London is one of the most preferred destinations for international students due to the recognised academic excellence of its institutions and affordable education. Once you have been admitted to your desired course, it is important that you confirm the course dates from the institutions in advance.
This makes it easier for you to find out the UK Tier 4 visa processing time which can be one of the important details to file out while applying for a student visa.
In this article, we talk about the processing time for a UK student visa, UK Tier 4 dependent visa, and the UK student visa priority service processing time. We will also discuss the eligibility requirements for these, the financial restraints, ways to switch or extend, the validity and the fees for applying for the visa. Read the article further to explore these concepts.
UK Tier 4 Student Visa: Eligibility, Fees, and Validity
London Tier 4 visa is applicable for students who have been admitted to a course that has a duration of more than six months or if you’re applying for a language course of more than 11 months. For a course that is of a duration of fewer than six months or a language course of 11 months or less, you can apply for a short-term study visa.
Additionally, you should be able to support yourself financially and be able to pay for your course. You have to carry your passport, proof of your financial aids, proof of parental or guardian consent if you are under the age of 18, and proof of your relationship with the parent or guardian. You can check other eligibility requirements for the course on the official website of the government of London.
To apply for this, you need to pay £348. If you have any dependents applying for the visa along with you, then you need to pay £348 per person.
Validity
This is valid until the duration of your course. If you wish to extend, you can present a CAS that can be obtained from your educational institute. You can obtain a CAS if you are applying for further education, planning on working as a student union sabbatical office, if you have obtained a job, or are planning to stay in London after you have finished your doctorate.
Once your course is over, you can stay back in London for a period of 4-6 months depending on your University. However, the London government has reinstated its rules recently that ensure the student can stay back in London for two years courtesy of the post-study work visa that is applicable for International Students. This would ensure that students can look for work or work in London after graduating.
You can switch to a Tier 4 visa if you are in London under the Tier 2 general scheme, intra-company transfer, minister of religion, or a Tier 4 child visa.
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UK Tier 4 Visa Timeline
Once you have been admitted to a course, it is advisable that you apply for a UK student visa 3 months before your course starts. Generally, the decision on this is passed within 3 weeks of your appointment.
The UK tier 4 visa processing time is known to start once you are done submitting your documents (and biometrics, if applicable). If your application gets delayed, it might be due to incomplete information in your form or if the answers in your form are not direct or clear.
UK Tier 4 Priority Visa Processing Time and Rules
If you want to apply for priority service, you might have to pay an additional amount for the same. The priority service ensures that you receive your passport and visa within 5 working days.
You will have to pay an additional £500 for a priority service. If you want to receive your it within a day or so, you can apply for super-priority service. Super-priority UK study visa processing time is 24 hours. For a super-priority service, you will have to pay an additional fee of £800.
UK Tier 4 Dependent Visa Processing Time and Rules
If you want to take your family member(s) with you to London, they have to apply for a UK dependent visa. The UK tier 4 dependent visa processing time is 12 weeks.
If you are applying for a UK Tier 4 child student visa, you have to be between 4 to 15 years of age. Candidates applying for this category have to be educated in independent fee-paying schools.
Things to Keep in Mind While Applying for the UK Student/ Study Visa:
- Tier 4 student (general) – can be issued for specific courses.
- You have to check with your University to get your Certificate of Acceptance (CAS) without which you cannot apply for a UK Tier 4 visa.
- You cannot work full-time jobs under a Tier 4 but you can undertake full-time internships or part-time jobs.
- You have to apply for it within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
- You can apply for your study visa before your current visa expires.
- In addition to the fee, you have to pay a health surcharge.
- Once you receive it, you need to get a biometric residence permit from the visa office. You have to collect your Biometric Residence Permit within 10 days of your arrival in London.
Conclusion
Now that you are familiar with the UK student visa processing time, you should make sure you have a plan to ensure a smooth process. Before you apply for a student visa, don’t forget to check you have your documents in place and a financial source to support you while you finish your course.
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