Visas
Visas and Tier 4 Visa Sponsorship
City School of Languages has been licensed by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. Our UKBA Sponsor Licence Number is 50987M5C2 and we are an A-rated registered education provider.
If you want to study at CSL, it is your responsibility to find out if you need a visa to study in the UK. You also need to decide on the kind of visa you need. This means you need to understand the differences between the Student Visitor Visa (SVV) and the Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV). You can check if you need a visa by contacting your local British Embassy or by checking the UK Visas website. It normally takes 6 to 8 weeks to obtain a visa. We advise that you send us your enrolment form as soon as possible so that we can process it and send you the acceptance documents.
Geography – Do I Need A Visa?
Currently, if you are a European Economic Area citizen or a Swiss national you do not need a visa to study at CSL. You do not need to read this page any further as you do not need a visa. If you are not sure, you can check this list of countries which make up the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
If you are a Visa national (a citizen of one of the countries on this list), you require a visa to enter and study in the UK. You must get your visa before you leave home (this is called ‘pre-entry clearance’).
Non-visa nationals also need a visa to study in the UK. The two options, as with Visa nationals, are either to get a Student Visitor Visa if you would like to study for less then six months, or a Tier 4 General Student Visa for longer-term study.
If you are not sure if you need a visa, please contact your British Embassy or the UK Visas website.
Which Visa Do I Need?
There are two types of visa for study in the UK, the Student Visitor Visa (SVV) and the Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV). The main differences between the Student Visitor Visa and the Tier 4 General Student Visa are as follows. It is important that you understand if you need a visa and which kind of visa you require to study at CSL.
If you are a Visa National (VN) or Non-visa National (NVN), you may find it difficult to get a Tier 4 General Student Visa for a short course. In this case, you may have to apply for a Student Visitor Visa.
For more information about Student Visitor and General Student Visas, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) page
|
Student Visitor Visa (SVV) Not Points Based System |
Tier 4 General Student Visa (GSV) Points Based System |
|
| Length of Your Course |
Less than 6 months |
For a course of 6 months or longer |
| Minimum Language Level |
Beginner (A1 CEFR) |
Sponsored students are able to join a class at Elementary (A2 CEFR) level
Non-sponsored students are able to join a class at Upper Intermediate (B2 CEFR) level |
| Right to Work |
Work not allowed |
Up to 20 hours per week |
| Extending Your Visa |
Can only be renewed in your home country |
Can be renewed in the UK You must have attended at least 80% of your classes on your previous visa |
| Cost |
67.00 GBP at time of writing (February 2010) | 145.00 GBP at time of writing (February 2010) |
|
Dependents (children or partners) |
Not allowed |
Dependents can apply to join students entering the UK with a General Student Visa |
I Want To Apply For A Course At CSL And I Need A Visa – What Should I Do?
Please complete the enrolment form on our website and send us payment of the 150.00 GBP deposit and 100.00 GBP registration fee. If you are a sponsored student, you will need to provide us with a letter from your sponsor stating that they will pay for your studies. If you are not a sponsored student, we ask you to pay half your tuition fees before coming to the UK. If you plan on studying with us for six months, for example, we will ask you to pay three months' worth of tuition fees during enrolment.
In addition, you should also pay an accommodation arrangement fee of 30.00 GBP if you want us to arrange accommodation for you.
You can pay this by bank transfer (CSL bank account details) or by cheque drawn on a UK sterling account. You will also need to send us the following information and documents:
- Your full name (as it appears on your passport)
- Your passport number or National ID card reference number
- Documentary evidence of your English level. Please note that if you do not have this, we can arrange a test to check your language level.
How Do I Apply For A Tier 4 General Student Visa?
When we have received and checked that the information you have sent us is correct, we will issue you with a document accepting you onto a course. This acceptance letter is called a Student Visa Letter. (From 22 February 2010 this will be replaced by an electronic Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)). You need three things to apply for a Tier 4 General Student Visa in your country and you must apply for your GSV in advance.
- Your Student Visa Letter / CAS from City School of Languages
- Evidence that you have enough money to pay for your course and to live
- Proof that your English level is at the qualifying level. This at present is a student who is ready to go into an Elementary (A2 CEFR) course, but will increase on 3 March 2010 for non-sponsored students to those ready for an Upper Intermediate (B2 CEFR) course. Please note that if you do not have proof of your level, we can arrange a test to check your language level. Should you need this, please contact us for more details.
You will need to provide biometric data (fingerprints) when you apply for your GSV and this is why you must attend a visa issuing post in person. You cannot ask a representative to go in your place.
If you are applying to us through an agent in your country, you should be able to get help with the visa application and to complete the visa application form. If you are applying to CSL direct, you will need to complete a visa application form yourself. You can download this form and help guides here. If you require advice about applying for a visa, please contact your local Embassy.
How Do I Apply For A Student Visitor Visa?
When we have received and checked that the information you have sent us is correct, we will issue you with a document accepting you onto a course. This letter is called an Offer Letter. You need two things to apply for a Student Visitor Visa.
· Your Offer Letter
· Evidence that you have enough money to pay for your course and to live
Please note that you must apply for your Student Visitor Visa in your own country. You do not need to prove your English level as the Student Visitor Visa is available if your English level is beginner (A1 CEFR) or low elementary (low A2 CEFR). However, you may need to prove that you have a good reason to learn English and that you will return to your country when your course finishes.
You will need to provide biometric data (fingerprints) when you apply for your SVV and this is why you must attend a visa issuing post in person. You cannot ask a representative to go in your place.
If you are applying to us through an agent in your country, you should be able to get help with the visa application and to complete the visa application form. If you are applying to CSL direct, you will need to complete a visa application form yourself. For full details, please visit the UK Border Agency website.
