Kings Community Church College

Checklist for applicants for student visitor visas from UKBA

This is to help you include what is needed when applying for a student visitor visa. Such a visa is valid for six months. This document has been drawn together from UKBA regulations and the lessons from refusal letters that we have seen. What is given here must be treated as advice only, because the College cannot guarantee success to any applicant for a visa. The decision on that is made by a UK Immigration Officer in your country and the College has no right of appeal against the decision made. Your own feedback on the wording of this checklist will be appreciated, as it is likely that any necessary changes that you can identify will help improve it for future applicants. The use of this document will be completed when you have reached the point where you have ticked all the boxes in relation to your visa application. According to UKBA (2010) Immigration Rules, a student visitor must meet every one of the requirements. The requirements are numbered here 1-11 here. Some notes and checklist items of ours are given under these headings. 1 is genuinely seeking entry as a student visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding six months Everything you write in your application must support this. 2 has been accepted on a course of study which is to be provided by an institution which is: (a) the holder of a Sponsor licence for Tier 4 of the Points Based System, or (b) the holder of valid accreditation from a UK Border Agency approved accreditation body, (c) inspected or audited by one of the bodies set out in guidance published by the UK Border Agency, or (d) an overseas Higher Education Institution offering only part of their programmes in the United Kingdom, holding its own national accreditation and offering programmes that are an equivalent level to a United Kingdom degree KCC College has the necessary accreditation for this, so it should not be a problem. 3 intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of his visit as stated This is clearly a major concern of the Immigration Officer looking at visa applications for KCC students. You need to provide a letter from your employer at the time of your return to your country from the course, giving assurance to UKBA that the job is ready or waiting for you. If this is the same employer who employs you before leaving, the letter should make it clear that the job is being kept open for your return and it should give some explanation about how at a practical level they can give you this period of extended leave. This is all part of the proof needed that you are making a genuine, real-life application rather than a constructed one.

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Your submitted accounts should give evidence of whatever regular income you have (weekly or monthly). Any additional evidence of wealth in the form of property that you own or lease, etc., which you can supply will help support your case that you have resources in your country which you will come back to after the course.

4 does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom Martyn Dunsfords letter assures them of that, but nothing in your documentation should lead to any doubt about it. See also heading 11 second box. 5 does not intend to engage in business, to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public (see note under heading 4 and also heading 11 second box) 6 does not intend to study at a maintained school KCC College is not a maintained school, i.e. not funded by the state, so this is not a problem. 7 will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends This is partly why our Fees for Students sheet is needed. If you and/or your church are paying for your accommodation during the course, your accounts need to show you have the funds for this. If you are married or have dependants, your submitted accounts must also show sufficient funds for their use while you are in England.

10

can meet the cost of the return or onward journey Your submitted accounts should provide evidence that you have the money for your return journey (i.e. both ways). If your church is paying for your air fare, you need to provide written confirmation of this.

9 is not a child under the age of 18 This should not be a problem, as the College does not accept applicants under 18 years of age.

Original documents needed Submit only original documents with your application, not photocopies. This means that our acceptance letter and all other signed letters must be originals. Nothing should be or even look like a photocopy.

11 Supporting letter You should write a supporting letter along with your documents. It should be addressed to the Immigration Officer and begin Dear Sir or Madam. It should include the following:

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why you selected this course

your confirmation that you do not intend to take any employment or engage in any form of business during your stay in the United Kingdom your intentions for when the course is completed (which includes coming back to your country) how the course will be beneficial to you: As part of that, you should make it clear that you have done (x) years (y) months of voluntary work in a church context (in the Christian religion) and that this course will assist your career development in your church work, whether this work that you do is paid or unpaid in the future. .

1. Original passport 2. Expired passport (if applicable) 3. Acceptance letter from KCC on an official heading paper, signed in ink 4. Letter of invitation from KCC on an official heading paper, signed in ink 5. Martyns letter 6. Letter from a pastor , with signature in ink and an official church stamp (if applicable) that shows the proof of character of the applicant and the determination of his/hers return to home country 7. Letter from a British citizen currently living in the country of applicants residence that shows his/hers personal acquaintance with the applicant, that shows the proof of character of the applicant and the determination of his/hers return to home country (if applicable) (its not a necessity but it helps a lot) 8. INDEX card (student ID) or any other document that proves the student status of the applicant (or document that proves the employment of the applicant and states that he/she will retain same status upon return) 9. Letter or document that explains how and why is the applicant able to leave his/hers current position in the country of residence for the stated period of time 10. One passport sized colour photograph (This must comply with the requirements in our photo guidance (http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/12160810/Photoguide) 11. Completed and printed VISA application ALSO UK BORDER AGENCY STATES : Sending original documents
You must send the original documents or certified copies. A certified copy is one that includes a signed statement, either by the issuing authority or by a solicitor or notary, confirming that it

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is an accurate copy of the original document. Any documents that we request to see that are not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by a certified translation. The translator's credentials should be provided, along with their official confirmation that the translation is accurate. We reserve the right to ask for original documents.

