Student Visa Requirement Guide OUTSIDE the UK May 2024
Student Visa Requirement Guide OUTSIDE the UK May 2024
Student Visa Requirement Guide OUTSIDE the UK May 2024
Published May 2024. University of the Arts London has made every reasonable effort to ensure the accuracy and currency
of this document. Information can change at very short notice, so we ask that you seek further advice from us before acting
on its content. University of the Arts London does not take any responsibility for the content of external websites.
Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Content
What is a visa?
A visa also referred to as ‘Permission to Enter’ when applying from outside the UK,
permits you to enter the UK. Your visa application will be assessed by the British
authorities in your country of nationality or where you are legally resident. Your visa will be
a vignette (sticker) covering one page of your passport.
When you arrive in the UK, the vignette in your passport will be stamped with the date,
location and details of the Border Force Officer who looks at your passport. If you pass
through E-gates, it will not be stamped but this is not an issue as long as you keep your
flight ticket and boarding pass to show at Enrolment.
If your permission to be in the UK is for more than 6 months, you will receive a 90-day
vignette (sticker) in your passport. You will use this to enter the UK and then collect a
card called a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This will contain your biometric
information and details of your full length of permission to stay in the UK.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Document Information
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
What is a CAS?
Your CAS number is a unique number assigned to you when the University provides
information about you and your course to UK Visas and Immigration. You are sent a CAS
statement by email, which contains this number and other relevant information about you
and your course. You should use this information to help you complete the relevant
sections of your visa application form.
You will need to enter your CAS number in your online application form and the Entry
Clearance Officer will use this number to check the information held on their system about
you, your course and documents they are expecting you to provide as part of your visa
application.
You are not expected to send a printed copy of your CAS statement as it is already held
electronically on the UKVI computer system.
Who will send the CAS and when will I receive it?
Students starting a
new course, who Admissions Team: admissions@arts.ac.uk
applied directly to
UAL
You will be eligible for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number when:
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
You will meet the visa English language requirement if any of the following apply and you
provide any necessary evidence. How your English language ability was assessed will be
indicated on your CAS. It’s important to understand that these are the requirements for
the visa application only. UAL has its own English language requirements which must be
met as part of the conditions of your offer. You must read the University website to
understand what documents the University will accept to assess your English language
level, which may differ from the list below.
• Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance has assessed you as
meeting the required level
Evidence: confirmed on the CAS ‘HEI sponsor has made assessment’, no other
evidence required.
• National of a majority English-speaking country Evidence: your passport
• Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider to the required
level. Tests are only valid for 2 years.
Evidence: Enter your UKVI URN number on your visa application form
• Study abroad student studying in the USA on a course of study at degree level
Evidence: confirmed on the CAS, no other evidence required.
• Met in a previous application. This means that your previous visa application must
have been successful and show the required level of English ability for the course
level you are now applying for.
Evidence: None required as the UKVI caseworker will check on their available
systems.
If you’re a student continuing on the same course who needs to extend your visa due to
repeats, Time Out, or doing a placement year, you will not need to submit another SELT
test if that was how your English language ability was assessed when you applied to study
at the University. However, if you have taken Time Out for 2 years in a row, please contact
ImmigrationCompliance@arts.ac.uk for confirmation.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
One of the main reasons for a Student visa refusal is because the
applicant provides financial documents that do not meet the strict
requirements set out by the Home Office.
On the date that you pay for your visa application, you are required to have a specific
amount of money for your living costs and to be able to pay your tuition fees for the first
year of your course. The date you attend your biometric appointment is irrelevant, it’s the
date you pay the visa application fee which is the key date.
There are only two exceptions to this rule: If you are applying for permission to stay (from
within the UK) and you have been living in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more
on the date of the application, you do not need to show funds. You’re also exempt if you’re
applying as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.
Your CAS will state your total tuition fees for the first year of your course and how much
tuition fees you have paid to the University. Any tuition fees left to pay must be shown as
available to you in other evidence.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
You can show that these funds are available to you in the following ways:
1. Cash funds in your personal bank account e.g. savings or current account.
2. Cash funds in your parent’s/legal guardian’s personal bank account.
3. Official financial sponsorship.
4. Specific types of student loans.
days
listed on the document must not be older than 31 days on
the date you pay for your visa application.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
You can use a bank statement or a letter from your bank and it must contain the following
information:
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
4. Student Loan
Only the following types of student loans can be used for your visa application: a student
loan provided by your national government, a government-sponsored student loan
company or is part of an academic or educational loans scheme. You must submit an
original letter from the loan provider, which confirms the following:
1. be dated no more than 6 months before the date of application, and the date of the
letter is dated no more than 6 months before the date of your visa application; and
2. confirm the loan is a student loan provided to the applicant by either the relevant
government or a government-sponsored student loan company or an academic or
educational loans scheme; and
3. confirm there are no conditions on the release of the loan funds other than a successful
application to study in the UK as a Student or Child Student; and
US Federal Loans
If you are receiving a US federal loan by applying for FAFSA, an original letter from the
UAL Funding team will be posted to you confirming your Federal loan. This can be used
for your visa application. If you are taking out an educational loan from a private US lender
such as Sallie Mae, you must obtain an original letter from Sallie Mae which confirms all of
the required information detailed above.
If your student loan only covers some of your course fees or living costs, you must show
that you have the rest of the money needed from other acceptable sources.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
All applicants are required to complete an online application form on the GOV.UK
website: Student visa: Apply - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Anyone applying for a Student visa will need to pay a healthcare surcharge (called the
‘immigration health surcharge’ or IHS) as part of your immigration application. This will
allow you to access the National Health Service in the UK.
