FAQ: Questions about Student visas and studying in the UK

Please note that the information contained in the questions and answers is relevant at the time of publication.

 

Question

I am completing my university preparatory course, my BRP is valid until 16/08/2024, can I apply for a visa for the next academic year in the UK without leaving the country?

Answer

According to the rules, the earliest you can apply for a student visa extension is 3 months before the start of your new course.

You must apply before your current visa expires. Your new course must start within 28 days of the expiration of your current visa.

Thus, in order to apply for an extension of a student visa within the UK, your new course must begin within 28 calendar days from 16 August 2024, that is, around mid-September of this year.

If your university course starts much later, then you will have to travel outside the UK and apply from your home country.

 

Question

The son had a student visa for a period of 2 years, his parents were his sponsors initially, and in November the visa expired, he entered a university in England to continue his studies. His studies begin in February, there is already a CAS, they have applied for a new student visa, this time we have a sponsor, a Swiss commercial company with a good annual turnover, where the son will go to work after graduation. Will it be a problem to get a new student visa?

Answer

In order for your son to obtain a student visa, the main thing is that he meets all immigration requirements for this visa category.

The fact that after graduation your son will go to work for a Swiss company does not affect the success of obtaining a student visa now.

Also, if a British university has checked and issued your son a CAS, then as a rule this means that all the requirements have been met and the university has checked the financial component regarding the financing of your son's further studies.

 

Question

I’m going to come to England to get a second higher education (master’s degree), first a 9-month Pre-master course, and then the master’s degree itself. Do I have the opportunity to take my children with me as addicts?

Answer

Students on courses starting from 1 January 2024 are now only be able to bring dependents, if the students are doing government-sponsored courses or study towards a PhD, another doctoral qualification, or a research-based higher degree.

Dependents already in the UK on the previously issued dependent visas, shall be able to remain in the UK and extend their leave.

Also, please note that for students whose study courses have started before 01 January 2024, shall still be able to bring their dependents to the UK under the old rules.

 

Question

My student visa expires on 29 December 2021, but my new academic course starts on 1 February 2022. I really hope to extend my student visa inside the UK. Can I apply for an extension of my student visa within the country before my current visa expires?

Answer

According to current immigration rules, you can apply for an extension of your student visa three months before the start of your new academic course. And you can do it from inside the UK.

Thus, you will be able to apply for an extension of your student visa within the country in December of this year, because there are less than 3 months left before the start of your new academic course on 1 February.

 

Question

I am in London on a Student Visa, but the university I study at is not British. Therefore, I do not have the right to work, which is indicated on my visa. My plans are to switch to a Skilled Worker Visa, I have a potential employer. I would like to work for him on a voluntary basis, for free. Can I do this while studying?

Answer

If your visa states that you cannot work, then, unfortunately, you do not have the right to work even for free. Students of Higher Education Institutes, which include all British universities and a small number of other UK educational institutions receiving government funding, have the right to work. If you want to be eligible for a job, then you'd better change your educational institution. And if the employer has a Skilled Worker Visa license (or decides to get one) and wants to hire you as an employee, then you can switch from a Student Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa without leaving the UK.

 

Question

My Student Visa expires in June. I want to apply for an extension of the same visa in March. When will my next visa start? Will it be the end of my previous one (this coincides with the start of a new training) or from the moment when the next one will be issued (April, May)?

Answer

In your case, the visa will be extended from the moment the decision on the application is made, and not from the end date of the previous visa.

 

Question

I am going to apply for a student Visa. I know that the accompanying documents (letters from the bank, certificates from work, etc.) are valid for a month from the date of issue, but I'm confused about what counts as a month? 30 days or until the same day of the next month?

Answer

You are right, this moment has often raised questions, and now such documents are valid for exactly 31 calendar days.

 

Question

My 10-year-old daughter was accepted to a private school in the UK. We are going to apply for a Child Student Visa for her and a Parent of a Child at School visa for her mom. We found and rented suitable accommodation. But the problem is that the school does not want to issue CAS for full-time education, but only for boarding, and at the same time refers to immigration rules. What are these rules, and is the school right?

