FAQ

How do I find out if I need a visa to travel to Britain?

To find out if you require a visa, contact the British Embassy/High Commission/consulate in your own country or look at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website http://visa.fco.gov.uk, which will advise:

• whether or not a visa is required
• the forms which must be completed
• the information leaflets explaining the process and
• the nearest British Embassy High Commission or Consulate to which visa applications or queries may be addressed.

Will I have to go to the British Embassy in person?

This varies from country to country, some requiring you to go in person and others are prepared to issue permission via the postal system. Check with them but remember to ask how long it will take to get a visa or entry-clearance. Sometimes it can take a few months to get everything sorted.

Can a student extend his visa?

If you are already studying in UK, you can extend your visa as a student.

What happens when I reach the airport in the UK?

When you arrive at the airport, you will first have to show your passport to an Immigration Officer. You will find there are two queues at passport control. One is for European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and the other is for non-EEA nationals.

If you are not an EEA national, when you present your passport you may be asked to show the documents you produced at the British Embassy in your own country. So make sure you keep the following documents safe in your hand luggage:

• Your passport
• The letter from the educational institution confirming your place for the course of study
• Evidence of funds to pay for your stay and your course fees (i.e. sponsorship letter, personal bank statements)
• Any relevant diplomas or educational certificates which you hold

Will I need to register with the police?

If you come from one of the following countries or territories and will be studying in the UK for 6 months or more you will need to register with the police within 7 days. This requirement will be printed on your visa.

If you are bringing your wife/husband and any children they, too, will have to register.

Can my husband/wife/children come with me?

Yes. Your spouse and any children you have under the age of 18 will be allowed to come to the UK with your as your dependants. At your local British Embassy you will need to show the Entry Clearance Officer your marriage certificate, and a birth certificate for each child. You will also need to show that you have enough money to look after your family in the UK. This evidence could be bank statements from your own personal bank account or confirmation of sponsorship by family, employer or your government.

What is meant by financial status?

The applicant needs to accommodate himself/herself and all the dependants without recourse to public funds such as:

• Unemployment benefits
• Accommodation benefits
• Housing and council benefits
• Tax credit
• Social security benefits
• Child benefit
• Disability benefit

Can I work in the UK?

Students on a full time course of more than 6 months will be given a passport stamp that allows them to work part-time during the term (up to 20 hours per week) and unlimited hours during the vacations to earn extra pocket money. You will not require a work permit for this type of work.

Can my husband/wife work whilst I study in the UK?

If you, as the student, are allowed to stay in the UK for 12 months or more, then your husband/wife joining you in the UK should be given a passport stamp, which allows him or her to work. This work can be full or part-time. They will not be required to obtain a work permit.

Can I stay on in the UK to gain work experience after my course?

This should be possible. The Government's Training & Work Experience Scheme allows an employer to apply for a permit to employ a particular person for a period of work experience. Permits are issued on the clear understanding that you intend to leave the UK at the end of the agreed period of work experience.

Can I stay on to work full time in the UK after I finish my studies?

YES. Permits are only issued for positions that require specialist skills or experience that is not readily available within the UK.