UK STUDENT VISA
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British High Commission / Deputy High Commission Addresses
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UK Visa Applications are accepted in eleven cities across India (VFS off.)
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Student applicants must provide the following documentation:
- A fully completed and signed Visa Application Form (you will get this form from the VFS office, please ensure that you are
using the current form as out -of-date versions will not be accepted). - Student Questionnnaire Form (you will have to take this from the VFS office)
- A valid passport with enough space for a visa (if you have older passports as well, do submit them as well to avoid any
confusion / delay). - Two recent passport sized colour photo, on a white background, 45 mm (2 inches) in height and 35 mm (1.5 - 2 inches) wide.
- The correct visa application fee and VFS service charge.
- Admission Letter from the University / College.
- Proof of advance payment / deposit made if any.
- Course Fees, Duration, details, joining instructions, etc.
- Any accommodation arrangement, if done already (in / off campus).
- CDC, COC, STCW 95 courses, value added courses, sea service testimonials, etc. (for Maritime students only)
- Class X, Class XII, Degree, Diploma, ITI, educational certificates, work reference letters, etc.
- Bank Financial Statement Letter including passbook , study loan sanction letter, sponsorer's letter / financial statement, etc.
(please note that this is one of your most critical documents in your application).
If you do not submit the required documents, your application
may be refused without an interview. The list given below shows
the kind of documents which will help the Visa Officer make his /
her decision. It is not meant to be comprehensive list - producing
all the documents will not guarantee you a visa - but it will help
you to prepare your application properly.
Please make sure that you include all supporting papers with
your application, and don't send or fax any papers separately to
them unless the situation cannot be avoided.
If your documents are not in English, it is strongly advised that
you get them translated beforehand. It will help the Visa Officer
to make a decision, if all supporting documents have been
translated in English. Documents submitted in other languages
may be refused which could result in a delay in your application
process.
may be refused without an interview. The list given below shows
the kind of documents which will help the Visa Officer make his /
her decision. It is not meant to be comprehensive list - producing
all the documents will not guarantee you a visa - but it will help
you to prepare your application properly.
Please make sure that you include all supporting papers with
your application, and don't send or fax any papers separately to
them unless the situation cannot be avoided.
If your documents are not in English, it is strongly advised that
you get them translated beforehand. It will help the Visa Officer
to make a decision, if all supporting documents have been
translated in English. Documents submitted in other languages
may be refused which could result in a delay in your application
process.
UK immigration law states that it is up to the student to satisfy that he qualifies for the visa. The UK visa office aims to resolve your
application without interviewing you, and so it is vital that you make sure that your application is properly documented when you
submit it.
application without interviewing you, and so it is vital that you make sure that your application is properly documented when you
submit it.
Clearance Officer, VFS, detailing your course, college, duration,
supporting documents, etc. and requesting for a student visa for the
requisite number of months. Should you need help with the above,
to all students who have secured admission with Warsash Maritime
Academy or Southampton Solent University.
Please ensure that you fill up the student questionnaire properly as
it is of paramount importance. Do email us, if you need help with the
same.
Please visit the following websites for more information:
VFS www.vfs-uk.co.in
British Deputy High Commission www.ukinindia.com
UK visas www.ukvisas.gov.uk
supporting documents, etc. and requesting for a student visa for the
requisite number of months. Should you need help with the above,
to all students who have secured admission with Warsash Maritime
Academy or Southampton Solent University.
Please ensure that you fill up the student questionnaire properly as
it is of paramount importance. Do email us, if you need help with the
same.
Please visit the following websites for more information:
VFS www.vfs-uk.co.in
British Deputy High Commission www.ukinindia.com
UK visas www.ukvisas.gov.uk
VISA REFUSAL REASONS OF PAST STUDENTS
CASE1:
CASE 2:
CASE 3:
CASE 4:
CASE 5:
CASE 6:
Notes:
Please take care of the following:
o His income tax returns for past two years
o His dependants and how much he spends / year on them
o How much is he giving to you from the balance amount
o His bank passbook, investments, etc. should be enclosed.
Corrective / Pro-active action:
CASE1:
- You propose to undertake a course at the higher educational level and this will require you to be proficient in English. You have
provided no satisfactory evidence that you are proficient in English. I am therefore not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities,
that you are able and intend to follow your course.
- The cost of your tuition, maintenance and accommodation is to be borne by your self. As evidence of your financial
circumstances you have produced a bank statement from State Bank of India with large recent deposits not consistent with the
history of the account. I am not satisfied that this is an accurate reflection of your circumstances. I am not satisfied, on the
balance of probabilities, that such funds will actually be available to you, and that you are able to meet the cost of the course
and maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to full-time employment or public funds.
