Study Visa To Uk

[VespaSeeker]

<P>Hi , we are applying for a Tier 4 General Study Visa for my Thai GF to come to the UK and study English as a foreign langiage full time , we have already applied to a college in London and have been accepted after they sent out a basic english skills test for my GF to complete .

We have paid the course deposit and have received our CAS from the college already .

We have also made sure my GF has the required funds in her Thai bank account for longer than the 1 month period before we apply for the visa .

So now we are at the apply online stage and make a appointment to go and submit her documents and Bio Metric details , i should add my GF already has the clear of TB certificate which is also required for the Visa .

Now as far as i can work out from the Visa website from the VSF people documents we should submit + copies are as follows ---

bank book to show funds

TB certificate from the hospital

CAS document from the college in UK

Cashiers check for the visa fee

One passport photo

Biometric details ( taken at appointment with VSF )

And thats about it as far as the website details , plz correct me if i am wrong !??

Now people keep telling me we will need to show evidence she intends to return to Thailand once her course is finished , now 2 things about this confuse me if indeed it is true , what would qualify as evidence ? ( i see no mention of this on the website )

and no2 according to the website she has the option of stayin on in the UK if we apply and are accepted onto a thurther study course at the same College depending on funds etc .

So can anybody clarrify this for me , as i have also phoned the VSF and they bassically told me it is there policy to not give out help or information in choosing or completing a visa appication.

Bassically have i missed anything from my required docs list ? and is this thing about showing evidence to return needed or not and if required what the hel_l could you show to prove she will return ? Would a addiction to Central stores be acceptable ??

Cheers

Edited June 30, 2010 by VespaSeeker

[7by7]

Students do not have to show a reason to return. They just have to show that they have the required number of points.

See Guidance - Points Based System Tier 4: (General) Student and (Child) Student (INF 29) and Checklist – General/Adult Student Visa (PBS Tier 4)

[VespaSeeker]

Thanks for that 7

Just 1 more problem now , we went to the bank yesterday just to update her pass book for the last time before going to bKK to submit her paperwork and luckily i noticed it does not show her name in English so we asked if we could get a statement for the past month with all her details shown in English , the bank ( SCB ) told us they had a special statement they issued for visa applacants so we agreed to get that .

After about 1 hour they finally handed it all over and it was in 2 part , the 1st page a officlal document stating her name in english and how long she had held a acccount and the ballance from the time of asking .( which is enought for the visa ) but no account number .

Then then the other document was a full 3 months statement print out with her account number but did not show her name in English .

Now to me this is no use because all the visa docs need be in english and like i said the statement part is in Thai and there is no way to show these 2 docs belong togethor .

Now as usual the Bank were addament these documents are correct and the Visa will accept them .

My question is has anybody used these kind of document before as evidence of funds as they are or do i need to run around today and find a laywer to translate the statement page before our appointment in BKK tomorow to submit the documents .

Many thanks for any helpfull comments in advance

[Thongkorn]

I just photo copyed my wife's , every page and put here old bank book in . If her name is the same on the Bank book as it is in the Copy's no need to worry , believe it or not there are people at the Visa office that can speak Thai , also its not necessary to translate , if you look on the Visa site it will tell you this , Ok it helps but not a must. Just her Birth certificate would be OK

[7by7]

Thongkorn, this is a Tier 4 visa; the requirements are slightly different and a simple photocopy of the applicant's bank book may not be enough..

VespaSeeker, the documents given to her by the bank will be fine, there is no need to have the Thai version translated.

[VespaSeeker]

Hi just to inform anybody following this, as I already thought the bank statement issued to us at SCB Bank in Pattaya which wa halve in Thai was completely wrong and useless, luckily for us the very help full lady at the visa application center pointed us in the direction of the SCB bank at Siam square where we got the right document.

One more thing, the cashier check we got at pattaya from the same bank was also completely useless, obviously I should of known this as I must be a complete moron to think you could get a cashier check from a Thai bank, drive 2 hours up the motorway to a capital city and actually use it !

