Student Visa Info

Studying abroad echo like a great idea, and now it’s about a month before you’ll be traveling to the U.K. You’ve got all your paperwork sent in to the British High Commission in your home state, and you’re worried about the interview for the student visa. First of all, don’t be anxious too much because you may be granted a visa with no an interview if you have traveled to the UK in the past 10 years, and if you have paid 100% of your tuition and have the receipt to show it. However, if you are called for an interview, here are some of the questions they might ask you to assist you get ready your answers.

(1). Be ready to give details how this course is relevant to your previous studies. Why did you decide this institute in the U.K.? How did you find out about it?

(2). Be prepared to give the location of the university, and give details why you picked this university and not one in your home country.

(3). Be methodically knowledgeable about the course you will be studying: what it is, why you’re studying it, the structure of the course, its contents, the benefit of going to this school and the money (dollar amount) you hope to create after you graduate.

(4). Explain your potential vocation path. They may want to know if you plan to work in the UK after graduating, and if you have researched career prospects in whatever country you’re planning to reside in afterwards.

(5). Come prepared with information about your sponsor. They may ask who is sponsoring you, where you will hang about, proof that your back can support you, the income source of the sponsor, their relation to you, how many other dependents the sponsor has and how many brothers and sisters you have.

(6). Give them and draw round of financial commitment and era of study. They will want to know when the course begins, and the total cost per year.

(7). Have a list of any friends or family you have in the U.K. They may ask about that and where/how you will spend your semester breaks.

British Education has long concerned and welcomed high quality students of different nationalities and backgrounds, and today builds on hundreds of years of experience in providing excellence education to international students. To ensure that the quality is maintained, Britain has implemented unrivalled quality assurance and academic audit systems. The university departments are obliged to meet stringent standards by professional bodies. Standards are high not just in teaching but in other facilities as well : Libraries, computers, research tools and living accommodation.

British higher and further education offer value for money by offering shorter, more rigorous courses than are available in many other countries, thereby reducing living expenses and time spent away from home. Closely supervised study in an intellectually and culturally stimulating environment, together with an emphasis on student welfare and close contact between staff and students also ensures that individual students get maximum support and, as a result, pass rates are high and the drop-out rate for international students is very low.

Britain has long been a popular destination for Indian students. With more than 150 institutes of higher education to choose from, all equipped with wide facilities, Britain is able to offer a broad spectrum of subjects from the highly academic to the purely practical in anything from architecture to zoology.

For more details of the costs of education and living in UK and comparisons of costs of education in UK with other countries, check out the Expenses & Fees for International Students section.

Information about various Qualifications offered by UK Colleges and Universities:

1 First Degree Courses in Arts and Sciences (Bachelor’s degree) are normally of three or four years’ duration and are largely taught courses, sometimes including the preparation of a short written thesis.

2. Sandwich Courses are where the coursework is accompanied by practical work. A student could either complete 2 years of college, then a year of commercial training before returning for a final year in college. Or, he/she could do a 4-year course with 3-6 months’ training interspersed each year. The main advantage is that the student gets real experience while in the learning mode. Most universities offer this type of education.

3. Vocational Courses offer an opportunity to enter the university system slowly. Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), General Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ), General Scottish Vocational Qualifications (GSVQ) offer recognized courses in a range of disciplines. Most students opt to take 1-2 years of, for example, BTEC courses before being transferred to a degree programmed. BTEC national certificates/diplomas are usually accepted as an alternative to A-Levels.

4. Higher National Diploma (HND) is awarded by Vocational and Technical Educational Councils. They offer a 2-year course in a vocational subject like scientific and technical business subjects. Great emphasis is placed on work experience. It is often seen as the first step towards a degree course as the credits can be transferred.

5. Postgraduate study may take the form of an independent piece of research under supervision or a taught course, and leads to a variety of degrees and awards. The taught courses normally last for one or sometimes two years. Conclusion of a doctorate normally takes a minimum of three years. Many post-experience courses are also available, either leading to a qualification or providing a refresher course for graduates wishing to update or extend their knowledge. Occasional students are confessing by some institutions in limited numbers. They attend courses or undertake research, possibly for a period of one or two years. These courses do not lead to any formal qualification or ‘credit’ although certificate of satisfactory attendance may be given.

