From 10 January 2011 English language students wishing to attend exclusively English language courses will be able to apply for a student visitor visa allowing them to stay for up to 11 months. The Extended Student Visitor visa will only be available to applicants outside of the United Kingdom.

Students wishing to study non- English Language courses in the UK for longer than 6 months are still required to apply under Tier 4 of the points-based system.

Non visa-nationals, who would not normally need a visa to study for up to six months, must apply for the extended visa if they wish to remain longer.

Other requirements, entitlements and restrictions of the Extended Student Visitor visa are the same as the current Student Visitor route. The Student Visitor route does not allow students to work, take a work placement, bring dependants, extend their stay or switch into other courses at the end of their stay. The fee will also be the same as the Student Visitor visa.

The UK Government has today published a public consultation on reform of Tier Four of the Points Based System – the student entry route to the UK.

UKBA state that “the proposed reforms are designed to raise the quality of the educational experience for all international students who choose to invest their time and money in studying in the UK. In the same way as the recent proposals for skilled workers, the UK wants a system which continues to attract the top students to its top universities but which is more selective and more robust”.

The proposed key areas of reform in our consultation paper are:

1) Raising the level of courses students can study, with only Highly Trusted Sponsors able to offer courses to adult students below degree level
2) Introducing tougher entry criteria for adult students
3) Ensuring students return overseas after their course
4) Limiting the entitlements to work and to sponsor dependants
5) Simpler procedures for checking low-risk applications
6) Stricter accreditation procedures for education providers in the private sector

The consultation will run for eight weeks until 31 January 2011. If you would like further information to respond here is the link : www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/student-consult-online.

A cross-party group of MPs, including Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, are to voice their “profound concerns” to the home secretary, Teresa May over her plans to bar tens of thousands of overseas students from coming to study in Britain.

The plans to be detailed today include restricting overseas student visas to those on degree-level courses and are expected to lead to the closure of some English-language schools and other privately-run colleges.

The package means that the home secretary will close the door on up to 120,000 international students from outside the EU who come to Britain to take “below-degree” level courses – about 40% of the annual total. Full report here

Hi all,

I have received a few phone calls from the UKBA regarding students’ applications. There have been a few cases of students changing address or their phone number without telling the UKBA or The English Studio. It is very important that everytime you change address you inform both the UKBA and The English Studio, especially if you are in the process of extending.

Updating your contact details, it is extremely easy, all you need to do is log in to the E-reception computers and check that your details are up to date.  While you are studying with us in London, it is a essential you are aware of the UKBA regulations.

Sorry to sound so serious on  a Friday but it was necessary

Have a nice weekend

Stuart

Hi guys,

Just to let you know that the visa application form has changed AGAIN. The information inside is the same but make sure you print the one that says “Valid on or after 6th April 2010″.

If you are going to be applying to study again with The English Studio here in London, email me with any questions you have about the application form. Make sure you include either the page number or the question number.

Thanks for reading

Stuart

Hi all,

I have had many students coming to ask me to send them the visa guide that we have in reception. In the past it was not possible because the file was too big. I have managed to make it smaller and I now have it posted on the internet.

Visa Guide

Another thing you to need to be aware of is that from Monday 2nd November, we will not print any visa letters for students extending their visa. You must apply using a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). This is a special number created by myself or the Admin Manager. A CAS costs £10, which is what the Home Office charges us.

If you have any questions, check the guide and then email me (my email is in the guide )

Stuart

I have great news!!! No longer will you have to wait on hold for 20 minutes listening to a ten second loop of Vivaldi!!!! You can now get your appointment for your visa application online!!!

Here is the link (you will need to register the first time you use this service)

https://ukbabooking.homeoffice.gov.uk/ukba/index.start

Also, just a reminder that from 5th October the Visa application form is changing, so please make sure you complete the correct version, or send the old one before this date.

Thanks

Stuart

According to the UKBA website there is an important change to rules governing how long students from outside the EU can study English. Up to March 2009 students are only allowed to study English below degree level for two years.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/applyingbeforemarch09/extending/

This meant that to stay longer in the UK students needed to study on degree level courses.

After March 2009 students will now be able to study English below degree level for up to three years

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/applyingafter-March/factsheets/studyingfulltimeasadult/

Phil Barnett

The English Studio has now been placed on the register of sponsors for tier 4 applications. From March 2009 students will only be eligible for a student visa if they apply to a school on this register.

To get a student visa to study english in London you will need to score 40 points under the new points based system.

You will get 30 points if you get a visa letter from the English Studio or another school on the register of sponsors

and 10 points if you can show you have enough finances to cover your course fees and monthly living expenses for up to 12 months (known as maintenance).

Currently the UKBA (UK Border Agency) have set the monthly amount of maintenance as £800 to study in London. We believe this is too high and along with other schools and English UK we are campaigning to have this reduced to £600 which is the level set for the rest of the country

Things are still being worked out and I will let you know as soon as any new changes are announced