UK Visa FAQs
The following information is designed to assist education abroad advisers as they guide their students to obtain a student visa to study abroad. NAFSA’s EA Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee members review these pages regularly for accuracy, but the consulate to which the student applies for a visa may change its procedures. Students and advisers should confirm specific procedures with each relevant consulate.
Read the latest news on UK Visas
Applying for a Student Visa
| Is a student visa required? |
Yes, if the student is studying in the UK for more than 6 months or plans to undertake part-time employment (including internships). This is referred to as a “Tier 4 Student Visa”.
For most students (U.S. Citizens) studying for less than 6 months and not undertaking work of any kind, entering as a “Student Visitor” is fine with the appropriate documentation. |
| What is the process for applying for a student visa? |
To apply for a Tier 4 visa, a student must: be sponsored by a Licensed Tier 4 Sponsor; complete an online application; be fingerprinted at a USCIS facility; and mail in a printed copy of the online application along with supporting documentation.
Information on the visa application process can be found online at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk and www.nafsa.org/ukvisas. |
| What are the requirements to obtain a student visa? |
| Information on the Tier 4 visa requirements can be found at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk and www.nafsa.org/ukvisas. |
| Is batch processing (a single institution submits visa applications on behalf of its students) possible? |
| An institution wishing to batch process must check with the British Consulate in their jurisdiction. However, because much of the process (online application and biometrics, etc.) must be done by the student, batch processing would be difficult. |
| Does a student have to appear in person at the consulate to obtain a student visa? |
| No, the Tier 4 application is submitted online and via mail to the British Consulate. However, student must be fingerprinted (thus appear in person) by a USCIS center. |
| Can a non-U.S. citizen apply for a student visa through a consulate in the U.S.? |
Yes, but the student must submit proof of how they are legally in the US (I-20, etc.) with their mailed application materials.
However, non-U.S. citizens (including green card holders) are treated as citizens of their home country (country of held passport) and additional processing time may be necessary. |
| Does the student have to complete any additional procedures once overseas? |
| No. |
Processing Time
| How long does a student visa take and when should my student apply? |
The UKBA guidelines state that a student should apply for a Tier 4 visa at least 6 weeks prior to the course start date. However, a student may not apply for a visa more than 90 days prior to the course start date (not travel date).
The UKBA strives to process most student visa applications within 10 business days. For updated processing times please visit the UKBA website. The UKBA also updates current processing times on their facebook page.
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| Will consulates make exceptions and allow for emergency applications if a student is leaving sooner that than the standard processing time? |
Two new services outlined below are now available to all students (subject to certain conditions and restrictions). Full information is available at www.visainfoservices.com.
Priority Service Cost: $150 USD + taxes
Priority service applications will be processed ahead of other visa applications. Under normal circumstances, priority service applications will be processed within 48 hours (not including weekends or public holidays) from the day of receipt at UK Border Agency visa section in USA. Applicants must ensure that they have submitted their biometrics at their chosen Application Support Center before sending their visa application for processing. Applicants should only purchase the Priority Service on the day they intend to send their visa application to the chosen visa application center. Applicants must ensure that they identify their chosen visa application center location at the time of purchase, based on their state of residence, as advised by UK Border Agency website.
Available at the UK Border Agency in New York only. Please note that, this service is only available to applicants based in the United States.
Premium Service (Tier 4 Students and Dependents only) Cost: $100 USD + taxes
Tier 4 Student applicants and their dependents may book a premium appointment at the NY Consulate to enable them to deliver their visa application and supporting documents in person to the visa officer at the visa application centers. This appointment will also be valid for any Tier 4 dependent applicant, although it is not necessary for dependants to attend the appointment in person.
A premium appointment can be scheduled at any time. Applicants must ensure that at least 24 hours lapses between completion of their biometric appointment at the Application Support Center and their premium appointment at their chosen visa application center.The premium service allows applicants for Tier 4 category visas (Tier 4 applicants and their dependents) to book an appointment at their designated Visa Application Center in New York, to submit their visa application in person and, under normal circumstances, collect their visa application on the same day. Applicants must ensure that they book their appointment at the designated Visa Application Center in New York, based on their state of residence advised by UK Border Agency Web site.
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Changing Visas While Abroad
| Can a student obtain a student visa once overseas? |
| No. |
| Can a student extend his/her visa in country (for a second semester, for example)? |
| Yes, but only if the student originally entered the UK on a Tier 4 student visa. Student Visitors cannot extend their stay and must return home to obtain a visa for re-entry. |
| Can a student travel after the program even if their student visa has expired? |
A Student Visitor is granted leave to remain in the UK for the duration of the course, but are also usually permitted to enter a week prior to the course start date and remain for a week after the course end date. The same one week before and after rule applies for Tier 4 visas issued for less than 6 months (in the case of an internship component). For courses that are longer than 6 months (but less than 12 months), students are permitted to enter up to 30 days before the course start date and to remain for up to 60 days after the course end date.
Note: U.S. citizens may depart the UK (travel to the continent, etc.) at the end of their program and return as tourists for up to 6 months with no additional visa required. |
Problems with Visa Applications
| If a student is having a problem obtaining his/her visa, what should s/he do? |
| Contacting a British Consulate directly is rather difficult. Therefore, the student should first alert their study abroad adviser. If the student applied for their Tier 4 Student Visa within the 6-week minimum time frame, the adviser should them contact a member of the NAFSA UK Consular Affairs Liaison team through NAFSA's EA Visa help. |
| How do I ask for assistance from NAFSA’s EA Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee? |
| Education abroad advisers may submit a request online in order to request assistance from NAFSA's Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee. Submit your request to www.nafsa.org/eavisahelp, and your message will be automatically routed to the appropriate NAFSA Subcommittee member. NAFSA Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee members have contacts at the majority of consulates in the United States and will respond promptly to your request for assistance. The link for EA Visa Help is also at the top of this web page's sidebar.
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| What should a student do if their Tier 4 visa is denied? |
| Unless the UKBA provided additional instructions with the denial, a student must start the whole process over again (from the beginning), including the online application and biometrics. No refunds will be issued for a denial. |
