If you’re currently ripping your hair out over the sheer amount of confusion from the UK student visa application process, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here, we are going to break down and simplify the steps for applying for a UK Student Visa to study at UK universities. This article is specifically for US students applying for a UK Student Visa, also known as the Tier 4 Visa.
Let’s start with the basics. There are a few things you need to have before you begin the visa application process.
The 4 Things Needed Before You Begin the Visa Application Process
1. An unconditional offer from a UK university, which you’ve accepted and paid your deposit for.
2. You have your proof of funds taken care of, which just means that you know how you’re paying for university, and you have a document to prove it. Either, you’ll be using savings (or your parent’s savings), or FAFSA/Private Loans, or a mixture of both to provide proof of funds.
3. A CAS Statement from that university. CAS stands for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. The CAS statement will be sent to you via email from the university after you complete step number 1 and, in some cases, 2.
4. A valid passport, of course! If your passport is close to expiring, you should consider renewing it before applying for the Tier 4 Visa.
When to Apply for Your Visa
You can apply for your visa when you are within 6 months from your program’s start date. If you try to apply any further out than that, your visa will be rejected. For example, if your program starts in September, the earliest you can apply is March. Once you are within the 6-month window, and you have all the required items mentioned in the ‘The 4 Things Needed Before You Begin the Visa Application Process’ section, you are all set to apply.
Where to Apply for a UK Tier 4 Student Visa
The official site to apply for a UK Tier 4 Student Visa is on the UK government website, called gov.uk. Here is the link where you can apply for the visa.
How Much Does the Visa Cost?
The cost of the visa actually depends on the length of your program. The current visa application fee is £363, but may go up at any point at the discretion of the Home Office, who is the governing body overseeing visas. In addition to the application fee, you must pay a health surcharge. This surcharge gives you healthcare for the entirety of your program in the UK. To calculate exactly how much your surcharge will be, please use this calculator provided by the Home Office: https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/type
Below, we’ll also give a basic breakdown of what to expect to pay in total for the visa application fee + health surcharge:
1-Year Master’s Degree: £1068 (£363 plus £705 for health surcharge)
2-Year Master’s Degree or Program: £1538 (£363 plus £1175 for health surcharge)
3-Year Bachelor’s or PhD Degree: £2008 (£363 plus £1645 for health surcharge)
4-Year Bachelor’s or PhD Degree: £2478 (£363 plus £2115 for health surcharge)
*For updated costs, always refer to the gov.uk website*
What Happens After I Fill Out the Visa Application Online?
A couple things happen. First, you will be taken to the VFS website, where you will schedule your biometrics appointment at an application support center. VFS handles biometrics and other administrative visa needs for various countries.
At this appointment, your electronic fingerprints will be taken, as well as a digital photograph of your face. You will walk away from the appointment with a biometrics document needed for your visa. Once you have this document, you are ready for the final step of the visa application process.
Sending in Your Visa Materials
After you fill out your visa application online, you will be given a documents checklist detailing what items you need to send in to obtain your visa. You will also be given an address where you’ll send your materials to the Home Office (typically a New York office).
Make sure to refer to your Documents Checklist for specific documents you need to send in with your application.
Waiting for Your Visa
After you send all materials to the Home Office, the typical processing time is 2-3 weeks; however, processing times may vary depending on the time of the year (it could take longer during busy visa seasons) or may take less time if you’ve paid for priority service.
Your passport with the visa adhered inside will be returned to you via mail. Once you get this, you are now all set to jet to the UK!
The Last Step
Once you get to the UK, you’ll have 10 days to pick up what’s called your Biometrics Resident Permit (a.k.a. the BRP card), which acts as an ID card in the UK. Most universities recommend you pick up the BRP card on your university campus, but you can also pick it up at the nearest Post Office (the visa application will let you choose where to pick it up).
With this last step, the process is complete, and you are ready to embark on your adventure as a newly minted student and expat in the UK!
About the Author:
Ashley Jeanson is an international education expert with over 9 years of experience in the field. She’s worked for a mixture of study abroad providers, universities in the US and the UK, and third-party providers, mostly specializing in helping American students attend UK universities. In her spare time, she travels the globe and is eternally in search of the best cup of coffee.
