Do you need a visa to study in The UK?

For the any Study Internship program, you WILL need to obtain a Tier 4 General Student Visa. It’s extremely important that you continue to check your email regularly, as your Program Coordinator will be emailing you a  visa instructions packet which contains important information regarding how and when to apply for your Tier 4 Student visa. If you have any questions about your need for a visa contact your program coordinator. If you are still unsure about whether or not you need a visa you can check here

Please read through this information carefully, as visa instructions can be complicated, and materials can take weeks or months to obtain.

IMPORTANT: CISabroad will only advise students on visa procedures for travel requirements for your CISabroad program only. CISabroad is not responsible for advising students on visa issues if they plan to travel internationally before or after the program dates.

These instructions are intended for US passport holders. International students must also be aware of additional documentation and/or processing time needed for their visas. Please contact your Program Coordinator to discuss your visa. Please check the Gov.UK website if you have any questions.

Please note that all consulates have varying visa processing times and/or requirements. It is recommended that you complete your visa application 6 weeks  prior to your departure date. While the UK visa process is fairly standard please check their website or call your local consulate for exact processing times or additional requirements.  It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of their assigned consulate’s visa processing period and to send in their complete visa application well enough in advance to allow adequate time for processing. Each consulate lists the visa processing period on their website. Note: Required documents for your visa are always subject to change at the discretion of the consulate.

#CISabroadtip Check the consulate website for UK Holidays and closures as this will affect the processing time of your visa.

Overview of Visa Application Steps

 

Step 1. Apply for a CAS – See Below for more details on getting a CAS

Step 2. Gather your application materials and begin the visa application with Gov.Uk here.

Step 3. Pay your Visa Application Fee directly via Gov.UK.  (This will be required as part of the online application.)

Step 4. Book and attend your Bio-metrics appointment.

Step 5. Mail your visa application along with originals of ALL supporting documents to the proper consulate. It is very important you follow the mailing directions EXACTLY because it will hold up your visa application or cause it to be denied if you do not.

Step Details

CAS- As accepted students you will have received information on how to apply for a CAS or Confirmation of Acceptance to Study. It is very important that you complete this step in a timely manner and reach out to your Program Coordinator right away if you have questions. A CAS is issued by the University you will be attending and is a statement of sponsorship that they send to the Consulate.

Completing the form-The UK Visa Application is done almost entirely online. Follow the prompts from the Gov.Uk site but you can also Log into UKvi (UK Visa & Immigration) here.

Supporting Documents-  Current Passport, 2 passport style photos with your name written on the back, Proof of financial support for the length of yours stay (this varies so please contact your Program Coordinator if you have questions), any other documents that may be requested.  To read more about documents check out the website.   #CISAbroadtip- since you need to send the originals makes multiple copies of everything before hand just in case they ask for them.

Bio-metrics- Biometrics are done in person at an institution defined by the UK consulate. Appointments MUST be booked and attended before you can complete the application process.  Appointments are booked as part of the online application process.

Obtaining your Tier 4 Student Visa can be a long process so it is very important you complete all of the steps in a timely manner and begin the process as early as possible. Please get in touch with your Program Coordinator if you have any questions.