Visa Information

IMPORTANT VISA INFORMATION

FOR THE SU LONDON SPRING 2010 PROGRAM

 

 

 

Download the full Spring 2010 London Visa Packet 

 

 

There are three categories of visas for students studying in the United Kingdom.  Most students will obtain a Tier 4 Student Visa or a Student Visitor Visa, a select few students (mainly Non-US citizens) will apply for a Student Visitor Visa with Prior Entry Clearance.  Please read below for more details on each category.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VISA IS A STAMP INSIDE YOUR PASSPORT. 

I.  TIER 4 STUDENT VISAS – Most students British Consulates in the United States issue the Tier 4 Student Visas.  The visas give students a Prior Entry Clearance (PEC) status, meaning visa holders are considered to have cleared immigration before arrival in the UK.  Student visas allow students to spend less time at Immigration on subsequent trips in and out of the UK, as the visa is valid for the entire stay. 

Visa Regulations and Housing:  Please note that due to these new UK visa requirements, all SU London students must take part in one of the SU housing options, either pre-arranged or independent.   A Tier 4 Visa is required if: 

1) You are considering applying for an internship in any field or participating in any volunteer or community service opportunities: You will not be allowed to participate in the SU London internship program, volunteer or do community service without first obtaining a Tier 4 visa. SU London is required, by law, to report any student participating in internships both arranged independently or by the school.  Students interning without this visa may be subject to deportation. While an internship placement is not guaranteed and is subject to a successful interview, the internship coordinator will work one on one with the student to find a placement best suited to his/her abilities and interests.  We generally have an ample supply of engaging and educating internship placements to offer.  Any questions regarding this can be directed to the Internship and Service Learning Coordinator Dr. Melissa Willby, m.willby@syracuse-u.ac.uk (phone # 011-44-207-400-9315). 

2) You are contemplating ANY KIND OF PAID WORK IN THE UK.  These rules have come into effect, in part, to combat 'under the table' employment and SU London is inspected on a regular basis by the Immigration and Nationality Inspectorate.  If you think you might seek paid employment in the UK during your time in London, you will need a Tier 4 Visa.  Please note that you are not allowed to work for more than 20 hours per week, and you should not count on being able to obtain employment when budgeting for your time in the UK. 

3) If you are planning to participate in a summer program in the UK.  If you are considering summer abroad in London you will need to have a visa through August 15, 2010 to cover the spring and the summer programs.   

TO APPLY FOR A TIER 4 STUDENT VISA 

You should apply for your visa by December 1 in order to ensure you have it back in time for departure. 

You must apply for your visa at the consulate that has jurisdiction over your permanent residence.  There are consulates in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. For consular contact information, see https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/Content.aspx?Tag=HowDoIApply_PAGE.  

1) Go to the website at http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ to complete the on line application.  The home page for the British Consulate is http://www.britainusa.com/visas/. 

2) Mail in your passport, application form, and other supporting documents (see list below) to the appropriate consulate overnight express and insure it for $200 so you can track it.  Make two copies of all of your application materials; mail one copy along with your original documentation and keep a copy for your records. 

You can also use a courier/expediting service which is explained at: https://www.visainfoservices.com/Pages/Content.aspx?Tag=HowDoIApply_PAGE#VAP.  Go to the bottom of the page under “Personal Application” for the list of registered agencies/facilitators in NYC, Los Angeles, or Chicago. 

Required Application Materials/Documents 

You will need the following materials: 

  • Completed visa application form on line at http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/.  Print out the application after you complete it as one of the supporting documents. When completing UK arrival and departure dates, please make sure the dates you enter on your application match the dates on your SU letter!   Using these dates does not mean that US citizens must leave the UK as soon as your study term expires.  Rather, you can stay for 7 days after the program ends or depart from the UK and return as a tourist. 
  • Two passport sized photos (they must be professionally printed or taken in a passport photo booth) – Please see specific instructions online here: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/photoguide.             
  • Application Fee - Check the website for updated fees.  Currently, it is approximately $247. Payment should be made online at time of application.  Payment online can only be made with a Visa or MasterCard.  At the time of application, you must also pay a $12.00 fee to cover the cost of shipping your visa and passport after it is completed.  Select the Return Mail box when applying online and this amount will be added to your total.   
  • Visa Letter from Syracuse University, verifying program acceptance, dates, and payment.  We will send this letter to you.  The name on the letter should match the name on your passport exactly and in full – “John Charles Smith” is not the same as “John C Smith”. 
  • Original U.S. Passport, valid for six months after the program ends.  Your passport must be signed.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VISA IS STAMPED INSIDE THE PASSPORT. 
  •  VAF9 paper form (Appendix 8: Tier 4 (General) Student Self- Assessment) – download the form here: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/vafs/ at the bottom of the page (PBS Appendix 8 General Student self-assessment form).  We have included guidance to complete the form.  The information on this form must match the information in the visa letter. 
  • Evidence of maintenance funds - financial documentation.  Students must submit one or a combination of the following types of original documentation to show evidence of funds for your semester abroad.  Normally you must show ₤800/month for maintenance but since you pay Syracuse University a program fee, you don’t need to show that much. 

