First of all, congratulations to all offer holders!!! After confirming Surrey as your firm choice, you might be starting the preparation process. If you are an HKSAR passport holder, you will require a student visa (note: this visa has replaced the Tier 4 (General) student visa) to study in the U.K. In this blog, I am going to give you all a short introduction to applying for visas.
What documents do I need to prepare?
- Current passport or other valid travel documentations
2. A confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) from your course provider (note: This is a reference number sent out by the school.)
3. Your tuberculosis (TB) test results (note: You will only require a TB test result if you have not stayed in the UK for more than 180 days or if you are applying for the first time)
4. Your UK postal address
5. If you are under 18: proof of parental or other legal guardian consent and proof of your relationship to your parents or guardian
How much does the whole process cost me?
It costs you £363 to apply for a student visa from outside the UK.
You will also need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS) as part of your application. The cost depends on how long your visa lasts. You could calculate how much you have to pay here.
You will need to pay for your TB test as well. This varies among clinics. For more details regarding clinics approved by the Home Office, please refer to here.
How long does it take to get a decision?
You will usually get a decision in 15-21 working days. However, you could pay more to get a faster decision. The priority visa service will cost you an extra HK$2500. (Please check with VFS for the most updated price) Your application will require 5-8 working days.
After you get a decision
If your application is successful, you will get either a biometric residence permit (BRP) or a digital immigration status which you can view and prove online.
Hope this blog help those students that are applying on their own. And best of luck with the application process. If you struggle with any complex visa-related issues, feel free to contact the international support team.
Reference: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/apply