Anyway my advice is do not get any thing from the Pattaya banks as even the guy in Siam Square bank told us there is no end of panicked people the same as our selfs in and out of the bank everyday looking for the correct documents having already got the useless ones from Pattaya.

Chok dee

[7by7]

Did anyone say what was wrong with them, the documents from the Pattaya branch, as from what you said earlier they seemed to be fine?

The cashier's cheque would have been wrong, as for some reason they will only accept a cashiers cheque if the applicant's account is at a bank in Bangkok, otherwise they want a bank draft: unless you obtain a cashiers cheque from one of the 25 select branches of the Bank of Ayudhya. See How to pay.

[VespaSeeker]

It's hard to explain about the bank statement documents but I will try my best.

The document came in 2 parts, one was like a cover document to say the balance of her account, it had her name in english but no account number.

They other was a printout of her bank statement which had her account number on it but her name was in thai.

So Anybody who cannot read thai there is no way to prove these 2 documents belonged

With each other, the account statement could of been any bodies .

[7by7]

That's what I don't understand; the embassy have Thai staff who can tie the two documents together. It is usually not necessary to have bank statements and similar translated. Who told you they were wrong?

[VespaSeeker]

Hi, can anybody tell me the procedure after a telephone interview, they called today and basically we were not expecting it and they called at the worse time and as usual my gf was to polite to say it was not convenient and agreed to be interviewed, when it came tho the English questions she failed most of them.

Does anybody know what happens next , if she did fail the test is that enought for them the refuse the visa or will they want another interview.

[bangkockney]

Letting your education provider assess your level of English is a big warning sign right now. This will lead to the Embassy calling you to verify that the students is at B1 CEFR minimum. If she failed the majority of the English questions, her application could well be in jeopardy.

If she needs to apply again, I'd advise the student to take an English test with an approved provider in order to demonstrate he English level.

I'd also recommend a letter from the the bank confirming immediate access to the funds, that they have been held for the minimum 28 days prior to date of application and state what the balance is in GBP. This letter should be on headed paper, printed in colour, bear a signature and stamp of the bank.

Did you pay all course fees in advance? If not, any balance must be added to the required level of maintenance.

Good luck with the application and keep me posted - happy to help in any way I can (I'm an education consultant).

[VespaSeeker]

Hi,

Well from what she told me it seems she did fail most of the English questions but she did explain to them that she has studied bachelor and master degree at Bkk University and her reading of english is ok but she struggles with understanding conversation, hence wanting to study English in the UK.

What I am trying to find out is, is failing the telephone interview a instant refusal for the visa or is there a 2nd chance interview .

Thank you in advance to anybody who can answer this question for us .

[bangkockney]

Hi,

Well from what she told me it seems she did fail most of the English questions but she did explain to them that she has studied bachelor and master degree at Bkk University and her reading of english is ok but she struggles with understanding conversation, hence wanting to study English in the UK.

What I am trying to find out is, is failing the telephone interview a instant refusal for the visa or is there a 2nd chance interview .

Thank you in advance to anybody who can answer this question for us .

As there is no other proof of English level, it can be grounds for refusal yes, given that there is no guarantee that it was your girlfriend who completed the college's English test.

Did she have a Skype video interview and if so, is this mentioned in her CAS?

[VespaSeeker]

Hi,

No there was only a written test and write a short storey about her self from the college, but she will be re-tested by the college before she would be aloud to start the course and she informed the lady who questioned her of this, but like you say there is no proof she completed the test her self.

Looks like we will be stressing this one out until they call back.

[bangkockney]

Hi,

No there was only a written test and write a short storey about her self from the college, but she will be re-tested by the college before she would be aloud to start the course and she informed the lady who questioned her of this, but like you say there is no proof she completed the test her self.

Looks like we will be stressing this one out until they call back.

Don't stress too much, it's not worth it.

