General Student Immigration Information

Immigration: A General Guide

As a prospective student you will encounter a range of information about applying for a Visa and we appreciate that this can be overwhelming at first. We have set out key points about immigration regulations for our applicants and provided answers to frequently questions below. We have also provided links to a range of additional information and on-line resources but we recommend that you always check with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) websites for information

The Points Based System: The UK has introduced a Points-Based System (PBS) for immigration. Tier 4 of this system will affect international students from outside the EEA/EU who are applying for a Student Visa to come to the UK, or those who are already studying in the UK and applying for a new course. Under the Points Based System, applicants will need to be sponsored by an institution that is registered as an official sponsor. London Metropolitan University is Category A Sponsor.

The Visa Application:In order to apply for a Student Visa, you must have applied for and been accepted on to a full-time course of study (English Language Course, Foundation, Undergraduate or Postgraduate Course).

Applying for a visa outside of the UK: If you are making an application from outside the United Kingdom for a Student Visa you should go to the website listed below. Application Forms and information about how to complete them are available at this website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/vafs

Applying for a visa in the UK: If you are a student making an application from inside the United Kingdom you should go to the UK Border Agency website below in order to obtain the relevant visa application form: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a visa letter?
Is London Metropolitan University an official sponsor?
When will I receive my visa letter?
Who will send out my visa letter?
Where do I apply for my a student visa
What type of Student Visa do I need?
What documents do I need to send with my application?
What money do I need to show?
How long do the funds for my fees and maintenance need to be held in my bank account?
Do my financial documents need to be in my name?
Am I tied to a single education provider?
What if I am continuing my studies and need to extend my visa?
Where can I find further information about the visa process?

What is a visa letter? This is a letter issued by the London Metropolitan University that you will need when you apply for a visa to study. It outlines information about you and your course of study. It also includes details of your course fees, and the qualifications that we used to assess your application to study at the University. You need this letter to apply for your visa. The Visa Letter will be replaced by a Certificate of Acceptance of Study (CAS) from February 2010.

Is London Metropolitan University an official sponsor? London Metropolitan University is an “A Rated” Sponsor

When will I receive my visa letter? Your Visa Letter is issued when you have met all of the conditions of your Conditional Study Offer, or when it is indicated that you have been made an Unconditional Study Offer

Who will send out my visa letter? The Admissions Office will issue and send your Visa Letter to you. The Visa Letter is an important document and is unique to you and your visa application.

Where do I apply for my a student Visa? http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/wheretoapply/

What Type of Student Visa do I need? London Metropolitan University students will be categorised as an Adult Students. Therefore you need to apply for an Adult Student Visa

What documents do I need to send with my application? You only need to provide the documentation requested with the visa application. If you include additional letters or documents which are not listed on your Visa Letter (or you provide documentation that does not correspond with the qualification information shown on your Visa Letter), this may increase the risk of your application being refused or it may take longer to process.

Your Visa Application should include:

Your visa letter (original) from London Metropolitan University

Any documents such as academic certificates that are listed on that visa letter
An ATAS certificate, if this is required for your course (this will be indicated on the visa letter);
Your bank statements, letter of official financial sponsorship or confirmation of an official loan.

What money do I need to show? You must be able to show that you have funds to cover the cost of your tuition fee and living in the UK for the duration of your course. You will need to show that you have funds at your disposal to cover: The tuition fee for your course and £800.00 per month for the duration of your courses.

How long do the funds for my fees and maintenance need to be held in my bank account? From 1 October 2009, prospective students applying from outside the UK must show that they have held the required amount of money (tuition fee and living costs) in your bank for a period of 28-day period before the date of your visa application.

Prospective students making a Tier 4 application from inside the United Kingdom before February 2010 will only need to show that they have the money needed on the day when they apply. They must still provide the correct documents to support their application.

Do my financial documents need to be in my name? Under the current rules (until 21 August 2009) the funds must be held in an account in the name of the student applying for the visa. Detailed information on the financial requirements is available in the UKBA Quick Guide:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/quickguideforstudent/adultstudents/

Am I tied to a single education provider? On 5 October 2009, new Tier 4 students' permission to stay in the UK will be 'tied' to one single sponsor (University) only. From 5 October, every new Tier 4 student will find their sponsor's reference number on the vignette (visa insert) in the student’s passport or on their identity card for foreign nationals.

In future, if you wish to study with a new Tier 4 sponsor and you made your last application for a Tier 4 visa on or after 5 October 2009, it will be necessary to apply for a new Tier 4 visa. You must not begin to study with the new education provider until you have received a decision on the outcome of your application.

The UKBA has assured that they will make every effort to ensure that applications from students wishing to change education providers are considered within the processing time published by the UKBA, so that students can move to the new education provider as quickly as possible.

If a student wants to study with a new Tier 4 sponsor, and they made their last application for a Tier 4 visa before 5 October 2009, they will continue to be allowed to change their sponsor without making a new Tier 4 application. They must, however, seek permission from UKBA to change their sponsor.

What if I am continuing my studies and need to extend my visa? If you are already registered at London Metropolitan University and wish to extend your student visa after March 2009, then you will have to apply for your extension under the new Points Based Scheme. To gain a visa therefore you are also required to reach 40 POINTS and meet the same requirements as those coming to the UK from overseas to study.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/quickguideforstudent/adultstudents/extendingadultstudentvisa/

Where can I find further information about the visa process?

For the Immigration Rules (quick guide for students) and more information on how to apply http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/quickguideforstudent/adultstudents/

UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) is also useful source of information about immigration and living in the UK for duration of your studies: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

If your query is not covered by the above, please email us at international@londonmet.ac.uk