in Britain. If the child is over 12 years old, parents can't apply for a visa to accompany them, but only a visa to visit relatives, which is a restriction for parents who want to accompany them in the UK until their children reach adulthood. Therefore, parents need to carefully evaluate these conditions when considering the accompanying reading plan to ensure that they meet the application requirements.