UK Student Visa Solicitors

The Student visa route

The Student visa, which replaced the former Tier 4 (General) route, is for people aged 16 or over who want to study at a licensed institution in the UK. To qualify, you must have been offered a place on an eligible course by an institution that holds Student sponsor status, you must be able to support yourself financially, and you must meet the English language requirement at the level appropriate to your course. The route is part of the points-based system, so the application is built around scoring points for your place of study, your finances and your English. We start by confirming each element is in place before you apply.

Sponsoring institutions and the CAS

Your visa is tied to your sponsoring institution, which must be a licensed Student sponsor listed by the Home Office. Once the institution offers you a place and is satisfied you meet its requirements, it issues a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, known as a CAS. This is an electronic record rather than a paper document, and it contains a reference number along with details of your course, fees and any funds already paid. The CAS sits at the centre of the application, and inconsistencies between it and your other evidence are a common source of difficulty. We review your CAS carefully and make sure your application is consistent with it.

The financial requirement

The financial requirement is the area where Student applications most often fail. You must show that you have sufficient funds to pay your course fees and to cover your living costs for a set period, with the precise amounts set by the Home Office and reviewed from time to time. Just as important as the amount is the form of the evidence: funds must usually be held in an acceptable account, be available for a continuous qualifying period, and be evidenced by documents that meet strict specified-evidence rules. We confirm the current figures at consultation and make sure your financial evidence is presented exactly as the rules require, including where established presence or sponsorship of fees reduces what you must show.

Conditions of the visa

A Student visa comes with conditions that you must observe throughout your stay. Depending on your course and institution, you may be permitted to work a limited number of hours during term time and full time during vacations, or you may have no permission to work at all. There are also restrictions on the type of employment and on engaging in business. Breaching these conditions can have serious consequences for your current leave and any future applications. We explain precisely what your visa allows so that you do not inadvertently put your status at risk.

When circumstances change

Your leave depends on your sponsoring institution keeping its licence and on you continuing to study as expected. If your institution loses its licence, if you change course or institution, or if you interrupt your studies, your leave may be affected and you may need to take action within a limited time. We advise on the steps required when circumstances change, including any need to find a new sponsor or make a fresh application, so that you protect your immigration status.

How we help

We act on a fixed-fee basis and confirm any Home Office fee, which can change, at consultation. Our role is to make sure your course, CAS, finances and English all meet the requirements, and to present an application that is consistent and complete. Contact us today to discuss your studies in the UK.