UK Tier 4 Student Visa Solicitors

The UK Tier 4 (General) Student Visa has now been replaced by the Student Visa. You will usually need to apply for this type of visa if you plan to study in the UK and are over the age of 16.

To study in the UK, a vast number of applications are made under this category of the Home Office Points Based System for visas. This system assesses applicants and awards them points based on three criteria. A total of 70 points is required for a Student Visa to be granted with 50 being granted for being accepted onto an eligible course, 10 for meeting financial requirements and a further 10 for English language proficiency.

How long you can stay in the UK with a Student Visa will depend on the length of the course you have been accepted onto and what, if any, study you have already completed in the UK.

You can make an application either from outside of the UK or within the UK.

If you are under the age of 16 and wish to study in the UK, you will need to apply for a Child Student Visa instead.

For a detailed discussion regarding a Student Visa application or to book an appointment with one of our immigration solicitors for individuals, please call us now on 0203 959 9123.

Our team can assist with:

• Student Visa applications
• Student Visa eligibility requirements
• Which documents do you need to provide
• Bringing dependants to the UK with a Student Visa
• Student Visa extensions
• Student Visa refusals, judicial reviews, and appeals
• Advice on alternative immigration routes

Contact our UK Tier 4 Student Visa lawyers in London

We will be able to discuss your matter at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, or Skype.

To speak to our Student Visa solicitors in London, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.

What a Tier 4 Student Visa allows you to do

With a Student Visa for the UK, you can:

• Stay in the UK for a set amount of time (based on the length of the course and any study you have already undertaken in the UK)
• Study on an eligible course
• Work as a student union sabbatical officer

Depending on the circumstances, you may also be able to:

• Take on paid work (depending on what you are studying and whether your work is inside or outside of term-time)
• Have your partner and children apply to join you in the UK

A UK Student Visa does not allow you to:

• Claim benefits, a pension or other public funds
• Work in some jobs (e.g. as a professional sportsperson or coach)
• Work on a self-employed basis
• Study at an academy school or a local authority-funded school

Eligibility requirements

To apply for a Student Visa for the UK, you must be:

• Over the age of 16
• Have an offer to study on a course from a licensed student sponsor
• Have the financial resources to pay for your course and support yourself during your studies
• Demonstrate the required standard of English

If you are under the age of 18, you will also need to be able to prove that your parents have consented to your application.

Anyone applying for a Student Visa to the UK must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from a licensed student sponsor.

As was the case with the former rules for a Tier 4 Student Visa, applicants must also meet several general requirements and restrictions such as:

Security clearance

You will need to confirm your identity to be granted a UK Student Visa. This is usually completed through the UK Immigration: ID Check app using your passport (which must be a biometric passport).

Maximum time limits for studying in the UK

If your course is below degree level, then you can normally stay in the UK for a maximum of 2 years on a Student Visa. If your course is degree level, then you can usually stay for up to 5 years.

Specific requirements for postgraduate doctors or dentists on a recognised foundation programme

If you need a UK Student Visa for postgraduate study as a doctor or dentist, then you can do so if you have secured sponsorship from a recognised foundation programme and have already completed a recognised medicine or dentistry degree in the UK, received this degree from a registered student sponsor and spent at least your final year and one other year in the UK while studying towards this degree.

Therefore, if you are 16 years or older and intend on remaining in the UK for a duration longer than 6 months, contact us for one of our specialist student immigration lawyers to consider your case and advise you accordingly. Using an immigration lawyer for Student Visa applications can increase your chances of success, as well as minimise the risk of delays and other problems.

Dependants

The rules for bringing dependants to the UK under a Student Visa have changed from those under the old Tier 4 Student Visa. This means you will only be able to bring your dependents to the UK if you are a student on a Student Visa under certain circumstances.

To be able to bring your dependants to the UK under a Student Visa, you must be either a government-sponsored student due to start a course lasting more than 6 months or a full-time student on a suitable post-graduate course that lasts at least 9 months. From 1 January 2024, only post-graduate study on a PhD or other doctoral program or a research-based higher degree will allow you to bring dependants with you to the UK.

Any dependants must have enough money to support themselves, as defined by the UK government. The amount will depend on whether you are studying in London or elsewhere in the UK.

Dependents you can potentially bring to the UK with a Student Visa include your spouse or civil partner, your unmarried partner, and children under the age of 18. You will need to be able to prove your relationship with them when you apply e.g. with a marriage certificate or birth certificate.

Visa extensions

If you have been granted Entry Clearance, leave to remain as a Tier 4 (General) Student; as a Tier 4 (Child) Student or as a Tier 1 (Post Study Work) Migrant, you must apply in time for an extension of your visa if you intend on continuing your studies in the UK.

As Tier 4 (General) Student Visas have been replaced by Student Visas, you may need to apply for this type of visa rather than extending your existing visa. Our student visa immigration lawyers will be happy to advise on this.

To be eligible to extend your student visa, you must currently be in the UK on a Student Visa or a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. You must also have an unconditional offer for a course provided by a licensed student sponsor and meet the relevant ‘academic progress requirement’.

If you have dependants with you in the UK, they will need to apply separately to extend their visas.

For detailed advice on your circumstances, please contact the OTS Solicitors immigration department on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.

Tier 4 Student Visa FAQs

How long can you stay in the UK on a Tier 4 Student Visa?

If you have a Tier 4 Student Visa, then you can stay in the UK on that visa for the length of time specified when your visa was issued.

Under the new Student Visa immigration rules, you can stay in the UK for up to 2 years for a course below degree level and up to 5 years for a degree-level course. However, the exact time you are allowed to stay will depend on the length of your course.

What is the total cost of a UK Tier 4 Visa?

You can no longer apply for a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. The new equivalent, a Student Visa, costs £490 to apply from outside the UK, with the same fee to extend or switch to a Student Visa from inside the UK.

If you need support from a student visa advisor, then you will need to pay their fees on top of this.

Who is eligible to sponsor a UK student visa?

Only educational institutions with a student sponsor licence can sponsor student visas for the UK. You should check with your course provider whether they have a student sponsor licence before applying to study with them.

What happens if I work over 20 hours on a student visa in the UK?

Under the terms of a Student Visa, you cannot work more than 20 hours per week during term time if you are studying on a full-time basis for a degree-level course. Exceeding this 20-hour allowance is a breach of your visa conditions and could see your visa revoked or any future visa applications turned down.

If you are concerned that you may have breached the terms of your Student Visa, then our student immigration lawyers will be happy to advise you.

Can I change my Student Visa to a work permit in the UK?

You may be able to change your Student Visa to a different type of visa that allows you to work on a full-time basis depending on the circumstances. If you have completed or are due to complete your studies soon, then you may be able to apply for a Graduate Visa. This can allow you to stay in the UK for up to 2 years (or 3 years if you hold a PhD or other doctoral degree).

If you wish to change your visa, we can advise on your eligibility and support you through the process.

Fees for our student visa immigration lawyers

Our fees reflect the high quality of service we offer, including our outstanding legal expertise and client service. In many cases, we can offer fixed fees for help with UK student visas and we will be happy to discuss these costs with you when you contact our team.

Speak to our UK Tier 4 Student Visa Solicitors in London

We will be able to discuss your matter at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx, or Skype.

To speak to our student visa solicitors in London, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.