Answer

In this case, there is a clear reinsurance on the part of the school, since there are no provisions in immigration law preventing the issuance of CAS for full-time education. Most likely, the school is afraid of being refused a visa, as this will lead to the school losing points as a Highly Trusted Sponsor and, accordingly, to further problems with the license. You must show that the mother applies for a visa at the same time as the child, they will arrive together, they are provided with housing and finances, the child does not need a guardian. Unfortunately, you cannot oblige the school to issue a CAS, but it is quite possible to negotiate.

 

Question

I currently have a valid Student Visa, I am studying architecture at one of the universities, Bachelor program. I would like to change universities and start a new course at another educational institution, but the program is also related to architecture. I know that there are restrictions for Student Visa, and it is impossible to study undergraduate and postgraduate programs for more than 5 years. Does this apply to my case?

Answer

The limit does not apply to students studying medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and some other specialties, including architecture.

 

Question

I am in the UK on a Student Visa with the right to work 20 hours a week. The employer offered me to work 40 hours, of which 20 are unpaid. Is it possible to do this?

Answer

No, the permitted hours include both paid and unpaid work. Unpaid work is often confused with volunteer work. Volunteering means working for officially registered charities. From the point of view of immigration law, volunteering is not considered a job at all, there are no time limits for it.

 

Question

I went to university in London, but before issuing me a CAS, the university required me to submit a letter from the bank about the availability of funds, which I will submit along with the rest of the visa documents. I do not have such a certificate yet, since I will apply for a visa no earlier than in 2-3 weeks. Is such a requirement of the university legitimate?

Answer

Yes, educational institutions have the right to require such documents, because they must make sure that the student will not be denied a visa, at least due to lack of funds. Each refusal affects the reputation of the educational institution, they lose points and may lose their license. Therefore, we would like to warn all students about the possibility of such a request.

 

Question

Last year, I applied for a student visa to the UK, but I was refused according to 320 A, it was discovered that my agent submitted a fake document after he requested an extract from my bank account, and my father gave him his bank statement, as well as mine, because I had some savings, but he decided to file a fake statement in my name, misled us, and there was no time to fix it, because the money should be in the account for another 28 days. After the refusal, we reported to the police and I have a police report. Can this be used when applying for a new application since I couldn't choose to reconsider because when I received this rejection, I was completely devastated, and was depressed for several months.

Answer

In this case, you need to provide documents showing that you personally had nothing to do with the provision of false visa documents and that this action was done by your agent, and solely by his own decision. In this regard, you will need to provide documents that the agent was prosecuted in your country and found guilty due to the provision of deliberately false documents. Thus, in subsequent applications for a UK visa, the Home Office will see the documents confirming the agent's guilty plea and will not conclude that you yourself were involved in this or instructed the agent to provide a fake document.

 

Question

Can I study part-time on a Student visa?

Answer

Yes. Students can study a part-time course with a Student Visa that leads to a Master’s level or above qualification, however, part-time students are not allowed to work (including a work placement) or have dependants in the UK under dependant leave. Students with a current Student Visa studying a full-time course are not allowed to switch to part-time whilst in the UK, they must return to their home country and apply for a new visa.

 

Question

I already have a Student Visa for a specific institution. Can I use this visa to study at another university instead?

Answer

No. A Student Visa ‘ties’ you to study at the institution whose Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) you used to make your visa application. If you want to study at a different university, you will need to make a new Student Visa application first – even if you have time left on your current visa.

 

Question

I am only going to be studying for 1 semester – do I still need a student visa?

Answer

Yes, if your nationality appears on the list of countries whose nationals need visa to carry out short-term studies. If you are a national from the EU, EEA, Switzerland or you do not appear on the list of countries coming to study in the UK for less than 6 months and do not wish to work, you do not need to apply for a visa before you travel.

 

Question

Can I study as a distance learner on a student visa?

Answer

No, this is not allowed on a Student Visa. If you are required to travel to the UK occasionally for your course you can apply for a Standard Visitor Visa to carry out short-term study.

 

All questions and answers are prepared on the basis of real letters, phone calls and consultations conducted by our company, therefore, in order to preserve confidentiality, we do not disclose any names and addresses.