Students need to prepare a variety of proof materials, which range from proof of academic level, proof of financial status to proof of guardianship arrangements (for students under the age of 18).
According to the difference of applicants' identity and purpose, there are many types of British visas, mainly including tourist visas, work visas, permanent residence visas and student visas. Among these types, the UK study visa (T4) is of irreplaceable significance for international students who plan to study in the UK.
Applying for a visa for studying abroad is a complicated and rigorous work, and its process involves many links. Students need to prepare a variety of proof materials, which range from proof of academic level, proof of financial status to proof of guardianship arrangements (for students under the age of 18). Each certificate must strictly follow the relevant regulations and requirements to ensure its authenticity, integrity and effectiveness. At the same time, considering the strictness of the visa processing process and various possible situations, students need to reserve enough time to complete the processing work. Only in this way can we ensure the smooth progress of the whole process. Therefore, properly handling the visa for studying abroad in advance plays a key role in the development of the whole study abroad work, just like paving a smooth road for the follow-up study abroad, which can greatly improve the efficiency of preparation for studying abroad, and thus achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The UK study visa (T4) can be mainly divided into the following two types:
1. Tier4(Child)Student Visa, that is, children's sign.
This type of visa is suitable for students under the age of 18. It is specially set up for underage students who are still young and need to receive education in the UK, aiming at protecting their legitimate rights and interests during their study in the UK and regulating their study and life-related affairs in the UK.
2. Tier4(General)Student Visa, that is, adult visa.
This visa is for adult students over the age of 18. This type of visa is different from the children's visa in terms of application conditions, requirements and applicable rules. It is designed to meet the needs of adult students studying in the UK and ensure that the learning process of adult students in the UK meets the requirements of the UK visa policy and education system.
Today, I will focus on Tier4(Child)Student Visa, which is the most important T4 visa type for studying abroad in the UK.
一、Choice of visa type
For young students studying abroad, all they apply for are Child Student Visa. The following are the main requirements:
1. Age limit
Students should be in the range of 4-17 years old. This regulation clarifies the age range of visa application, ensures the pertinence of young students studying abroad, enables British educational resources to be reasonably allocated to international students of appropriate age, and guarantees the quality of education and students' adaptability.
2. School Admission and Course Duration
To get an offer from a British private school, and the duration of the course to be admitted is more than 11 months. The admission of private schools in the UK is the recognition of students' academic ability and potential, and the requirements of course length are in line with the visa policy, so as to ensure that students have a stable and sufficient study plan in the UK, which is conducive to the continuity and in-depth development of their studies.
3. Financial proof
Parents' financial certificates are required to show that parents have sufficient funds to support their children's study and life in the UK. This is an important guarantee to ensure that students can successfully complete their studies and maintain a normal life during their stay in Britain. The financial certificate should be detailed and reliable, including information such as income source and deposit amount, so as to meet the requirements of the British visa administration for the examination of students' financial ability.
4. The guardian agrees
It is necessary to obtain the consent of parents or guardians and prove it when applying for a visa. This requirement embodies the protection of the rights and interests of young students, ensures that their decision to study abroad is made with the full knowledge and consent of guardians, and also clarifies the responsibilities of guardians in the process of studying abroad.
二、Suggestions on visa processing time
In order to arrive in Britain on time when school starts in September, it is generally recommended that you apply for a visa from June to early July. This period of time is relatively abundant and reasonable, which can reserve enough time for the visa processing process, deal with various possible situations, such as material supplement and extension of the review process, and ensure that students can enter school on time and start their study and life in the UK to the greatest extent.
For China students who plan to study in the UK, the common visa type is Student Visa, which is specially designed for students who have attended courses in the UK for more than six months. If the course is less than 6 months, students can apply for a short-term student visa. According to the course duration, this classification makes the visa types more compatible with the students' actual study plans, which is conducive to the standardization and scientification of visa management in the UK.
Precautions before visa application
1. Get the Admission Notice (CAS)
Before starting to apply for a visa, it is very important to obtain the letter of admission (CAS) issued by a British school. This document is provided by the applied school and is an indispensable and necessary material in the visa application process. It contains a lot of key information, such as the school's admission confirmation, the relevant details of the course (including the course name, duration, start date, etc.) and the school's own visa guarantee qualification number, etc., and the British visa administration examines the students' qualifications for studying abroad according to these information.
2. Prepare proof of funds
You need to prepare sufficient financial proof materials to show that you have the ability to pay the tuition and living expenses required during your study in the UK. The specific amount of funds required will vary according to the courses applied for and the place of residence in the UK. For example, students studying in London have a relatively high cost of living, and the corresponding amount of funds will be higher than that of other non-London students. Proof of funds can be presented in the form of bank deposit slip, passbook or bank running water. These materials need to accurately and clearly show the reserve of funds to ensure that they can meet the economic needs of studying and living in the UK.
3. Proof of English language ability
The UK Visa and Immigration Office (UKVI) explicitly requires students to provide proof of English language proficiency. Generally speaking, IELTS score is the most commonly used way to prove it. Of course, other recognized English test scores can also be used as valid proof. This requirement aims to ensure that students can smoothly adapt to the learning environment in which English is the teaching language, have sufficient language communication and learning ability, and avoid the influence of language barriers on their academic progress.