- It is not clear from your application how your course will be of benefit to you or enhance your future prospects. I am therefore
not satisfied the cost of these studies is proportionate to current economic circumstances and advantages you might derive
from this course of study. This is suggestive of another purpose to the application and I am not therefore satisfied, on the
balance of probabilities, that you intend to leave UK at the end of your studies.
- You have submitted a Liberian Seaman’s Book, however this is of poor quality. Upon examination this has revealed to be a
counterfeit. I am therefore not satisfied on a balance of probabilities, that this document is genuine. This fact has damaged the
credibility of your application and I am therefore not satisfied that your intentions are as stated, in particular, that you intend to
leave the UK on completion of your stay.
- Your account of your personal, economic and social circumstances and how you will use these studies does not satisfy me, on
the balance of probabilities that you intend to leave the United Kingdom on completion of your course.
CASE 2:
- You have been unable to satisfactorily explain how your proposed course is organized and structured neither have you been
able to detail its content. Such a lack of knowledge and preparation does not demonstrate a genuine interest and commitment
to the course and I am therefore not satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that you are able and intend to follow the course.
- The course you propose to study is widely available in India, leads to the same qualification at a significantly cheaper cost and
you cannot satisfactorily explain why you do not undertake the course here.
- You say that you wish to study in the UK rather than India because the courses are of greater value in the UK, but you are
unable to explain why you think that this is the case. I am aware that there are similar courses widely available here leading to
the same qualification at a significantly lower cost. I therefore conclude that you have chosen to undertake this course primarily
as a means of securing your entry in to the UK, rather than for academic betterment, which means that I am not satisfied, on
the balance of probabilities, that you intend to follow the course.
- I am not satisfied as to the authenticity of the documents you have produced. The fact that you have used these documents
reduces the overall credibility of your application and leads me to doubt that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for the
purpose of study, or that you intend to follow this course.
CASE 3:
- You have filled in a student questionnaire to help your application. I have carefully considered your application based on your
passport, application form, questionnaire and the papers you have provided. You have confirmed that the information you have
given is complete and true to the best of your knowledge.
- The British Council estimates that a student in London (or the South East) requires about 7200 pounds per academic year
(outside London 5930 pounds per academic year) and your outstanding fees are 3226 pounds. It will therefore cost you
about 9156 pounds (Rs732480; Rs.80=1pounds) to study in the UK and these costs will be paid by you and a student loan.
You have sent me a copy of your credit card from HSBC but no documentary evidence of your financial circumstances here so I
am unable to assess whether you have sufficient funding to finance your studies. You have taken out an educational loan of Rs
6 lakh (7058) to help pay for your studies. Whilst I am aware that many students take out loans to help pay for their studies,
you have not shown that it is in proportion to the financial gains you hope to achieve, if you gain the qualification in the UK. I am
not satisfied that you are genuinely able to meet the cost of the course and related living costs without having full-time
employment or using public funds.
- Given my concerns over the shortfall on funds, I am not satisfied that you do not intend to engage in business or take
employment, except part-time or vacation work undertaken with the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment.
CASE 4:
- You say that you wish to study in the UK rather than India because the courses are of greater value but reading through your
self-completed questionnaire it is not clear how you have reached such a conclusion. Whilst I accept that similar course in India
are often of longer duration the implication of studying in the UK are considerable. Given your financial circumstances and
those of your family/sponsor you have not made clear that such seemingly disproportionate expenditure has been fully taken
account of and that it is either reasonable or credible. You have also failed to explain how this UK qualification will be of more
benefit to you rather than the equivalent Indian qualification. I therefore conclude that you have chosen to undertake this
course primarily as a means of securing your entry to the UK, rather than for academic betterment. In the light of this I am not
satisfied that you intend to follow the course.
- The British Council (Studying and Living in the UK 2007-2008) estimates that a student in London (or the South East ) requires
about 760 pounds per month (9200 pounds per year) and for outside London about (5930 pounds per year) for maintenance
and accommodation. You have stated on your questionnaire that you estimate the total cost of your accommodation and living
expenses to be 5100 pounds (approx. Rs.428400). In line with the British Council figures I estimate your maintenance and
accommodation costs over 12 month to be in total 5930 pounds per annum plus a total of 3450 pounds for fees. The cost of
your tuition, maintenance and accommodation is to be partly borne by your sponsor. Despite the detailed statement of purpose
submitted with your student questionnaire you have not detailed how many other people they support apart from themselves
and you; were their commitments to themselves and you alone I am fully satisfied that this information would have been
highlighted with your application. I must conclude in the absence of evidence to the contrary that your sponsors are financially
responsible for people other than themselves and you. I am not satisfied on the balance of probabilities that you are able to
meet the cost of the course and maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to full-time employment or public funds.
