How to obtain Educational visa to study in UK?

Obtaining visa is one of the most challenging tasks in enrolling for foreign university. This may be even challenging for European countries specially UK. All non-EU nationals who wish to study in the UK will need to apply for a student visa before they are eligible to enter the UK and begin their programme of study. You have to apply for visa through ‘Tier 4-(General) Student’ visa category. It is for migrants who want to study in UK.

First what should I do?
Before everything you have to choose the right course and University / College in UK. It should be based on your future aspects & how to develop your career. The course and it duration must match your career and financial capability. The British Council also conducts presentations on every Saturday 10.00am on choosing a suitable course for you. Contact British Council
Customer Services Officer
Education Services
British Council
49 Alfred House Gardens,
Colombo 3, Sri Lanka

Tel: +94 (0)11 4521521, 7521521
E: info.lk@britshcouncil.org

Once the relevant university has accepted your offer of a study place and met the conditions of your offer, they will send you an unconditional letter which confirms your study place and course. You will need this document to apply for your study visa.

How to apply?

Step 1:
Be familiar with the information on your visa category. The Tier 4 (General) category is for adult students who want to come to or remain in the UK for post-16 education.

Step 2:
Complete your visa application form. You can now download the application form by following the link at the below of this article. You should print your completed visa application form on good quality paper and ensure that the information does extend beyond the margins on the paper. Make sure application filling is done in English and sign it. Ensure that you complete all the sections correctly. If you make a mistake in filling in any of the sections you will need to make the change on the form and sign against it.

Step 3:
Prepare your documents. You should submit the following
• A valid passport or refugee travel document that contains at least 1 blank page on both sides so the visa can be inserted.
• Your completed and signed visa application form
• Supporting documents relevant to the category you are applying for with copy of each original document.
• 1 recent passport-sized (45mm high x 35mm wide) colour photograph of yourself.

You must provide original documents with a photocopy for each original supporting document you are submitting. You should provide translations of any supporting documents that are not in English and translated documents need to be submitted with the original document for verification.

Step 4:
Pay your visa application fee. In Sri Lanka UK Boarder Agency is responsible for visa application and review process working together with British High Commission Sri Lanka. However you have to apply through VFS Global which is a commercial company working for UK Boarder Agency and British High Commission. You have to pay a fee of Rs 35820/- for application process.

Step 5:
Visit the visa application centre. All visa applicants (apart from exempt categories and children under 5 years) must present in person at the visa application centre to submit their biometric data (eg: finger print etc,.) To make an appointment with VFS Global you can send an email request between 08:00 am and 03:00 pm Monday to Friday to ukstudentcolombo@vfshelpline.com . You will receive a response to your request within 3 working days. You will be allocated the first available appointment.

Step 6:
Wait for a decision on your visa application. Roughly it will take 30-60 days. However visa applications are assessed individually and processing times may vary. You can also use the free ‘track your application’ facility on VFS Global website to find out the progress of your visa application, or use the SMS text service (fee payable) to receive texts about the progress of your visa application.

Step 7:
Collect the decision on your visa. You can collect the decision on your visa and documents from the visa application centre.
VFS Global
Level 5, Access Towers, 278 Union Place, Colombo 2, Sri Lanka. 011 539 0698

Finally if you are issued a visa, please check it to make sure that:

• Your personal details are correct
• It correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
• It is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately).

If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, please contact the visa application centre immediately.
Wish you all the very best for your visa application process!

Application Form

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