Highly Skilled Migrant Programmed Visa - An alternative to the work permit scheme

The following classes of people can take up any legal employment in the UK and does not need a work permit:

A. Nationals of EEA (European Economic Area) countries (the EEA comprises the 25 EU member states - Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic*, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia*, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary*, Ireland, Italy, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland*, Portugal, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom – and also Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland)

B. Those with Indefinite Leave To Remain in the UK (Permanent Residence)

C. Those in the UK as the spouse of an EEA national

D. Those in the UK as the spouse of a work permit holder, Training Permit Holder, Sole Representative, Investor, Student, ancestry visa holder

E. Those in the UK on a visa as the ‘partner’ of an EEA national, Work Permit holder, Training Permit Holder Sole Representative, Investor, Student, Ancestry visa holder. These visas are issued in cases where the partners are not legally allowed to marry (for example because they are of the same sex, or because one or both of them are married to someone else) and have been co-habiting for at least two years prior to the visa application

F Commonwealth citizens with ancestry visas (sometimes called patriality) – these visas are available to Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK. They should be applied for by the candidate at the British High Commission in their home country. They are usually issued for a period of four years; after four years in the UK the candidate is generally eligible for permanent residence.

G. Those with pending claims for Asylum in the UK (NB workpermit.com does NOT handle asylum applications)

As well to these categories of people, nationals of European Community Association Agreement countries (Bulgaria and Romania) may come to the UK to set up in business and are exempt from the usual investment requirements. There is a very high refusal rate for this type of visa, however. Go to our guide to freelance work in the UK for EC Association Agreement nationals.

Spouses of UK citizens or permanent residents (mostly those with indefinite leave to stay) may come to the UK under marriage visa category, and are able to work as soon as a visa is granted.

You will require to meet the following marriage visa requirements:

1 If you have been jointly for less than four years you are granted a marriage visa for a trial period of two years. If you are still married and living together at the end of two years in the UK permanent residence (properly known as indefinite leave to remain) will usually be granted.

2. If you have been together for four years or more outside the UK you will be granted imprecise leave to remain (permanent residence) in the UK without having to live in the UK for two years.

3 The UK citizen or permanent resident must have actually met their non-UK spouse. This is to prevent a circumstances that occurs sometimes in arranged marriages where the husband and wife have never met.

4 You must intend to live together permanently with your spouse in order to obtain a spouse visa.

5 Accommodation for the couple, and any dependants, must be suitable and available.

6 Spouses seeking to come to the UK on the basis of marriage to a UK national should apply for entry clearance before entering the UK.

7 You must possess sufficient funds to pay you and your spouse’s living expenses and those of any dependants without claiming public funds. Public funds cover various benefits paid by the Government if you are currently looking for work, if you are on a low income and if you are in various other situations

8 If you have a visa valid for six months or less in the UK you cannot change status to a spouse visa.

9 Children of the marriage who are under 18 years old are allowed entry to the UK as dependants, and can make their application at the same time as the main applicant.

10 Following a total period of three years in the UK if you meet the residence requirements you may then apply for UK citizenship.

H-1B Visa The H-1B or “Specialty Worker” visa is available for a United States company who wishes to directly employ a foreign article for a temporary period (initially 3 years) in a “specialty occupation.” A specialty occupation is defined as “an occupation, which requires theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialized knowledge to fully perform the occupation.” The location or the job for which the foreign national would be hired must be one that requires a baccalaureate or a higher degree or the equal, and the degree requirement must be common to the industry or the company must show that it in general requires the degree in such position. The H-1B specialty worker status is limited to an initial three years period, but can be extended upon application for not more than three more years, for a total stay of six years. To obtain an H-1B nonimmigrant visa, a United States company must file a petition at the regional Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) service center. When filing the petition the company must post a job-site disclosure, declaring the actual salary paid, and all the locations where the foreign national will be employed. The company must also file a Labor form Application with the U.S. Department of Labor, attesting that it is offering the foreign national not less than the prevailing salary for such a position in the region of employment. The filing process for an H-1B petition is quite complicated and the requirements are quite wide. Therefore, it is recommended that one should seek professional help to prepare it.

B-1 Visa B-1 (Visitor for Business) VisaThe B-1 visa is available for any foreign national who wishes to enter the United States for any business-related function, such as to attend conferences, take orders, to negotiate with accessible businesses or customers, or to execute service agreements. However, the visitor must be conduct temporary business activity for a foreign employer, and the trip must not lead to gainful employment in the United States. B-1 status is approved for the period of time necessary to complete the business activity and usually does not exceed six months. However, should the visitor require more time, s/he may apply for an addition while in the United States at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. The application for extension must be received by the CIS before the expiry of the B-1 status. To obtain a B-1 visa one must apply directly at the U.S. Consulate. The applicant must prove that s/he has a permanent residence status in another country and has no intention of abandoning this status. However, there are state of certain countries, who do not need a visa beat from a U.S. Consulate to enter the U.S. for a maximum temporary period of 90 days under a Visa Waiver Pilot Program (VWPP). There is no extension of the 90-day period, and those who enter the U.S. under the VWPP may not be able to change to a different nonimmigrant status or to permanent resident status, except for the immediate relative (spouse or children under 21) of a U.S. In order to obtain a different status, the visitor must leave the country and then apply for a new visa.