4. Valid passport
You must have a valid passport, and the validity of the passport should cover the whole period of study in the UK. This is the basic condition to ensure that students can legally enter and leave the country and stay in the UK for study. If the passport is not valid enough, it may lead to the rejection of the visa application or unnecessary troubles during the study in the UK. Therefore, it is necessary to check the validity of the passport in advance and go through the renewal procedures in time.
5. Other materials
In addition to the above main materials, some other specific materials may need to be prepared. For example, previous study records can help visa officers understand students' learning history and academic performance; Personal statement can show students' motivation to study abroad, personal characteristics and future planning; Letter of recommendation evaluates students' ability and morality from the perspective of a third party.
In addition, the visa application also requires the following materials:
Student passport (valid for more than half a year) to ensure that the passport is valid during visa processing and studying in the UK.
Two photos (3.5cm * 4.5cm in size) with passport specifications, which are used for filling in visa application forms and related identification.
Parents consent letter, for minor students, this document specifies parents' approval and support for their children to study abroad.
Original student's birth certificate and English translation, as important proof of identity information.
Original and photocopy of student ID card to further confirm the student's identity.
The original and photocopy of the student's parents' household registration book, which is used to verify family information and kinship.
The original certificate of the child's guardian in the UK is the key material to protect the safety and rights of young international students living and studying in the UK.
The examination of tuberculosis (TB) proves that it is a safeguard measure for public health safety, and ensures that the imported students will not pose potential risks to the local public health environment in the UK.
Details of visa application fee
1. Visa fee: about 363 pounds. Please note that this fee is denominated in pounds, and the price of RMB should refer to the exchange rate at that time. The fee can only be paid online, and it will not be refunded after the visa is refused, unless the appeal is successful for special reasons. At present, the visa expedited service is temporarily cancelled, which requires applicants to grasp the application time and make all preparations in advance to ensure that the visa application can be successfully completed within the specified time.
2. Healthcare Surcharge: about 470 pounds per year. This fee is to ensure that you can enjoy British medical services while studying in the UK. After paying the medical surcharge, international students can use the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK and get the necessary medical security, including medical treatment, hospitalization and other services.
3. Deposit amount: It needs to cover the tuition and living expenses of the first year. If you apply for a language class, the deposit amount should be added with the tuition and living expenses required for the corresponding duration. This requirement is to ensure that international students have sufficient financial support in the UK to successfully complete their studies and maintain their daily lives. The determination of the deposit amount needs to comprehensively consider the tuition standard, living cost and other possible expenses, and it should be proved in the form of reliable funds, such as bank deposit certificate.
4. Visa center processing fee: This fee is determined by visa centers around the country. Visa centers in different regions may charge different processing fees according to the local actual situation, and the specific amount can be consulted and confirmed with the local visa center when applying for a visa. This part of the fee usually includes service fees such as visa application acceptance, material review and information entry.
Detailed explanation of visa application process
1. Fill in the application form online
Visit the official website of the British Visa and Immigration Bureau and fill in the visa application form online on this platform. Be sure to keep a high degree of care and prudence in the process of filling in, and carefully check every piece of information to ensure its accuracy. The contents of the application form cover personal basic information, educational background, study abroad plan and many other aspects. Any wrong or inaccurate information may adversely affect the visa application.
At the same time, after completing the application form, you need to make an online visa reservation. It should be emphasized that visa applications will not be accepted without an appointment. During the booking process, you should choose the appropriate application time and place according to your actual situation, so as to ensure that you can go to the visa center to submit your application on time.
2. Go to the visa center
On the day of booking application, be sure to bring all the materials you need to prepare and arrive at the visa center half an hour in advance. In this way, we can have enough time to deal with possible emergencies, such as traffic congestion. After arriving at the visa center, get the call list and wait patiently for the materials to be submitted.
3. Pay the visa fee
You need to pay the visa application fee when submitting the application. Visa fees vary according to visa types and application time. Before paying the fee, carefully confirm the amount of the fee and the payment method to ensure the smooth payment process. Generally speaking, visa fees can be paid online.
4. Booking Visa Center and Biometric Information Collection
After completing the online application, you need to make an appointment to go to the nearest visa application center for biometric information collection. This step is an important link in the visa application process, which mainly includes taking fingerprints and taking portrait information. When collecting biometric information, we should strictly follow the instructions of the visa center staff to ensure the accuracy and integrity of information collection.
5. Choose the way to get a visa.
After completing the collection of biometric information, you need to choose the way to get a visa, which can be collected on site or mailed by EMS. If you choose to collect the visa on site, you need to collect the visa at the time and place designated by the visa center; If you choose to send by EMS, you need to ensure that you provide an accurate mailing address and contact information so that the visa can be delivered smoothly.
After the application is submitted, the UK Visa and Immigration Bureau will review it, which usually takes several weeks, during which additional information or materials may be requested.
You can get your passport after signing. There are two ways: collecting it at the visa center or sending it to the designated place by express delivery (additional fee is required). If you go to the visa center to get a visa, you must bring a visa payment receipt; If you entrust someone else to take it, you need to provide a certificate of entrustment and identification.