UK Student Visa Application Process

UK STUDENT VISA APPLICATION – A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Every student has a dream of studying in one of their favourite study destinations in the world, the UK. To achieve that dream, student visa is a must to pursue your ideal course at UK universities.

Before proceeding, it is essential to understand all the details of UK student visa application.

We have already explored about the common mistakes to avoid while making a student visa application. Today let’s delve into the steps involved in the UK student visa application.

STEPS TO MAKE UK STUDENT VISA APPLICATION:

Once you have finalized your course, university and other study requirements, you must start the process of UK student visa application. The below steps can help you in making a successful UK student visa application.

1.Check your eligibility:

• The first step to begin with the UK student visa application process is to check whether you meet all the requirements for student visa.
• If you don’t, then start preparing with what you are missing

2.Make application to the uk universities:

• Shortlist the courses and universities based on your academic preferences.
• Complete the application process for the shortlisted universities

3.Accept the offer letter:

• Once you are issued with offer letter, follow the procedure to accept it.
• If you are issued with conditional offer letter, work towards getting an unconditional offer by submitting the necessary documents
• You will be issued CAS letter only if you have an unconditional offer letter

4.Pay the deposit fee for your course:

• The initial deposit may vary based on your course and university. Pay the amount mentioned in your offer letter.
• This deposit money will be taken towards your tuition fee.

5.Prepare your financial evidence:

International students need bank statements to satisfy the financial evidence. This includes:

• Tuition fee for the first year of the course
• Living and accommodation costs

6.Check the other supporting documents:

In addition to the common list of documents required for UK student application process, some additional documents may be required depending on the scenario of each student.

• Parent / Guardian consent letter for students under 18
• ATAS certificate
• Official English translation of documents
• Evidence for name change
• Sponsor’s details

7.Pay attention to your CAS letter:

After receiving your unconditional offer letter, you can apply for the CAS letter in the university portal.

Since CAS letter is the key for your UK student visa application process, check if the below details are correct immediately after receiving it.

• CAS validity
• Personal details
• Course details
• Sponsor details
• Total course fee and deposit made till date
• Scholarship details
• English language requirements

8.Complete the online UK student visa application:

• You can start filling your UK student visa application online by using the details mentioned in CAS.
• Fill and submit the application by paying the UK student visa application fee and Immigration Health surcharges (IHS fee)
• While submitting the application, you will be able to confirm the UK address where you wish to collect your BRP
• You need to pay additionally if you are taking up priority service for your application.

9.Submit your documents and biometrics:

• After paying all the UK student visa application related charges, you can book an appointment in your nearby visa application centre.
• Submit your documents and provide your biometrics on the scheduled time and date.
• Original passport must be handed over during the appointment
• There is a chance for the applicants to be asked to attend the credibility interview

10.Receive your entry vignette:

• Once your UK student visa application is processed successfully, you will receive your passport with a sticker (vignette) added to the blank page.
• The vignette allows you to enter the UK within a fixed time.
• Its validity will be mostly 90 days based on the course start date mentioned in the CAS
• You will also receive a decision letter for your UK student visa application if your application is successful or denied.

11.Collect your BRP in the UK:

• Since the vignette in your passport has less validity, you must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) after reaching the UK.
• The BRP will be dispatched within 10 days of your arrival in the UK.
• You must produce your passport and visa decision letter to get your BRP.
• BRP will be your identity document during your stay in the UK and it will be valid based on your course duration.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS FOR UK STUDENT VISA APPLICATION:

After completing your online UK student visa application form, you will need to submit the below important documents:

• Valid Passport
• Academic documents used for your university admissions
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS letter)
• English proficiency Certificate
• Financial Evidences
• TB test certificate
• Passport size photographs

Also, you need to produce the visa submission documents such as:

• Submitted online UK student visa application
• Appointment confirmation letter
• Document checklist  

In addition to the above-mentioned documents, you may require to submit other documents based on your situation. You will get your UK student visa only if your documents are verified.

DENIAL OF UK STUDENT VISA APPLICATION:

It is your top priority to pay attention to the whole UK student visa application process. Even small and unknown mistakes can lead to the rejection of your visa application. We have listed some of the common reasons for visa rejection:

• Wrong visa category
• Missing details / documents
• Insufficient financial evidence
• Fraudulent documentation
• Criminal records
• Inconsistent information
• Overstay in the UK during previous trip
• Already have a UK travel ban
• History of UK visa rejections

If your UK student visa application is rejected, you will receive a decision letter mentioning the reasons for your visa denial. If you are not convinced with the denial, you can appeal with the necessary details to reverse your denial.

If the decision is not changed even after the appeal, you can submit a new application correcting the mistakes in your previous UK student visa application.

CONCLUSION:

It is a must for the international students to make UK student visa application to follow their dreams of studying in the prestigious universities of UK. Applying for a UK student visa may involve so many processes. To make it hassle free and meet the requirements, you must plan early and be prepared with the proper documents.

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To make the visa processing smooth, we offer visa counselling, documentation guidance, visa processing and many other UK student visa application related services.

We could assure that; Team Dolphin will be the perfect choice to get done your UK student visa application successfully.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What are the Requirements for a UK Student Visa?

You need a valid passport, CAS letter, financial proof, English proficiency, and a TB test certificate.

2. How Much Bank Balance is Required for a UK Student Visa?

You need around £1,334 per month for London or £1,023 for other areas, plus first-year tuition fees.

3. How Long Does the UK Student Visa Process Take?

The process usually takes 3 weeks. Priority services are available for faster processing.

4. Can I Work in the UK with a Student Visa?

Yes, you can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and full-time during holidays.

5. What Should I Do If My UK Student Visa Is Rejected?

You can appeal or reapply with corrected documents based on the rejection reasons.