Student Visa Process for England

PASSPORT REQUIREMENT

• If you do not already have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after your planned return date, start the passport renewal process immediately. Expedited processing is recommended. Airlines will not allow you to board your flight if your passport expires within 6 months after your return date.
• Students need a passport in order to apply for a visa, so make sure there is plenty of time to apply for both, if necessary! 

Non-U.S. citizens, click here to check if you need a visa to enter the UK. 

For U.S. citizens, entry requirements fall into two categories:  

• Students studying for 6 months or less and doing courses only (see below)
• Students studying for more than 6 months and/or participating in an internship (skip ahead) 

STUDENTS STUDYING FOR 6 MONTHS OR LESS AND DOING COURSES ONLY (I.E. NO INTERNSHIP)

You will not need to apply in advance for a visa to go to the UK. 

You can stay in the UK as a student for up to 6 months without a visa. You will need to carry certain documentation with you in case you need to show immigration officials proof of your student status when you land. You will receive a Standard Visitor visa stamp in your passport when you enter the country.

If you have a criminal record or you’ve previously been refused entry into the UK, you will need to apply in advance for a Standard Visitor visa. Otherwise, most people will not apply in advance and receive the stamp upon entry.

What you can and cannot do under this type of entry: 

You can visit the UK to study at an accredited institution for up to 6 months, this includes English language courses.

You cannot:

• enroll in a course that lasts longer than 6 months (except if you’re completing a distance learning course)
• do paid or unpaid work (this includes work experience or work placements, unless it is an eligible medical, veterinary or dentistry placement)
• live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent or successive visits
• get public funds (benefits)

What you need at the UK border:

You must provide a valid passport or travel document. Your passport must be valid for the whole of your stay in the UK. You may also be asked to prove the following and should have the corresponding documentation available in your carry-on luggage as you travel:

STUDENTS STUDYING FOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS AND/OR PARTICIPATING IN AN INTERNSHIP

You must apply prior to departure for a student visa.

When to apply: The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before you start your program. You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks*. You may have the option to do priority or standard processing. 

*COVID-19 DELAYS

• Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the standard visa process may be delayed. API is monitoring consulate updates and will communicate any changes to the visa process as soon as possible. 
• Please check with your consulate for temporary changes related to Covid-19. Some consulates are accepting visa applications through postal mail only or appointments must be requested via email.
• Your ability to travel may be severely affected, both in your host country and elsewhere. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with all travel restrictions for the countries you plan to visit.

How to apply:  Start the application process at this link. 

The following is a list of some of the standard requirements for the visa. Please note that the consulate may have additional requirements. It’s important to review the UK government website for the most current requirements. 

How long you can stay: How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed.

If you’re coming to the UK for more than 6 months and you verified your identity at a visa application center you will need to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP). Collect your BRP once you’re in the UK. Your host university or the nearest Post Office will have a collection site to pick these up. You must do this before the vignette sticker in your travel document expires or within 10 days of arriving in the UK, whichever is later. If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.

Read the guidance to find out exactly how long you can stay.

Staying longer in the UK

You may be able to:

• Extend your visa if you’re eligible, for example to continue your studies in the UK; however, only if you entered the UK on a Student or Tier 4 visa initially. 
• Switch to a student visa from another visa if you’re already in the UK; however, this is not an option for students who entered the UK on a Standard Visitor visa. 

When you can travel to the UK:

You can arrive in the UK before your course starts. This can be either:

• up to 1 week before, if your course lasts 6 months or less
• up to 1 month before, if your course lasts more than 6 months

Fees* – It costs:

• £348 to apply for a Student visa from outside the UK
• £475 to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK
• £500 for priority processing

*Fees are subject to change

You must pay the visa fee for each person that joins you.

Healthcare surcharge: You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

What you can and cannot do: If your application is successful, you’ll be told what you can and cannot do on a student visa. Typically:

You can:

• study
• work as a student union sabbatical officer
• You may also be able to work – how much depends on what you’re studying and whether you’re working in or out of term-time.

You cannot:

• claim public funds (benefits) and pensions
• work in certain jobs, for example as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• be self-employed
• study at an academy or a local authority-funded school (also known as a maintained school)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• Lost Documents: If you lose or do not receive your API letters, we can reissue those documents but there may be a significant delay for anything that needs to be mailed from the host country.  The other letters can be processed within approximately 3 days. Additional fees will be assessed to cover shipping charges.  Please contact the API office for current shipping rates.  

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? 

• Chat with use using the chat feature on our website, https://apiabroad.com.
• Email your Program Coordinator, or if you don’t have one yet, email [email protected].
• Call the API main line at (512) 600-8900

DISCLAIMER: Consulates may change their rules, fees, and regulations at any time.  Be advised that API does not have any control over consular procedures, and requirements vary greatly between consulates.  For this reason, your primary source of information regarding visas should be your local consulate. API can offer advice based upon our past experiences working with participants, but please be aware that each situation is unique and immigration rules are constantly evolving. The ultimate authority on the visa process will be representatives of the consulate for your jurisdiction. 

The information outlined here pertains specifically to participants who are U.S. citizens. Participants who are not U.S. citizens are advised to consult with their local consulate for requirements. API can only offer limited advice for students who are not U.S. citizens, but in many cases, non- U.S. citizens will have additional requirements for visas in terms of required documentation and locations where they are eligible to apply for their visa. Additionally, students who plan on traveling outside of their host country during their study abroad session may require additional documentation beyond the student visa for travel. 

To summarize:

• You are solely responsible for obtaining the proper documentation for your study abroad program.
• The university you will be attending requires that all students have the proper documentation for their period of study. Students who do not follow the correct procedures may not be eligible to complete their semester or obtain credit for courses taken abroad.