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Immigration in the UK

Once you have decided that the UK is the place for you in terms of where to study, the next step is to prepare yourself for the paperwork involved in moving there.

Do not fret; it is true that you need to be prepared and sort out your paperwork in a timely fashion, however it is not as daunting as it sounds, and there are many organisations that can help you if you are unsure of anything along the way.

Prospective students

It may be that you need to come to the UK for a period of time before starting university in order to check out prospective universities and go to interviews.  If this is the case then you can apply for entry clearance as a prospective student rather than just a student. This allows you to remain in the UK for up to six months in order to attend interviews and check out institutions. Once enrolled at a college or university or offered a place, then you need to extend your stay as a student by getting the relevant student paperwork.

Applying for student entry

Once you know you are definitely coming to the UK to study, its time to find out what you need to do in order to gain entry to the UK. First you have to discover if you are classed as an EEA national (your home country is a member of the EU) or not. “EEA nationals are not affected by the UK Immigration Rules and may come and stay in the UK without restrictions,” explained a spokesperson from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.  Those who are non-EEA nationals should then check with the nearest British Consulate whether nationals of their country require a visa or entry clearance (EC) to come to the UK. This information is also available from the UKVisas website.

All students, whether or not they require entry clearance or visas before travelling must meet the immigration rules for students. You must be able to provide documentary evidence that:

You have been accepted on a course of study at:

  • A publicly funded institution of further or higher education (e.g. a university)
  • A private-education institution
  • An independent fee paying school

And that you are going to follow:

  • A recognised full-time degree course
  • A weekday full-time course involving at least 15 hours organised daytime study per week
  • A  full-time course of study at an independent fee paying school

You must also be able to prove that you:

  • Are able to pay for your course and support an accommodate yourself and any dependants without working or help from public funds
  • Plan to leave the UK when you complete your studies

You also need to be aware of when your visa / EC will run out, so you can prepare to get a new one if necessary, although in most cases, students are given visas that last for the whole education period. “The validity of the visa is decided on a case by case basis, dependant on, for example, how long is asked for, the type of course and what supporting documentation is produced. As an example, an undergraduate student with full supporting documentation who fully meets the requirements of the Immigration Rules would normally be given a visa valid for the duration of the course,” said the spokesperson.

When to prepare

Once you know you have met the criteria for entry into the UK, and know what paperwork - if any - you need, you then can get yourself ready for your trip. But don’t leave this to the last minute as it all takes time, and if you don’t have your visas etc complete and ready by the time to travel to the UK, you could end up not being allowed into the country!

“In most cases, an application should be (handed in) not more that three months in advance,” said the spokesperson.  “But processing times for visas can vary from country to country and applicants are advised to contact the visa office to which they will apply several months in advance to find out how long an application may take,” they added.  Depending on your situation and country of origin, you will have specific forms to complete, and may have certain fees to pay. Your local British Consulate will let you know what you need to complete, and will be more than happy to help you out with any queries you may have.

Bringing family too?

If you are planning to travel alone, then most of your work is now done, but some students plan to bring their families with them. In most cases this is accepted as long as certain conditions are followed, and criteria met.  “Husbands or wives and children under 18 may join the student in the UK if they can be supported and accommodated without help from public funds (e.g. housing benefit, unemployment benefit, etc.),” the spokesperson noted. Spouses are not allowed to work whilst in the UK if you are only staying for a year, but this changes if you are doing a three year degree for example. “For students staying longer than 12 months, the spouse is permitted to work,” they added.

Guidelines to working whilst a student

In regards to working whilst at university, international students are allowed to work if necessary, but only on a part-time basis. You are allowed part-time work of 20 hours or less in term time – unless it is an internship or related to your course, and then you are allowed more. You are also allowed to work full-time during your holidays without having to get a work permit.

Simple really!

Although people often feel daunted by the idea of visas and entry clearance, it really isn’t an ordeal to go through. Given enough time and research, you will find that preparing for your studies in the UK is a simple process that is not as time consuming as you may think. And once this is out of the way, you can now get ready for the exciting learning and social experiences that you’ve signed up for by choosing to study in the UK!

Written by Assistant Editor Keri Allan