SOME HELPFUL LINKS:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/student-visitors/applying/ http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/student-visitors/eligibility/ http://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal (form finder the bottom of the page explains expectations) http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adultstudents/evidence/money/# http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/# http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/supportdocstier4genstudent (first page, first table)

APPENDICES These three appendices are just for your information. The wording is quoted from the relevant part of the UKBA (2010) Immigration Rules. These are the rules that the Immigration Officer is looking at and using to decide whether or not to accept your application. Appendix A Immigration Rules, Part 2 sections 56K - M Student visitors: Requirements for leave to enter as a student visitor 56K. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a student visitor are that he: (i) is genuinely seeking entry as a student visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding six months; and (ii) has been accepted on a course of study which is to be provided by an institution which is: (a) the holder of a Sponsor licence for Tier 4 of the Points Based System, or (b) the holder of valid accreditation from a UK Border Agency approved accreditation body, or

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(c) inspected or audited by one of the bodies set out in guidance published by the UK Border Agency, or (d) an overseas Higher Education Institution offering only part of their programmes in the United Kingdom, holding its own national accreditation and offering programmes that are an equivalent level to a United Kingdom degree, and (iii) intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of his visit as stated by him; and (iv) does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom; and (v) does not intend to engage in business, to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public; and (vi) does not intend to study at a maintained school; and (vii) will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends; and (viii) can meet the cost of the return or onward journey; and (ix) is not a child under the age of 18; and (x) meets the requirements set out in paragraph 41 (ix) - (xii). [see appendix b) Leave to enter as a student visitor 56L. A person seeking leave to enter to the United Kingdom as a student visitor may be admitted for a period not exceeding 6 months, subject to a condition prohibiting employment, provided the Immigration Officer is satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 56K is met. Refusal of leave to enter as a student visitor 56M. Leave to enter as a student visitor is to be refused if the Immigration Officer is not satisfied that each of the requirements of paragraph 56K is met. Appendix B Immigration Rules, Part 2 sections 41 (ix) (xii) (ix) does not intend to do any of the activities provided for in paragraphs 46G (iii), 46M (iii) or 46S (iii); and (x) does not, during his visit, intend to marry or form a civil partnership, or to give notice of marriage or civil partnership; and

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(xi) does not intend to receive private medical treatment during his visit; and (xii) is not in transit to a country outside the common travel area. Appendix C Immigration Rules, Part 2 sections 46G (iii), 46M (iii) and 46S (iii) The student visitor visa is not issued to an applicant who: 46G3 (iii) intends to do one or more of the following during his visit: (a) to carry out a 'Permissible Activity' [applicable to a business visitor] as defined in paragraph 6; (b) to take part in a location shoot as a member of a film crew; 46M (iii) intends to do one or more of the following during his visit: a. To take part in a particular sporting event as defined in guidance published by the United Kingdom Border Agency, tournament or series of events; b. To take part in a specific one off charity sporting event, provided no payment is received other than for travelling and other expenses; c. To join, as an Amateur, a wholly or predominantly amateur team provided no payment is received other than for board and lodging and reasonable expenses; d. To serve as a member of the technical or personal staff, or as an official, attending the same event as a visiting sportsperson coming for one or more of the purposes listed in (a), (b) or (c). 46S (iii) intends to do one or more of the following during his visit: a. to take part as a professional entertainer in one or more music competitions; and/or b. to fulfil one or more specific engagements as either an individual Amateur entertainer or as an Amateur group; and/or c. to take part, as an Amateur or professional entertainer, in a cultural event (or one or more of such events) that appears in the list of events to which this provision applies that is published in guidance issued by the United Kingdom Border Agency; and/or d. serve as a member of the technical or personal staff, or of the production team, of an entertainer coming for one or more of the purposes listed in (a), (b), or (c). Reference UKBA (2010, November). Immigration Rules Part 2: Student visitors. Retrieved from http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigra tionrules/part2/

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updated: March 2011