General Student Visa
To apply for a General Student visa (Tier 4) you must be 16 or over and come from the country outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Other important requirements include a place offered on a course in the UK; also you have to speak, read, write and understand English; you must have enough money to support yourself during the stay in the UK and have enough money to pay for the course.
You can apply for a General Student visa three months before the start your course. You are guaranteed to get your visa decision within three weeks after the application (15 working days). Applicants from outside the UK must pay £348 to apply for a General Student visa, £348 must be paid for every person-dependant. Another obligatory payment in the process of application is the healthcare surcharge. You can calculate the size of the payment before you apply.
According to the General Student visa requirements, if your course lasts six months or less, you can come to the UK up to one week before the course start. If your course lasts longer than six months, you can arrive in the UK for up to one month before its start. The duration of your stay depends on the kind of your course and what study you have already completed.
A General Student visa permits you to study and work as a student union sabbatical officer, also you can work on different jobs, depending on what level your course is and what kind of sponsor you have. You are allowed to apply for a General Student visa from outside and inside the UK, you can apply to extend your visa, and you can bring your family members (dependants) with you. A General Student visa does not allow you to study at an academy or a local authority-funded school, work in certain jobs, for example, professional sportsperson or sports coach and you can not receive public funds.
To apply for a General Student visa you must demonstrate an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor and proof that you have enough money to pay for your course and support yourself during your stay in the UK. The requirements for your course include the following:
- it can be a full-time course leading to a qualification that is at least level 6 on the Ofqual register;
- it can be a part-time course leading to a qualification that is at least level 7 on the Ofqual register;
- it can be a foreign course of a degree-level study, but it must be equal to a UK higher education course and is being run by a foreign higher education institution;
- it can be a full-time course, with at least 15 hours per week of organized daytime study, leading to a qualification which is at least level 3 on the Ofqual register;
- it can be a recognized foundation program as a postgraduate doctor or dentist;
- it can be an English language course at level B2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
Postgraduate doctors and dentists are allowed to apply for a General Student visa if they are sponsored to work within a recognized foundation program. They must prove: they have finished a recognized UK degree in dentistry or medicine and received that degree from a registered Tier 4 sponsor; they spent their final year in the UK and at least one other year of studies for that degree in the UK.
After a UK education provider has offered you a place on a course, you will receive your reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS). You are allowed to apply for a General Student visa not later than 6 months after you receive the CAS.
Those visa applicants who have studied in the UK before can get CAS from within the UK if: they need to resit exams or repeat modules; they want to apply for the first time to a new institution aiming to complete a course they have started at an institution that lost its Tier 4 sponsorship; they want to apply to extend their stay duration because they have done (or want to do) a work placement or study abroad program; they want to complete a Ph.D. or other doctorate that has started under the last Tier 4 General Student visa. Also, if they apply after working as a student union sabbatical officer and want to complete a qualification they have started studying under their last General Student visa, or want to continue their medical, dentistry or medical science degree after completing an intercalated course.
If you have studied in the UK before and want to start a new course, you can apply for your CAS: if you plan to take a course on a higher academic level than your previous course; if you plan to take a degree level or above course related to your previous courses or career aspirations; if your course is intercalated to medicine, medical science or dentistry course you have started studying under a General Student visa. Also, you can get a CAS if you are applying to work as a student union sabbatical officer or you want to stay in the UK to look for work after you have finished your Ph.D. or doctorate.
To apply for a General Student visa you must prove your knowledge of the English language and pass a secure English language test (SELT). The level of English language skills needed depends on where you plan to study in the UK and what you plan to study. Visa applicants who have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in a number of countries, including Ireland, New Zealand, Jamaica, UK, USA, and some others do not need to prove their knowledge of English. Nationals of Canada, people who have studied in the UK before as a Tier 4 (Child) student or apply to come to the UK for a study abroad program as part of a university degree course in the USA do not need to prove their knowledge of English.
To apply for a General student visa you must provide a valid passport or other valid travel documentation, proof that you can support yourself financially during the course, your tuberculosis test results (if you come from a country where you have to take one). People who are under 18 must demonstrate proof of parental or other legal guardian consent and proof of the relationship with their parent or guardian. Some other documents may be needed.
You may extend your Student visa if you meet the eligibility requirements of this visa, you are in the UK and have a sponsor. The fee for your visa extension is £475 plus the healthcare surcharge. Also, you may be able to change to a Tier 4 General Student visa if you are in the UK under Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer), Tier 2 (Minister of religion) and Tier 4 (Child) visa.
Regards,
SmartImmigrant
