***Please read the following information carefully

STUDENT VISA INFORMATIONUNITED KINGDOM***Please read the following information carefully. If you do not abide by theseguidelines you will be sent back to the United States at your own expense per UKimmigration regulations.***There are 2 types of student visas. You must obtain one of them to study in the UK. One is calleda Full Student Visa; the other is a Student Visitor Visa. . As of March 31, 2009, regulations forapplying for a student visa have changed. In light of the new regulations, we are suggesting thatstudents studying for semester programs apply for the Student Visitor Visa upon arrival in theUK.If you plan on studying for a full academic year, would like to work or want the option toextend your visa---you MUST apply for a Full Student Visa.Student Visitor VisaIf you are staying for up to (and not exceeding) 6 months AND you do not have a Full StudentVisa you must apply for the Student Visitor Visa upon arrival at the airport in the UK. Forinformation on how to apply for a Student Visitor Visa go to:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/student-visitors/eligibility/You must have the following documentation on hand when you go through immigration-1. Your passport that will not expire during your stay in the UK2. Your acceptance letter from the overseas University3. CIS letter to the immigration officials4. Evidence of bank statements going back over a period of several months andevidence of saving available to you.*It is also advisable to show a return ticket or proof that you will leave the UK at thecompletion of your studies.There is an approximate fee of $100 for the Student Visitor Visa, but it does not allow youto work and you may not extend your stay. Have all documentation in hand forImmigration at the airport. If the immigration officer is not satisfied you will be sent home!Most summer students should apply for a Student Visitor Visa on arrival rather thanapplying for the full student visa before departure. If you are doing a summer internship,you are required to apply for the Full Student Visa.Important: If you sign up for an academic year of study on your application but change your mindprior to departure and decide to stay for only a semester, you must notify CIS immediately so thatwe can issue you new paperwork. If the immigration officials see paperwork that says you arestaying for a year and you don’t have a full student visa,, they will send you home even if you sayyou’re only going to be there for a semester.1

STUDENT VISA INFORMATIONUNITED KINGDOMThe Full Student Visa must be obtained in advance- it cannot be granted within the UK. The UKBorder Agency has instituted a point system, visa applicants must score 40 points on an eligibilitytest:30 points for a visa letter from your approved education provider (the UK university youwill be enrolled in) and the documents used to get the visa letter.10 points through proving you can support yourself while in the UK and that yourprogram fee is paid :* In London-- minimum £800 per month* Outside London—minimum £600 per month* Please see *Notes Regarding Evidence of Funds*The Full Student Visa is issued prior to your departure to the UK that grants official permissionto enter the UK in the form of a stamp or sticker placed in your passport. For guidance on how toapply for a Full Student Visa go to:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/quickguideforstudent/adultstudents/You can apply for your visa beginning 90 days before your arrival date. Do not delay in applyingfor your visa.You will undertake a three-part application process.1 - Online application2 – Submit biometric data (fingerprints). You will make an appointment at a center close to youat the end of the online application process. Once submitted, you have two weeks to send yourcomplete application to the consulate.3 – Mail your passport and supporting documents to the consulate – Chicago, New York or LosAngeles as directed on website.Submit the documents requested which include but may not be limited to:‣ Passport‣ Visa letter from overseas university‣ Transcript from your university‣ Evidence of funding (see important notes below for importantinformation)Before you begin the application, be sure that you have your passport, a credit card, and accessto a printer. Once you complete the online application, you’ll need to print it and send it to theBritish Embassy along with your passport and other supporting documents. Details of what youneed to send and where will be provided in an email that you will receive upon completion of theonline application. We recommend that you send everything to the embassy via FedEx or otherform of traceable post, and that you include a similar self-addressed pre-paid express envelopethat the Embassy can use to return your passport to you.If you are staying in the UK for more than 6 months, you must have a full student visa beforeentering the UK or you will be sent home! This is absolutely mandatory. The student fee for a fullstudent visa is approximately $215.The Full Student Visa is issued for the duration of your program.If you want to work during your studies in the UK or you think you might extend your stay, youmust obtain the full student visa prior to departure. You cannot switch to this status after yourarrival.2

STUDENT VISA INFORMATIONUNITED KINGDOMBiometric Data:an update for studentsThis is ONLY for students applying for a FULL STUDENT VISA. Those applying for aStudent Visitor Visa are not affectedEffective December 3, 2007, the British government introduced biometric data collection (10-finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of a world-wide biometric identification process,designed to protect an individual’s identity, facilitate future entry to the UK, combat visa fraud andabuse of the UK’s immigration and asylum systems. From December 3, 2007, all visa applicants,irrespective of nationality, will be required to provide their biometric data when they apply for avisa for the United Kingdom.To enable visa applicants to do this UK visas have established an arrangement whereby theUnited States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) collect the biometric data ofapplicants for UK visas from their network of 129 Application Support Centers (ASCs). Thisarrangement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide wide coverage ofbiometric collection points in the USA.Fingerscans will be collected from each applicant by using an electronic scanner. No ink, liquid orchemical will be used. A digital photograph will be taken at the same time and the whole biometriccapture procedure should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.All applicants should ensure that their fingertips are free from any forms of decoration (henna, forexample), abrasions or other markings, and that any facial cuts and bruises have healed ordisappeared prior to providing their biometric data as these may affect their ability to provideacceptable fingerscans and photographs. Digital photographs cannot be taken with applicantswearing head coverings that hide the face, dark glasses, face or neck coverings.First, all full student visa applications should be submitted and paid for online. You will then bedirected to make an appointment at one of the Application Support Centres in your area in orderto submit your biometric data. Once you have submitted your biometric data you can either sendin your passport and other supporting documents through a registered courier or by mail to one ofthe UK consulates in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.*Notes Regarding Evidence of Funds* IMPORTANT!Per the UK Border Agency’s Policy Guidance Notes for student visas (available athttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/, and something we encourage you toreview), you need to prove that you have £800 per month if you will be living in London or £600 ifyou are living outside of London.Here are a couple of guidelines regarding your evidence of funds: If the length of your study includes a part of a month, you must round the time upto the next month. For example, if a course is seven months and two weeks, youmust have enough money for eight months. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end ofthat 28-day period must not be more than one month before the date of yourapplication. If you are using overseas currency, you will be expected you to show (write onthe document) the closing balance in British pounds. The official exchange ratecan be found at : www.xe.comYou can prove you have the money if you have:3

ooSTUDENT VISA INFORMATIONUNITED KINGDOMCash in an account in your name (this includes joint accounts with your name)A loan in your name Your bank statements must show:o Your nameo The account numbero The date of the statemento The financial institution’s name and logoo The amount of money available• You can use bank statements that are printed on bank letterhead as long as they includeall the information above. You cannot use mini-statements from cash points.• You can use electronic bank statements from an online account if they include all theinformation above. Each electronic bank statement should be stamped by the official stamp ofthe bank on every page of the statement.• If you want to use a joint account as proof of your money, you must be named on theaccount along with one or more other person.If you have questions about the documents you must send or if your bank statement is suitable,we ask that you refer directly to the UKBA policy guidelines, where all of this information is drawnfrom: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/.4