The documents must be dated no more than one calendar month before the visa application is made online and must show that the money (at least $1,000 - $1,600- the more you can show, the better) has been in the account for at least 28 days preceding the online application.  The closing balance must be given in pounds sterling.  This can be written on the document by hand using the exchange rate for the date of the document.  Use www.oanda.com/convert/classic. 

  •  
    • Proof of loan approval (must be in the student’s own name),
    • Original bank statement in the student’s or the parent’s name* (cannot be online print out),
    • Or an official bank letter certifying funds. 

The bank account can be in either the student’s or the parent’s name*. 

*Please note if the account is in your parent’s name, you will need to submit additional documentation: 

a.     Original or notarized copy of the document confirming the relationship (birth   certificate, certificate of adoption, or court document confirming guardian status)

AND

b.     Original signed and dated letter from the parent(s)/guardian(s), confirming the    relationship to the student, the funds available, and consent to make the funds available to the student.    

Bank statements must:            

*Be an original statement (electronic bank statements are acceptable as long as they include all the same information and they must be stamped with the official bank stamp on every page)         

*Be in the student’s own name, included as a joint account holder, or in the name of    parent(s)/guardian(s)            

*Show the date of the statement            

*Show the bank’s name and logo            

*Show the amount of money available (at least $1,000-$1,600)             *Show the money has been held for at least 28 days 

  • Non-US Citizens - Evidence of your Immigration Status in the USA and permission to re-enter the USA after your trip. Please submit original documents. Examples include:
    • Permanent Resident Card
    • Valid US visa (e.g., H1B, F1)
    • Advance Parole Document
    • Employment Authorization Card (does not permit re-entry to US)
    • Valid DS 2019 (Formerly IAP66)
    • Valid I-20 (must be signed on the reverse by designated school official) 
    • Valid I-94

NON-US Citizens: If you are a non-US national, you must apply for visas for every country you hope to travel to BEFORE you leave the US.  For example, if you plan to travel over the break to Italy, Ireland, France, etc. you need to contact the consulates of those countries with the details of your specific situation and to find out what the visa requirements and application process are for that particular country.  The same thing applies to any countries visited during field trips. You must find out what the visa requirements are ahead of time.  See this website for additional information: http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/.  Please Note: You cannot apply for European visas once you are in the UK.

  • SU London Program address – you may need this to complete your application SULPFaraday House48-51 Old Gloucester St. London WC1N 3AEUK 
  • Biometric (finger print scan and digital photo) appointment confirmation - When you complete and pay for your application on line, you will be directed to make an appointment at an Application Support Center for your biometric data (finger scan).  There are 129 centers around the US.  You should choose one convenient to your home or campus address or to a location where you will be at that time.  Please note that appointments may not always be available immediately at the Application Support Center, especially during holiday periods, so you should complete the online application as soon as possible (but not more than 3 months before departure).   

You must bring the following documents to your biometric appointment: 1)    printed appointment confirmation

2)    valid travel documents (passport).  

You can not send in your visa application materials until the scan is complete. 

You must submit all your documents to the British Consulate (including the proof of the biometrics) within two weeks of having the biometrics done.  There is a location in Syracuse, New York. 

Entry Clearance/Visa Processing Time

It will take the British Consulate 2-3 weeks to process your visa, longer during holiday times when it is busy.  You can begin submitting your visa application on October 18 (you can’t apply more than three months before departure).  Students attending either the Ireland or Scotland seminar can submit the application beginning on October 8.  When making travel plans during your break, please keep in mind that you will turn in your original passport with the visa application. 

Review your visa when you get it.  You should make sure that:

·          Your personal details are correct (please note that birthdates are designated as dd/mm/year)

·          The visa correctly states the purpose of your entry into the UK (GENERAL STUDENT)

·          It is valid for the dates of the program If you have questions about the visa, please see https://www.visainfoservices.com/ 

II. STUDENT VISITOR VISA 

If you are a US citizen and not planning to work, do an internship or any volunteer work and are not going to be in the UK for more than six months, you can enter the UK as a student visitor.  Your passport will be stamped upon arrival in the UK with the student visitor visa. 

If you do not apply for the Tier 4 visa you will not be able to apply for one once you are in the UK.  If you enter as a student visitor, you will not be able to work, do an internship, or participate in community service and you must leave the country at the end of the program.  You should still be able to travel freely out of the UK but you may need to answer more questions from immigration officials or be in longer lines than students with the student visa.  You must carry the immigration letter with you at all times to show to officials each time you enter the UK.  This letter will be sent to you by us if you are traveling independently or given to you at the airport on the day of departure.  You should also bring bank statements (original statements, not an on-line print out) or other documentation demonstrating means of financial support while you are in the UK (see “Evidence of Maintenance Funds” above). 

If you decide not to get the Tier 4 student visa but rather enter as a student visitor, you must sign the London Visa Waiver Form, included in this packet, and return it to Gail Rich (gnrich@syr.edu) by November 15, 2009.  This is very important because failure to do so will result in you not getting an immigration letter from us.  The immigration letter is required if you want to enter the UK as a Student Visitor.  

III. Student Visitor Visa with Prior Entry Clearance - For non-us nationals 

Students can apply for this type of visa before entering the UK.  The application is available online here http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ and will cost approximately $114.  This type of visa is recommended for non-US citizens who are not required to obtain a Tier 4 visa.  Please check the UK Border Agency website to confirm whether students from your country of nationality must have the Tier 4 visa.

 


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