People from many countries around the world dream of coming to the UK. In addition to going there as a tourist, visiting relatives, or attending business meetings, many dream of studying in educational institutions in this wonderful country. After all, it’s no secret that a diploma from a UK university significantly increases the chances of finding a prestigious, highly-paid job and that many world-famous corporations are ready to open doors for their owners. Well, and what follows automatically, you will acquire a decent knowledge of the English language.
When an educational institution has already been chosen, and the entrance exams have been passed, the next problem arises – you need to apply for UK study visa from Pakistan. Many parents are at a loss – where to start? How do you proceed? Do you do it independently, or is contacting a company providing visa support better?
Navigating the Process of Applying for a UK Student Visa
Today, 3 types of visas allow you to study in the UK, and they are offered to citizens of other countries, including students. Each type has specific requirements, rules, and established deadlines for a legal stay in UK.
- 6-month study visa to the UK (absolutely any courses: painting, economics, marketing and advertising, design, and, of course, English language courses);
- Study visa to the UK for up to 11 months (English language courses only);
- Long-term study visas are Student visas and child Student visas (the old name of the visa is Tier 4—this is full-time study at an English school, college or university, MBA, and any courses for more than 6 months).
Thus, you need to apply for a student visa to UK after knowing the exact terms and type of your studies, the name of the educational institution, and correctly determining the specific type of entry permit.
How to get a long-term student visa to the UK
For those who are going to undergo full-time studies at an English school, college, or university, there is a Tier 4 visa, which is divided into 2 categories:
- Tier 4 (General) – for those applicants who are already 16 years old and intend to study to obtain a higher education;
- Tier 4 (Child): This category is for applicants whose age ranges from 4 to 17 and who plan to gain knowledge at school and other educational institutions that provide a basic level of education.
Although the new Rules are very similar to the old ones, some key factors still need to be considered, which the education consultants in Pakistan successfully do. Further in the text, we can operate with old and new names for convenience and better understanding.
Benefits and Process of Securing a UK Student Visa
For students who have reached the age of majority and plan to study in the UK for more than 6 months, a student visa (formerly Student General Tier4) should be opened. This type of permit is intended for applicants planning to study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, wanting to improve their knowledge in doctoral or postgraduate studies, etc. A long-term student visa provides its holders with significant benefits, mainly the opportunity to stay in the country for the entire duration of the visa, visit other countries, and extend the permit’s validity without leaving the UK. Another significant plus is permission to officially work part-time; the number of hours is usually indicated on the visa. In this way, you will be able not only to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge but also to improve your financial condition, which is very important for all students in a foreign country, as well as improve your knowledge of the language by rotating among its native speakers.
After the exams, the selected educational institution sends you a letter (CAS letter) containing complete information about the student, his identification number, course, and study duration. This is the first sign that it is time to apply for a student visa. Suppose you do not want to miss the deadlines determined by the visa center for obtaining a study visa to UK and be insured against receiving a negative answer on this issue. In that case, we advise you to contact the study abroad consultants of 7 Sky Consultancy, who have many years of experience in this field.
Documents for a long-term student visa to UK
You need to prepare the following documents:
- Valid passport;
- Diplomas, certificates of completed educational institutions and courses;
- A bank certificate attesting to the availability of funds and serving as evidence of your solvency;
- CAS letter, which makes it possible to calculate the amount of tuition;
- Booked hotel or student dormitory (supporting documents from the educational institution);
- Confirmation of English language proficiency (IELTS);
- A negative test for tuberculosis;
- Completed the application form and paid the consular fee.
By contacting 7 Sky Consultancy, you can get acquainted with a complete and detailed list of required documents and order their professional translation into English. Experienced certified translators with many years of experience working here have the right to translate documents and certify them with their seal.
Applying for a student visa to the United Kingdom entails several obstacles. This is explained by the fact that the British Embassy annually re-issues a set of rules governing the procedure for obtaining a permit of this type. The brochure is voluminous (about 100 pages of text). The slightest violation or failure to fully comply with the requirement will result in a refusal to obtain the long-awaited permit. Thus, due to a minor error or inaccuracy in the submitted documents, there is a possibility of losing an entire year of study. This is all because next time, documents for a long-term study visa can be submitted no earlier than a year.
Most often, the reasons for refusal are
- Incomplete or incorrectly formed package of documents
- Lack of funds in the account
- Missed submission deadlines
- False or incomplete information specified in the application
- Others
The usual processing time for documents submitted for British and Child Student visas is 2-3 weeks from the submission date. An urgent service is provided (the period for reviewing documents is reduced to 5 working days); you must pay an additional 220 pounds sterling.
We recommend not taking risks but immediately contacting 7 Sky Consultancy. Here, you can get professional advice on obtaining a student visa to UK and the existing registration requirements and order this service on a turnkey basis.