UK Student Visa FAQ: Questions About Studying in the UK

• Universities are conducting credibility interview before issuing CAS.
• UKVI can randomly call the student for credibility interview hence it is recommended that student should be prepared for VISA interview before he goes to VFS.

• For bachelors generally 2-3 years of gap is acceptable.
• For Masters program gap is acceptable as long as it is justifiable
• On case to case basis university accepts the profile

• Certain universities offer admission on the basis on MOI letter from the university.
• Some universities also provide IELTS waiver based on the student 12th English marks or university testing.

A Medium of Instruction Certificate (MOI) is the certificate which states the language in which you completed your degree education. Only some accept MOI letter issued from the college whereas most of the universities need MOI letter from the University.

• For bachelors – In 12th/diploma 55-60% is needed.
• For masters – In bachelors 50-55% is needed.
• Above mentioned is general requirement, there are some universities that provide admission with lower percentage requirement also.

Most of the universities have Sept/Oct and Jan/Feb. Some Universities also have May/June  Intake

• Most widely acceptable proficiency tests are IELTS, UKVI IELTS, PTE, UKVI (PTE), Duolingo, OIETC, and TOFEL.
• Student is accepted to have a B2 level or higher score.

Many British Universities have integrated up to 1 year placements with their Masters courses. Students opting for such placement Masters courses in the UK will thus be eligible to get a UK student visa of the duration of the course length + the length of the placement + additional 4 months.

• Most of the universities have a placement cells which help students with resume making, job interview preparation.
• Some universities may organize opportunities on your behalf, while others will assist you in identifying and applying for placements yourself.

• Some traditional high ranked universities do not accept Students with more than 4 Backlogs.
• Students with 35-40 Backlogs have been accepted by many UK Universities if their overall percentage is good.

CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. UK immigration rules require the University to sponsor your application for a student visa (this is not the same as financial sponsorship). The CAS is an electronic record that the University produces for the Home Office and it is required for your Student visa application.

Most of the UK Universities need the deposit of 50-65% of the first year fee.  Generally university mentions the deposit amount on the offer letter issued to the student.

The Student Route Visa is part of the UK visas and immigration’s points based system for students who wish to study in the UK. To make a successful application you must meet the full requirements of the immigration rules and achieve 70 points.

For your student visa application to be accepted, you will need to satisfy each of the following criteria:

• CAS – 50 points
• Proof English Proficiency – 10 points
• Evidence of Sufficient funds – 10 points

• Student needs to carry all the original documents at the VFS along with the VISA application
• VFS staff will return original after scanning all documents.

How much money you need depends on where you will be studying. You’ll need either:

• £1,483 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London
• £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London

• As part of the student visa application process you will be required to score 10 points for your maintenance (funds).
• You must be able to demonstrate that you have access to enough money to pay for your tuition fees for the first year of your studies plus an amount to cover your living costs.
• Amount to be maintained: Remaining 1^st year tuition fee + maintenance fund.

• The studies can be self sponsored or funded by parents.
• The funds can be showed in the form of saving, fixed deposit or as an educational loan.
• Funds should be 28 days old at the time of CAS application
• Funds should be maintained in nationalized banks.

You must have this money for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28-day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply for your visa.

You do not need to prove the financial requirement if:

• you’ve had a UK visa for 12 months prior to the date of your Student visa application – you must currently be in the UK
• you’re applying as a student union sabbatical officer
• you’re applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised foundation programme

• If Student applies in normal service, then student will get the VISA in 15 working days.
• If Student applies in priority, then student will get the VISA in 4-6 working days!!

• If Student can demonstrate considerable change in the circumstances based on which his previous VISA was refused then student can reapply for UK VISA.
• Yes if the VISA refusal is on the grounds of Financials or insufficient documents then we can rearrange for proper financial and other documents needed for VISA and request the University to issue new CAS and reapply for UK VISA.
• If the VISA refusal is on the grounds of Credibility interview and documentation issue then University will not issue new CAS and student cannot reapply for UK VISA.

Student applying for Tier4 VISA need to undergo TB Test and Chest X Ray in UKVI approved Clinics and need to submit original Test Report at VFS.

The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a mandatory fee paid by international students applying for a UK Student Visa. It allows them to access free healthcare through the NHS (National Health Service) during their stay.

• £776 per year main rate for visa and immigration applications
• Dependants will usually pay the same amount as the main visa applicant.
• The exact amount you have to pay depends on how much leave you are granted.
• You pay half of the yearly amount if your application includes part of a year that is less than 6 months.
• You pay for a whole year if your application includes part of a year that is more than 6 months.
• Your visa or immigration application won’t be granted if you don’t pay the healthcare surcharge or your application will be delayed if you don’t pay the right amount.

You’ll get a full immigration health surcharge (IHS) refund if:

• you paid twice
• your visa application is refused
• you withdraw your visa application

• your visa application is successful but you do not come to the UK
• you leave the UK before your visa ends, for example to make a new application
• you’re told to leave the UK before your visa expires
• you’re applying for indefinite leave to remain

To qualify for a Dependant Visa, you must be a dependant family member

• Husband, wife or civil partner;
• Child aged less than 18 years at the time of application.
• The Dependents are allowed with students if he/she is applying for postgraduate Research level course for 12 months or longer course.

• Dependant visa could take 4 weeks to be processed, from the date of your visa appointment.
• For an additional fee the application can be submitted using the priority service, which would normally expedite the decision to within 5 working days.

As a dependant, you will be able to work for 40 hrs/week in the UK, and children will be able to go to either a state or private school.  And of course, your family will remain together, able to enjoy living in a new country.

The rules for dependent visas vary depending on the dependent route applied for. In all cases, partners must show that they are in a genuine subsisting relationship and that they intend to live with their partner in the UK. Children must be under 18 years old, unless, having subsequently turned 18 further to an application or original grant of (continuous) leave as a dependant.

A dependant visa would always be granted in line with the Student Visa.

There is no requirement to be proficient in English to obtain a Dependant Visa.