Alex Ellis, the British Ambassador to India, revealed the opening of Priority and Super priority visas for Indian students aspiring to apply for the next academic session in the United Kingdom.
The British High Commission on India recently issued an advisory for Indian students intending to study in the United Kingdom. Ellis stated that the UK’s objective is to raise the number of issued student visas and try breaking the record created this year in June 2022.
Ellis also declared that India is the biggest source of students to Britain and added that there is a heightened demand. He recommends that Indian students apply for their visas as soon as possible with the necessary documentation.
What are the required documentation for a UK Student visa?
Let’s take a quick look at the required documents to apply for a UK student visa.
Offer letter from the University
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number must be entered on your visa application. Your visa application must be submitted within 6 months of receiving your CAS.
TB certificate
You’ll also require to undergo a tuberculosis test if you’re travelling to the UK for more than 6 months and are a resident in any of the countries.
Evidence of funding
Proof of funds can include your own finances, your parent’s finances (if they give a letter verifying they consent to you using it), a government student loan, a government-sponsored loan company, or a regulated student loans scheme, your partner’s finances if your partner is present in the United Kingdom or applying at the same time as you.
What are Priority and Super Priority Visas?
UK Visas and Immigration service has now made Priority Visa and Super Priority Visa services open for students keen on coming to Britain for studies. However, additional costs will apply to Priority and Super Priority visa services.
As per the government of the UK, if you prove your identity at a visa application centre and the service is open in the country you’re applying from, you can select the ‘priority service’ when applying.
Right now, the standard student visa service has a turnaround period of 15 days to 3 weeks if the student has appeared for an appointment at the visa application centre or made an application online.
Tip: According to the UK government, if you verify your identity at a visa application centre you may be able to get your visa faster or other services depending on what country you’re in – check with your visa application centre.
The Priority Visa Service
The UK government will decide on the student’s visa application within just 5 working days. Ellis further announced that this service has now available for Indian students ready to study in the UK.
The Super Priority Visa Service
When you provide your biometric information, UK Visas and Immigration will strive to decide on your super-priority visa application and inform you that your passport is ready for collection by the end of the next working day.
Following the Grant of Your Visa
If you have proved your identity at a visa application centre, you will be informed when documents are ready to be collected.
If you verified your identity via the UK Immigration: ID Check app and if your application was successful, then you would not require a biometric residence permit (BRP). Your immigration status will be entirely online.
UK student visa: Biometric residence permit
If you’re travelling to the United Kingdom for more than 6 months and have proved your identity at a visa application centre, you will be required to collect your biometric residence permit (BRP). You can collect your BRP once you have arrived in the UK.
You must do this prior to the expiration of the vignette sticker in your travel document or within 10 days of entering the UK, whichever is later.
What might delay your UK Visa?
You could have to wait longer for a decision for the following reasons:
-If your supporting documents require verification
-If you are required to attend an interview
-Due to your personal circumstances (for instance, if you hold a criminal conviction)
You must remember that if you made an application for a priority or super priority visa and if your application is complicated, you might have to face a longer wait, although your application will still be placed at the front of the queue at every phase of the decision-making process.
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