At the end of your Student visa application, you will be directed to the IHS website which
will link your visa application form with your IHS number.
The amount you must pay will depend on the length of your visa, not your course duration.
The IHS website will calculate the amount you need to pay, and you must pay the required
fee to proceed to the next step with your visa application.
£ 776 £ 388
Per full year or Per part year less
part year more than 6 months
than 6 months
Example:
*Your visa will be valid from up to one month before your course begins and up to 4
months after your course finishes.
You can find further information about the Immigration Health Surcharge online including
refunds on the GOV.UK website.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
All applicants are required to book an appointment to attend a Visa Application Centre
(VAC) to enrol their biometric information and complete the final steps of their visa
application. You will book an appointment at your nearest location as part of the online visa
application process.
If you’re an EEA or Swiss national, you will not need to submit biometric
information at a Visa Application Centre. You will use the UK immigration: ID
Check app on your phone to upload your biometric passport and a photo.
Your visa will be issued as a digital immigration status, which you can view
online.
Credibility Interview
If you are required to attend an interview, you will be interviewed in English via a video link
with a UK Visas and Immigration Officer in the UK. They will ask you questions relating to
your course, why you chose to study in the UK, why you chose to study at UAL and your
future career aspirations. They are checking that you are a genuine student and your visa
can be refused if your answers do not satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer assessing your
visa application.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
After you submit your biometrics and complete your interview (if required to), you will then
either:
• Submit your application summary sheet and supporting documents at the VAC during
your appointment. You may also have the ability to scan and upload your supporting
documents. OR
• You will post your application summary sheet, biometric enrolment receipt and
supporting documents to the British Embassy. You may have the option to scan your
supporting documents instead. Your application form will guide you on the process to
follow in your country of application.
Find out more about your local Visa Application Centre and how to contact them:
https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
• Qualifications listed on your CAS in the ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ section.
• Proof of meeting the English language requirement.
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefit from the differentiation arrangement. ST22.1
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/appendix-student
However, you must still meet all the requirements of the visa application on the
date you pay for your application. The Entry Clearance Officer can contact you and
request to see your documentary evidence whilst assessing your application, so we
advise that you obtain the necessary documents and keep them in a safe place.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Once a decision has been made to grant you entry clearance, you must complete the
following steps:
• Check your vignette and your decision letter to make sure the details are correct.
If not, contact the Visa Application Centre before travelling to the UK.
• Travel to the UK during the validity of your vignette. You must not travel before your
vignette is valid. If your vignette expires before you can travel, you will need to apply
online for a Transfer of conditions (vignette transfer). You should select the following
options:
• Confirm your visa type: BRP Vignette Transfer
• Category of application: To transfer or replace your visa (vignette)
In the additional information section you should explain that you have been granted a
Student route visa to study in the UK but you need a new 90-day vignette as you have
not been able (or will not be able) to travel to the UK before the end of the 90-day
vignette that you have been issued.
• Within 10 days of arriving in the UK, collect your Biometric Residence Permit from the
Post Office you selected during your visa application form. You will only be required
to collect a BRP if your permission to be in the UK is for longer than 6 months.
• Check the details on your Biometric Residence Permit, if there are any errors
follow the guidance on the Gov.uk website or contact the Student Advice Service
within 10 days of receiving your BRP.
• The police registration scheme ended on 4 August 2022. You no longer need to
register with the UK police, even if you were told to in a previous visa application.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Visa vignette
Course duration Visa vignette start date
expiry date
Less than 6 months 7 days before the course start 7 days after the course
(not Presessional course) date end date
Visa Refusal
If your visa application has been refused, email your CAS and each page of your visa
refusal letter to student.advisers@arts.ac.uk immediately for further advice. Use ‘visa
refusal’ in your email subject line.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
This letter confirms that (your name) is holding a (specify account type e.g Current / Savings
/ Fixed Deposit) account in our bank. The account number is (your full account number)
It must have your full account
number.
The total amount held on (date of the letter) is (specify currency e.g. EUR / CNY and
amount XX XXX). The lowest amount held over the previous 28 consecutive days
was (specify currency e.g. EUR / CNY and amount XX XXX)
It must say how
much money is in
the account on the
date of the letter
and the lowest
Yours sincerely amount held over
the previous 28
consecutive
v days.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
2
0
The ‘issue date’ must
2
not be more than 31
1
/ days old on the date
0 of your visa
8 application.
/
3
1 2024/08/31
20243 2024
31/08/2024 30/09/2024
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
I give consent for the funds in my bank account to be used by my child whilst they
study in the UK.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
We give consent for our child to make a Student visa application and give consent for their
independent living arrangements in the UK.
Yours faithfully,
[Signature] [Signature}
*Please note that if only one parent signs the letter, they must confirm that they have sole
custody of the student. If they do not have sole custody, both parents must sign and
agree to the letter.
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
Appendix Finance
Appendix ST
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Student Visa Guidance on applying OUTSIDE the UK
If you have any queries about your CAS, you should email the person who
sent your CAS to you. The Student Advice Service do not have access to
your CAS.
Contact us
Email: student.advisers@arts.ac.uk – Please always include your full name and
UAL student ID number.
Telephone: +44 20 7514 6900 (Currently the lines are open between 10 am and
4 pm).
Search ‘immigration’ on www.arts.ac.uk to access our application guides or visit
the Student Advice Service web page.
Published May 2024. University of the Arts London has made every reasonable effort to ensure the
accuracy and currency of this document. Information can change at very short notice, so we ask
that you seek further advice from us before acting on its content. University of the Arts London
does not take any responsibility for the content of external websites. Front cover illustrations by
Ewelina Skowronska, Camberwell College of Arts, MA Illustration, 2015.
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