Immigration Procedures, Visas & Entry Clearance

The British Government has streamlined the visa process in recent years to make it more user-friendly for international students.

Before you leave home you must make sure that your child meets the UK immigration regulations for international students. Do this before you pay any course fees (other than refundable deposits where applicable) or make arrangements to travel. Visa applications can take several months to process in some countries so allow plenty of time.

To find out whether a student visa is required, you will need to apply to the British Embassy or High Commission in the country where you live. Full information is available from UKvisas - a joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Directorate which runs the UK's visa service through British Diplomatic missions overseas. The UKvisas website will tell you if you need a visa to enter the UK and if so, how to apply for one. Details of where to find your local Embassy or High Commission can be obtained from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Basically, if you are a national of a country that is on the UKvisas 'visa national list' you must obtain entry clearance before travelling. If your country is not on the 'visa national list' and you want to come to the UK for more than 6 months, you must obtain entry clearance from your nearest British diplomatic post (Embassy or High Commission) before travelling to the UK. If you arrive without entry clearance, you will not be allowed to enter the UK. There are some exceptions to this rule:

• If you are a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, then you do not need to obtain entry clearance.
• It is not compulsory for you to obtain entry clearance if you are a British National (Overseas), or another type of British national who does not have the right of abode in the UK, even if you want to come for more than 6 months.

The Immigration Rules require pupils who wish to study in the UK to meet certain conditions that relate to the place where they wish to study, their course, their ability to follow the course, their finances, and their intentions during and after their studies. Even if it is not compulsory to obtain entry clearance, there are many good reasons to obtain it.

UKOSA: The Council for International Education, produces a useful guidance note called I am coming to the UK to start my studies. What do I need to do about immigration? Free and confidential advice about applying for a UK visa is also available from the following sources:

• The UK Student Life website
• The Immigration Advisory Services (IAS)
• The UK Government Department for Education & Skills (DfES)
• The IND website provides immigration information for people already in the UK
• UKOSA produce several other guidance notes relating to immigration
• The British Council offer very useful advice on ia variety of immigration matters
• Your school will also be able to give you advice

People who provide official immigration advice need to be registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) who publish a list of registered members.