- You have not made clear in your applications to how your course will be of benefit to you or enhance your future prospects. I
am therefore not satisfied that the cost of these studies is proportionate to your current economic circumstances and the
unspecified advantages you might derive from this course of study. This is suggestive of another purpose to the application
and I am not satisfied therefore that you intend to leave UK at the end of your studies.
CASE 5:
- The total cost of your course will be 2.230 pounds. The British Council guidance (Study and Living in the UK 2007) estimates
that you require 5.930 pounds (outside London) for your accommodation and living expenses per academic year. On this basis
I calculate your studies will cost about 8,160 pounds (about Rs.6.5 lakh ). As evidence of funds you have shown:
- Funds totaling Rs.7.5 lakh (8.800 pounds).However, all these funds were deposited in September 2007. I note that your father
is funding your studies and his state of income is Rs.350.654 (4.100 pounds) and you have deposited over 2 years annual
income in the space of one month for which no explanation of where these funds came from has submitted. I am therefore
satisfied that these funds were deposited solely for the purposes of this application and I am not satisfied that you have
sufficient funds to pay for your studies.
- Because of this I am not satisfied that you are genuinely able to meet the cost of your studies and related living expenses in the
UK without having full-time employment or using public funds.
- You have stated that you have been employed since December 2006 as an able seaman however you have not submitted any
evidence of your actual income or financial circumstances. Given the above, I am not satisfied that you intend to leave the UK
on completion of your studies.
CASE 6:
- You state that it will cost you about £13,390 to study in the UK. You state that your mother will pay these costs. From the
documents you have sent to me, you have not shown that these funds will actually be available to you. You have submitted a
few fixed deposit receipts. However, you have shown no evidence of the origin of these funds. I cannot therefore be satisfied
that the funds are genuinely available to you. In addition, the fixed deposits you have submitted are photocopies, fixed deposits
can be encashed at any time and you have submitted no evidence that these funds are still available. You have not shown that
the sum you propose to spend is in proportion to the financial gains you hope to achieve, if you gain the qualification in the UK,
or that it is in proportion to your own or your sponsor’s true financial and personal circumstances. I am not satisfied that you are
genuinely able to meet the cost of the course and related living costs without having full-time employment or using public funds.
In addition, I am not satisfied that you intend to follow the course. I therefore refuse your application.
Notes:
Please take care of the following:
- There should not be any recent deposits of large amounts in the last 1 – 2 months inconsistent with your past economic
records. If there is, you should be able to justify the source of funds and prove that these funds will be actually available to you.
If a person has given you money, he should show his income tax returns for the last two years and how much out of that is
spent every year on his family members. From the balance remaining money only can your sponsor give lend you money.
Ideally, the sponsor should give an affidavit on a 20 Rs/- stamp paper which would include the following points:
o His income tax returns for past two years
o His dependants and how much he spends / year on them
o How much is he giving to you from the balance amount
o His bank passbook, investments, etc. should be enclosed.
- It is advisable to take a loan from the bank rather than borrow money from relatives / funds and put into your bank account.
- You should ideally show some funds of your own as well which you have earned whilst working on board ships which acts as a
proof of your existing employment. - Apply for your visa early say about 30 – 45 days before the course commencement date. The reason being that godforbidding
if your visa gets refused, you can still rectify the deficiencies and reapply again. You can reapply for your visa the next day
after your refusal but you should be able to rectify the deficiencies mentioned in your visa refusal letter.
Corrective / Pro-active action:
- If your visa has been refused and lack of English knowledge has been mentioned as one of the reasons, please go and appear
for the IELTS examination. The examination is held every month in most of the metro cities of India and conducted by the British
Council. Ensure that you have an average score of 6.5 in your IELTS exam. - It is always safer to apply for an Education Loan from a Nationalised Bank for your studies rather than ask your friends /
relatives to transfer funds into your account. If you already have your own funds and hence do not intend to take a bank loan,
please ensure that the funds are reflecting in your account over the last 3 - 6 months period. If your parents / in-laws are
helping you out with funds, please ensure that you take a sponsorship letter / affidavit from them regarding the same and also
attach their income tax statement, bank passbooks, etc.. - In the student questionnaire, that you fill up and submit along with the VAF form, please do mention clearly how this course is
going to help you in future. If you are called for an interview, please do some background study on the content of the course
that you are going to study during your period in UK as otherwise it reflects a disinterest on the part of the applicant with
regards to the course that he / she is going to study in UK. - If your Panamian / Liberian / Honduras / St. Vincent / etc. CDC happens to be counterfeit (maritime students only), you can be
rest assured that your visa will be refused without even being called for an interview. Moreover, your counterfeit CDC will not be
returned back to you. Before you apply for your visa, do ensure (if you can) that all your documents are genuine.