How to Apply for UK Student Visa?

• Must be 16 years old or above (students aged 16 years or under may require parental consent, or can apply for the Children Visa instead)
• Must have proof of acceptance by any UK institution under Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Must show proof of financial capability to support yourself and pay for the course
• Must show proof of English language proficiency

• A current/valid passport
• Proof of funds to provide your living expenses for the duration of your course
• Letter of Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number and other relevant documents used in the CAS process
• Passport-sized colour photographs
• Academic transcripts (If your transcripts are not in English, then they must be translated to English by verified sources).
• Must provide a valid ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate if needed for your course and nationality
• Tuberculosis test results
• Proof of written consent for your application from your financial sponsor if you’ve received sponsorship/scholarship for your course fees and living costs in the last 12 months
• Proof of English language proficiency

The process to apply student visa from outside the UK will require you to confirm and authenticate your identity. This can happen in any of the two ways -

• provide your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre.
• avail the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document – which you can find in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

It is recommended that international students apply for a student visa 6 months prior to the start of their course. The earliest response time is within 3 weeks from the date of your application. You can apply for UK student visa online, on their official website.

The cost of a UK student visa is £363 when applying from outside the UK. You can pay this sum through:

• Online mode (Internet Banking, Debit/Credit Card)
• Through demand draft to be submitted at the visa application centre or the selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank
• Through cash payment at the visa application centre or the selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank

After this process, you may be called for an interview or may be asked to verify all the documents you have submitted, in person, at your nearest/selected visa application centre.

Three things can happen after you submit your fully filled visa application form:

1.) You are granted a UK student visa

After you are granted a UK student visa, you will be informed about our next steps extensively. You will be provided with -

• a biometric residence permit - if you gave your biometric information at your visa application centre
• a digital immigration status which you can view and prove online - if you had used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

2.) Your visa application has been rejected

If your application has been rejected, it can due to various reasons. Do not panic. Keep calm. Maintain clarity on all sides. You will be informed about the reason(s) by the authorities. You can ask for further clarification from the administration. Some of the common reasons for rejection include missing documents, incomplete visa application form, or lack of proof of insufficient funds.

3.) Your visa application has certain complexities, which need to be resolved at the earliest

If your visa application has garnered some complexities in the process of reviewing, the authorities will contact you to resolve the matter at the earliest, either by asking to send further documents or visit the visa application centre at a convenient date and time.

To avoid any drawbacks on your international student visa, remember to attach every document asked for in the visa application form and provide valid and current documents only. Apply early and pay close attention to your mails, posts, and UKVI account.