SHORT-TERM STUDY VISA GUIDE Last Updated 5 th April, 2016
Contents Introduction To The Short-Term Study Category...... 3 What Is The Short-Term Study Category? Who Does This Guide Apply To? Do I Need A Visa? Working / Volunteering In The UK Non-Visa Nationals...... 5 Documents You Need To Carry Traveling Via The Republic Of Ireland Visa Nationals.... 6 STEP 1: Complete Online Application And Arrange Biometric Appointment STEP 2: Attend Biometric Appointment. 9 STEP 3: Submit Application Materials To The British Consulate 10 o Return Shipping.. 11 o Where to Send 11 o When To Submit. 11 o How To Submit: Standard Processing.. 11 o How To Submit: Priority Processing 12 STEP 4: Receive Visa In The Mail... 13 Coming To The United Kingdom... 14 When can I come to the UK? o Travelling via the Republic of Ireland How long can I stay in the UK? Can I travel outside the UK during my studies? Can I extend my visa so that I can stay in the UK longer? Visa Application Checklist..... 15 Where Can I Get More Help?.... 16 2
Introduction to the Short-Term Study Category What is the Short-Term Study Category? Short-Term Study is a UK immigration category intended for students who will be studying in the UK for less than six months and will not be engaging in any paid or unpaid work. If you will be doing an internship as part of your programme, you need to apply for a Tier 4 (General) Visa. Please see the Tier 4 visa guide on the FIE website for more information. Who does this guide apply to? All students who will be studying in the UK for less than six months and will not be engaging in any paid or unpaid work except European Union/European Economic Area/Swiss passport holders. European Union/European Economic Area/Swiss passport holders are not subject to UK immigration control and do not need permission or a visa to work or study in the UK. However, you must travel to and enter the UK on this passport. Your passport must also be valid for the entire duration of your studies. Do I need a visa to come to the UK as a Short-Term Study student? This depends on the passport you hold. The UK Visas & Immigration classes visitors to the UK as non-visa nationals and visa nationals. If you are a US Citizen, you are considered to be a non-visa national. However, there are several other nationalities that are also considered to be non-visa nationals. To find out if you are a visa national or non-visa national, please see Appendix 2 of the following webpage: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/423477/2 0150424_mmigration_rules_app_v_final_v2.pdf If your country is NOT listed in Appendix 2, you are a non-visa national please go to page 5 of this guide. If your country is listed in Appendix 2, you are a visa national please go to page 6 of this guide. Can I work/participate in an internship/volunteer in the UK as a Short-Term Study student? Short-term students can volunteer but CANNOT do any of the following while in the UK: Participate in an internship or work placement as part of their studies. Undertake any paid, unpaid or voluntary work (see below). Extend their visa, or apply for another visa. You must be clear on the difference between the volunteer work and voluntary work: Volunteer work must not receive payment in kind (with allowance only for reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence expenses), not have a contract of employment or replace an employee and must usually be with a charity or public sector organisation. 3
Voluntary work is usually remunerated in kind and often has a contract with the employer. This means the employer must provide the work and the voluntary worker must attend at particular times and carry out specific tasks. If you plan to do volunteer work while in the UK, please ensure that it meets the above requirements otherwise you may breach the conditions of your stay in the UK. How long can I stay in the UK as a Short-Term Study student? Short-Term Study students can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months from the date they enter. However, UK Visas & Immigration expects you to leave the UK as soon as possible after you complete your studies. Can I extend my leave to remain as a Short-Term Study student? You cannot extend your Short-Term Study visa or switch into another immigration category from within the UK. 4
NON-VISA NATIONALS You do not need to make a Short-Term Study application before coming to the UK. Instead, you can make your application at the port of entry when you arrive. You will need to carry the following documents with you: Short-Term Study Letter This is an essential document you will need, as it provides details of your programme for the UK Visas & Immigration. Students whose institution has a partnership agreement with FIE with receive this from their study abroad office. Students who have applied to FIE directly (independent applicants) will receive this from FIE. Programme Invoice This should show any fees you have paid to your home institution for your programme. Proof of Finances A bank statement or letter showing any money you will have available to you during your studies. There is no set amount, although it is recommended that you have about 1,265 for every month that you will be in the UK. You can use a bank statement or letter from an account in a parent or guardian s name. You will also need a signed and dated letter from them confirming your relationship and permission for you to use the money for your studies in the UK. Return Flight Information Your ticket (electronic or paper) or reservation confirmation showing that you intend to return to your country of residence at the end of your programme. ARRIVING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM When you arrive in the UK, you should inform the Immigration Officer that you wish to enter as a Short-Term Study student and present your passport with the documents listed above. The Immigration Officer will endorse your passport with an entry date stamp and the Short Term Student visa stamp. Make sure this has been done and ask the Immigration Officer to do so if necessary. TRAVELING VIA THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND We strongly recommend that you do not travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has a Common Travel