There are lots of different websites/sources(e.g. university emails) that will tell you what you need to bring along or what you need to do to apply for the visa and this can get quite confusing as they all tell you different things. In general, students studying in the UK are classified as Tier 4 General/Adult Student for their visa application. All students have to apply for a visa online AND also print out Appendix 8 to bring, along with all the other relevant documents, to the visa application centre.
Now, after you have submitted your online application, there is an option to make an appointment. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! With an appointment, you can just go to the visa application centre and be out of there in less than an hour or slightly more. Without an appointment, you can expect to wait up to 4/5 hours just to get to the counter, even if you are there at 8am when the centre opens. Sometimes, the website shows that appointments are full but please stalk the website and keep trying as it will really save you lots of time. Also, electronic devices like your phone, mp3, psp… are not allowed! So get an appointment if you can cause waiting is really not fun.
Along with the online application and appendix 8, you will have to bring along a few documents. Please follow any instructions that the UK Border Agency requires very carefully! (For example, the bank statement to show that you have sufficient funds must be in your name and not your parents name and it must be at least 20 days old or something like that. ) Also, make sure all scholarship board letters and the visa letter that your university will send you has your FULL NAME AS IN PASSPORT on it.
So, you will submit all these documents and pay for the application at the counter and then they will ask you to wait at the side to be called to take your fingerprints and photo. After all this is done, your application will be processed.
For more information on the documents needed or how to apply for a visa, please visit:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf29pbsstudent
How the application process works is, you will submit all the forms and documents to the UK Border Agency (visa application centre) and they will check that you have the necessary documents and that they hold the correct information. If they find anything wrong, they will advise you to correct the information and come back another day. (YES, YOU HAVE TO QUEUE AGAIN!) If they don’t find anything wrong, you can proceed with the application. After your application has been processed, it will be sent to KL to be processed by the British High Commission and they are the ones that will actually decide whether you get the visa or not. If they don’t find anything wrong, you can get your visa quite easily without an interview, if they do find something wrong however, they will reject it and you will have to apply again. And yes, that means waiting again AND paying the application fee again(S$348!!!).
So, I cannot stress the importance of checking your documents and ensuring that the information on them is correct. If all goes well, you can get your visa within 4-5 working days. I applied on a Tuesday and it was ready for collection that Friday. But that said, please don’t wait till the last minute to apply as it may take from anywhere up to 15 working days to process your visa.
Congratulations to anyone who is coming to the UK next year and good luck with your Visa application! :D
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