Prospective Student Visa

[ZOD]

My girlfriend and I have been together for almost 2 years. I have recently returned to London to work and finally get one of those degree thingumies with the Open University. She is hoping to come and live with me in April or May. We thought about a fiancee visa but don't want the pressure of having to marry within six months. A tourist visa isn't long enough.

She already has a master's degree from the US but is changing career slightly, has some money saved, and is going to come to London to get another master's. The money and applications and so on are fine. The only problem is that the course obviously doesn't start until September/October. I then heard of a new visa called a 'prospective student visa' where you can come for six months, proir to the start of a degree, for interviews and open days and so on. All you apparently need is proof that you are definitely coming here to study.

I recently went to an international student fair in London and there was a UK visa booth. I asked the guy there if he had any of the specific requirements for this visa. All the info I had was a vague paragraph from the government website. He said it's a new visa and that he knew nothing else than what I already had.

Can anyone help? I know the visa can start 6 months before the course starts. I know you have to 'show definite intent'. Anyone know anything more? Will a couple of emails saying she has an interview be enough? Otherwise we might go for a tourist visa for 6 months. The actual student visa shouldn't be a problem.

I think this visa came into effect on from September 2007. My gf went to the British consulate in Bangkok but they hadn't even heard of it. Even though it is on the official website.

Thanks for any help.

[vinny]

See also Can I go to the UK to arrange my studies? and 12.25 - Prospective students and how they qualify

[ZOD]

Cheers Vinny,

Unfortunately that was the vague paragraph I was talking about.

<LI>demonstrate a genuine and realistic intention to undertake a course of study within 6 months of their date of entry (as described in 12.4) within 6 months of their date of entry;

What would demonstrate this? An email from the University saying that she has a conditional place depending on an interview? How many emails? I can't think what else. All other conditions aren't a problem but an email from a university or two saying she has an interview seems a bit flimsy.

Hopefully it will be enough. The Consulate in Bangkok had never even heard of the thing. I will take the printed email route I guess. There isn't much else offered by a university when you get a conditional offer (needing an interview). If she gets an unconditional offer, that presumably means she can't even come until the course starts. Seems strange.

Thanks anyway. Any other sources of info would be great. Cheers.