Area with the UK. This means there is no immigration presence when arriving in the UK from Ireland and you will be unable to make a Short-Term Study application at the port of entry. Therefore, your passport will not be validated with an immigration stamp and you will be unable to prove that you entered the UK legitimately. The only way to then document legitimate entry is to travel to a location outside of the Common Travel Area (Amsterdam, Paris for example) and then return to the UK and make an application at the port of entry. You will not be able study at FIE until we have proof that you are in the UK on a Short Term Study visa. If you have to travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland for any reason, we recommend that you apply for pre-entry clearance (a visa) under the Short-Term Study category. Please follow the steps below for Visa Nationals. This rule applies to all programs unless the duration of your program in London is 30 days or less (e.g. Dublin-London Summer Program). 5
VISA NATIONALS You will need to make a visa application (known as pre-entry clearance) before you can come to the UK as a Short-Term Study student. You cannot do this after you arrive in the UK. If you arrive in the UK without a visa you will be refused entry by UK Border Control and will have to return to your home country. There are several stages in the visa application process that need to be completed. You should read about all these steps before you start your application. STEP 1 Complete Online Application and Arrange Biometric Appointment All applicants for a Short-Term Study Visa must complete an online application. You will pay the visa application fee as part of this process and book an appointment to have your biometrics taken. a) Register an Account Go to the following website and select the option to Register an Account http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk You will need to submit your personal details and choose a username and password to use the website. You will then receive an email confirming your account has been created and asking you to click on a link to unlock your account. b) Creating an Application Once you have logged in, select the option Apply For Myself to start creating your visa application. When you are asked to Select Visa Type you should select the following options: Reason for Visit Study Visa Type Study (Non Points-Based System) Visa Sub Type Study Short-Term Student 6 Months When you are asked the Visa Confirmation Questions, you should answer No to all the questions. c) Completing Your Application MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAVE YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE LOGGING OUT OR CLOSING YOUR INTERNET BROWSER. Passport and Travel Information You will need to enter the details of your current passport and any other passports you have held in the last 10 years. The travel information you enter should match the dates and duration of your FIE programme. 6
When asked for the main address and contact details of where you will be staying in the UK, enter the following: Metrogate House 3-7 Queen's Gate Terrace London SW7 5PE United Kingdom 020 7808 0130 admin@fie.org.uk Personal Details and Travel History Make sure you answer all questions honestly. Family Details You will need to enter the details of your parents, including their dates and places of birth. Employment and Income This section asks for details of your finances so that the UK Visas & Immigration can confirm you have sufficient funds to support yourself whilst in the UK. Family and Friends in the UK When you are asked what to enter details of what you plan to do whilst in the UK, we recommend that you enter the following: I am a registered student at [home institution s name] in [country name] and will be participating on the University s study abroad programme in the UK. You can enter the details of any friends of family you have in the UK, but this is not required to make a successful application. Medical Treatment Enter the details of any medical treatment (if any) you have received in the UK. Study Details Enter the following responses to the questions on this screen: Have you been unconditionally accepted or are you enrolled on a course of study in the UK? Yes Where will you study? Foundation for International Education Foundation House 114 Cromwell Road London Postcode SW7 4ES Primary contact no 020 7591 7750 Email address admin@fie.org.uk 7
What is the name of the course? [Home institution name] Study Abroad When does the course begin? / When does the course end? Enter your programme start and end dates What level of qualification is expected? NQF Level 6 Is your accommodation provided as part of your course? Enter Yes if you are staying in FIE accommodation during your programme; or No if you are not staying in FIE accommodation. If you are staying in FIE accommodation, your accommodation officer is Mr. John Yahya Janoudi. Have you studied in the UK before? Enter Yes or No What will you do when you have finished all of your studies and your visit to the UK? I will return to [country name] to complete my studies at [home institution name] Additional Information You do not have to enter anything in this section. (However, you can use this section to input any additional information you wish to be considered as part of your application.) Once you have completed all the sections, click on the button Confirm Application. Make sure you check your completed application. You cannot make any changes to your information once you have confirmed it. d) Sign Declaration Click on the Sign Declaration button on the My Applications screen to sign your application. e) Book Biometric Appointment Click on the Book Appointment button on the My Applications screen to book your biometric appointment where your fingerprints and photo will be taken (see STEP 2 below). If you want to change your biometric appointment, click on View Appointment on the My Applications screen. You can then change or cancel your appointment. f) Pay for Application Click on the Pay for Application button to pay the visa application fee - 89. On the Supporting Documents screen select By Mail from the dropdown menu which asks how you would like your documents returned. If you are paying by credit card, we recommend you advise your credit card company that you will making this transaction before doing this. Otherwise, the payment might be blocked. 8
