Visa & Immigration Information
Visa & Immigration Advice
Applying for a visa can be one of the most confusing and
challenging aspects of studying in another country. We are here to
help you with this process as much as possible, and this page
provides some useful information about the main types of visas
which students might need. Please remember that preparing IN
ADVANCE is the most important thing you can do with any visa!
Student Visitors:
- Student Visitor visas will be mainly for exchange
students who are in the UK for 6 months or less.
- Student Visitors may NOT work or volunteer while in the
UK.
- You cannot switch from a Student Visitor visa into any other
visa category, you would have to leave the UK and make a new
application to return in a different visa category.
- Please
Click Here for more information about Student Visitor
visas.
Tier 4 (General) Student Visas:
- Most students will require a Tier 4 (General) Student visa to
study in the UK. This visa is used for courses which are longer
than 6 months (full-year exchanges, full 3 or 4-year degree
programmes, MA programmes, PhD programmes).
- Students who are outside the UK will use the Tier 4 application
to apply for their initial Entry Clearance into the UK. You must
have an unconditional offer letter and a valid CAS (Confirmation of
Acceptance for Studies) letter from your UK institution in order to
apply for a Tier 4 visa.
- Students on Tier 4 visas are allowed to work part-time (no more
than 20 hours per week for degree-seeking students) during term
time. Students can work full time (40 hours per week) outside of
term time only (summer break, Christmas break, Easter break).
- Please
Click Here for more information about applying for a Tier
4 visa from outside the UK.
Important: York St John University is your Tier 4
sponsor for studies in the UK. If we issue a CAS to you, this means
that you are sponsored by us and there are conditions and
responsibilities for both the sponsor and the student.
Please click here to see
a copy of the Tier 4 Student Enrolment Declaration. All Tier 4
students are required to read and sign this on arrival at the
University.
- For students already in the UK on a Tier 4
visa, it is possible to apply for a Tier 4 extension or a
new Tier 4 (for further studies) from within the UK.
- New Tier 4 applications must be made when a student: requires
extra time to finish studies, wants to change to a different
institution to study, wants to continue on to a new degree
programme at the current institution (move on to an MA following a
BA degree, for example).
- Applications cannot be made more than 3 months before the
current visa's expiry date.
- Please
Click Here for more information about Tier 4 visas and applying
from within the UK.
Tier 1 Post Study Work (PSW) Visas:
- The PSW visa will be continued until 5th April 2012 only. No
new PSW applications will be accepted after this date.
- The PSW allows students who have successfully completed their
degree programmes to remain in the UK for 2 years to work.
- You can only apply for a PSW when it is confirmed by your
institution that you WILL be receiving your degree on the given
graduation date.
- Please
Click Here for more information about the PSW visa.
York St John International offers monthly visa workshops
where we help answer student queries about visas or about the visa
application process. Please
click here to view the Visa Workshop schedule.
Students who are making visa applications can make an
appointment with our advisers to have their completed applications
checked before submitting them. Please bring your completed
application form and all supporting documents to your
appointment.
PLEASE NOTE: if you are more than 20 minutes
late for your appointment then you will have to re-schedule for
another day. Also, ONLY visa applicants and their family members
will be seen for appointments. Due to the confidential nature of
visa applications, friends cannot accompany applicants to
their appointments.
It is also important to note that our advisers will help you to
the best of their training and ability, but the ultimate
responsibility for any visa application lies with YOU, the
student.
If you have any visa-related questions or if you would like to
make an appointment with an advisor, please e-mail: visa@yorksj.ac.uk
Students seeking advice about their applications can
also contact the UKCISA (UK Council for International Student
Affairs) helpline. The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 1pm
to 4pm.
UKCISA Helpline number: 02071079922 (from within the UK
only)
The UKCISA website also provides helpful and up-to-date
information for international students, this includes information
about working during and after your studies:
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/index.php