g) Print Application You must print out the whole application, including the confirmation page containing a barcode. This must be taken to the biometrics appointment where the barcode is scanned. The confirmation page is then stamped to show your biometrics have been taken. STEP 2 Attend Biometric Appointment The biometric appointment is where your fingerprints and a photo will be taken. These are security measures for the UK that all visa applicants must fulfil. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR VISA APPLICATION TO THE BRITISH CONSULATE WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF COMPLETING YOUR BIOMETRIC APPOINTMENT. OTHERWISE, YOUR BIOMETRICS WILL BECOME INVALID AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE REJECED. You will have to physically travel to the biometric centre in person to complete this step. You will select the date; time and location of your appointment when you complete your online application (see STEP 1 above): Select the state/region that you live in and from there you will automatically be given location options. Once you choose the location you prefer, you can then choose a date and time for your appointment from those available. You will want to write this information down. You can see a list of biometric centres in your country of residence by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre Once you have selected your country, you should choose the following options: Applying for a UK visa Application Support Centre or Visa application centres You will need to bring the following to your biometric appointment: Your passport; AND A printout of your entire online application, including the confirmation page with a barcode. Do not forget your passport, the online application printout and the appointment confirmation page. Otherwise, your biometrics cannot be taken and your application will be cancelled. This will mean that you will have to start the application process again, including paying the fee. At the appointment, please ensure that the appointment confirmation page with the barcode is stamped as you will need to send this with your application for processing. 9
STEP 3 Submit Application Materials to the British Consulate You have to submit your application to the British Consulate/Embassy in your country and include the following documents: Document Information Who Does This Apply To? Passport You must submit your original passport (not a copy). 1 X Photograph This is in addition to the photo taken at your biometric appointment. It must be: Less than 6 months old European passport-sized (45mm x 35mm) Colour Taken against a light-coloured background Printed on normal photographic paper Full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but the face must not be covered). Short-Term Study Letter This is provided by your home institution (or by FIE for independent applicants) and provides details of your programme. Online Application Printout Biometric Appointment Confirmation Page Programme Invoice Proof of Finances English Language Test Certificate Return shipping This is the printed version of the application you completed at the visa4uk website. You must include all the pages, including the one that shows payment for your visa. This is the page with a barcode that was stamped at your biometric appointment. An invoice issued by your home institution (or by FIE for independent applicants) showing any fees you have paid for your programme. A bank statement or letter showing any money you will have available during your studies. There is no set amount, although it is recommended you have 1,265 for every month you will be in the UK. You can also use a bank statement or letter from an account in a parent or guardian s name. You should include a signed and dated letter from your parent/guardian confirming your relationship and that they give you permission to use the funds to study in the UK. This is the original certificate of a UKVI approved English language test (e.g. IELTS). It is not a mandatory document but recommended. Prepaid electronic shipping label and appropriate packaging from an approved provider. All applicants All applicants All applicants All applicants All applicants All applicants All applicants Only students whose first language is not English. All applicants 10
Return shipping To have your documents returned, you must provide a fully addressed prepaid electronic shipping label and appropriate packaging from UPS, the US Postal Service (USPS) or DHL (no ground services and no non-electronic waybills). It is recommended to buy courier services from VFS Global as they are officially partnered with the UKVI more information available at http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/index.html. Please include your return shipping label and envelope with the application package, and keep a copy of the waybill for your records. Please note that FedEx shipping labels are no longer accepted. If you do not provide a shipping waybill and envelope with your application the British Embassy/Consulate is unable to return your documents to you. You are advised to buy a waybill that can be tracked and we recommend you purchase insurance. If you choose to provide a pre-paid USPS shipping waybill that cannot be tracked, this will be used for return shipping but the Embassy/Consulate cannot accept responsibility once the package has been collected by USPS. Where to Send: If you are applying from outside the United States, documents must be sent to the British Consulate/Embassy in your country of residence. Please ensure you are sending your documents to the correct address. You can find more information about your nearest visa application centre at this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre For all applications from the United States, documents must be sent to: UK Visas and Immigration British Consulate General 845 Third Avenue New York 10022 When to Submit: Everything must be submitted within 2 weeks of completing your biometric appointment. You should send all your documentation as soon as you have completed your biometric appointment and collected all mandatory supporting documents. How to Submit: There are two different services for visa application processing: Regular Processing Additional UK service fee: $0 Processing time: typically, 15-30 working days Means of submission: applicant mails documents 11
Priority Service Additional UK service fee: Approximately $190 (depending on the conversion rate) Processing time: typically, 5 working days (excluding posting time) Means of submission: applicant mails documents including the Priority Processing receipt Where to send: all priority applications must be sent to the UKVI in New York Further Information about the Priority Service can be found at: http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/user_pay_services.html It is strongly recommended that you post your documents using a registered mail service that gives you a tracking number. You must include all supporting documents as originals including your passport. Remember to make copies of everything before posting your application. These copies are kept by you in case your application is misplaced. The UKVI will charge applicants a fee of 80 for an application that is rejected as invalid or withdrawn before a decision is issued. In practice, this will mean that 80 of the fee for an application that is rejected as invalid will be retained, and only the outstanding amount will be refunded rather than the full fee as at present. So we encourage you to ensure that you send all documents as required by the application. 12
STEP 4 Receive Visa in the Mail Once the British Consulate has finished processing your application, they will return your passport containing your Short-Term Study visa. The visa will be a sticker pasted into your passport. You should check that the following information is correct: 1. Valid from date this should on or before your programme s start date. 2. Valid until date this should be on or after your programme s end date. 3. Duration of stay 180 days 4. Number of entries MULT 5. Type of Visa C 6. Remarks C VISIT STUDENT 7. Other Remarks If any of the information on your visa is incorrect, you should let FIE know immediately. It is particularly important that you check the valid until date. My visa application has been returned because I did not submit all the required documents. What should I do? You will have received a letter from the British Consulate explaining why your application was returned. The letter will also state if you can re-submit your application with the missing document(s). You should do this immediately and return your application to the Consulate by registered mail. My visa application has been refused. What should I do? You will have received a letter from the British Consulate explaining why your application was refused. You should scan this letter and send it to FIE in an email. We can then advise you further. 13
Coming to the United Kingdom When can I come to the UK? You will only be able to come to the UK on or after the valid from date on your visa. You cannot enter the UK before this date and may be refused entry by UK Border Control if you attempt to do so. Travelling via the Republic of Ireland: We strongly recommend that you do not travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has a Common Travel Area with the UK. This means there is no immigration presence when arriving in the UK from Ireland and you will be unable to make a Short-Term Study application at the port of entry. Therefore, your passport will not be validated with an immigration stamp and you will be unable to prove that you entered the UK legitimately. The only way to then document legitimate entry is to travel to a location outside of the Common Travel Area (Amsterdam, Paris for example) and then return to the UK and make an application at the port of entry. You will not be able study at FIE until we have proof that you are in the UK on a Short Term Study visa. If you have to travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland for any reason, we recommend that you apply for pre-entry clearance (a visa) under the Short-Term Study category. Please follow the steps in the section for Visa Nationals of this guide. This rule applies to all programs unless the duration of your program in London is 30 days or less (e.g. Dublin-London Summer Program). How long can I stay in the UK? You must leave the UK on or before the valid until date on your visa. If you stay in the UK once your visa has expired, you will be considered an overstayer by the UK Visas & Immigration. This will be recorded on their systems and may prevent you from visiting the UK in the future. Can I travel outside the UK during my studies? You should make sure that your visa has MULT (multiple) printed on it for the number of entries. As long as your visa has that endorsement, you can travel outside the UK and return as long as your visa is valid. Can I extend my visa so that I can stay in the UK longer? Visitor visas cannot be extended and you cannot change into another immigration category. You must leave the UK on or before the valid until date on your visa. 14
Visa Application Checklist Have you included with your application? Passport your original passport and NOT a copy. Photo see STEP 3 for further information. Online Application Form printout of the completed application Stamped Confirmation Page from Biometric Appointment Proof of Finances Programme Invoice Short-Term Study Letter English Language Test Certificate see STEP 3 for further information REMEMBER TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY REGISTERED MAIL 15
Where Can I Get More Help? If you are facing issues with your application, you should see the FAQ section of the visa application website. Most common issues and their solutions are updated on this website: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/viewfaq You can also get in touch with the UKVI using the international enquiry service at the following website: https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/ The latest guidance for applications from within the Unites States can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visain-the-usa NAFSA UK Visa FAQ Page: http://www.nafsa.org/find_resources/supporting_study_abroad/ea_visas/uk_visas/uk_vis a_faqs/ 16