If worst comes to the worst and she is refused, you can make a fresh application with a fresh CAS. A refusal won't count against her, but be sure she gets proof of English level; take a test. You'll find that there is actually quite a lot of variation as to what colleges take as proof of B1: some will take TOEIC in the high 300s, others set a minimum of 550. You will not have a problem if you choose to enrol with a college who have a lower boundary.

Even if you want to withdraw her application with the college, you should be able to recover fees less some administrative charge. Sadly, registration fees and the like are often non-refundable. Check the college's Ts&Cs for full details.

Just something to bear in mind for the future if her application is unsuccessful.

Fingers crossed for you.

[VespaSeeker]

That's what I don't understand; the embassy have Thai staff who can tie the two documents together. It is usually not necessary to have bank statements and similar translated. Who told you they were wrong?

The lady processing our documents at the VSF office in BKK told us the bank statement was wrong .

[VespaSeeker]

Hi,

No there was only a written test and write a short storey about her self from the college, but she will be re-tested by the college before she would be aloud to start the course and she informed the lady who questioned her of this, but like you say there is no proof she completed the test her self.

Looks like we will be stressing this one out until they call back.

Don't stress too much, it's not worth it.

If worst comes to the worst and she is refused, you can make a fresh application with a fresh CAS. A refusal won't count against her, but be sure she gets proof of English level; take a test. You'll find that there is actually quite a lot of variation as to what colleges take as proof of B1: some will take TOEIC in the high 300s, others set a minimum of 550. You will not have a problem if you choose to enrol with a college who have a lower boundary.

Even if you want to withdraw her application with the college, you should be able to recover fees less some administrative charge. Sadly, registration fees and the like are often non-refundable. Check the college's Ts&Cs for full details.

Just something to bear in mind for the future if her application is unsuccessful.

Fingers crossed for you.

Cheers, I suppose I can see the reason for the telephone interview, it just would of been nice to know it maybe was a requirement, from memory I'm sure the website states you may be required to attend a interview which to me means a sit down face to face job which I'm sure my GF would of handled much better.

I must say though the system seems a little floored , the college we chose is on the trusted sponser list and we did explain my GF.s english level to them, at no time did we overstate her abilities , if anything we understated them so I am a little disappointed with the colleges testing methods and perhaps giving us false hope that her english was at a good enought level to be accepted onto the course.

Anyway we live in hope and are expecting a phone call early next week so will update then.

Thanks again

[VespaSeeker]

Well she has been refused on the strength of failing the telephone interview in english, absolutely absorb she should be denied a change tho further herself in the English language because they claim her English is not good enought to study english.

Ridicules system, very upset with the college testing system and also the surprise telephone interview sprung on us with no way of us possible knowing and preparing for it.

All in all a complete waste of time and a lot of money !

[stament]

Well she has been refused on the strength of failing the telephone interview in english, absolutely absorb she should be denied a change tho further herself in the English language because they claim her English is not good enought to study english.

Ridicules system, very upset with the college testing system and also the surprise telephone interview sprung on us with no way of us possible knowing and preparing for it.

All in all a complete waste of time and a lot of money !

Sorry to hear that. What's your contingency plan now? Appealing seems to be a waste of time quite literally in most cases I've read on here and takes longer than re-applying.

Did they give you the exact reasons for the refusal or indicate what points she needs to improve i.e. what level of English?

[VespaSeeker]

Basically no plan, we have ran out of time as the course starts in 4 weeks so its 3 months of planning out the window.

We are going to check with the college to see if they have any courses starting in the new year but 1st we will be contacting the VSF people to try and get some clarification of exactly what english level is now required to actually study english ( still sounds stupid even typing it! ) then we can see is she can attend a english school and reach the required level in time for next year.

I will also be asking them how they are justified in springing a telephone interview on my GF when there website clearly states applicants may exceptionally be asked to * ATTEND* a interview but obviously this well be a complete waist of our time as it seems they just make the rules up as they go along.

[7by7]

She should have received a written refusal notice detailing the exact reason(s) for the refusal.

If you are willing to post that here (removing personal details of course) then people may be able to advise you on your best course of action.

With respect, I don't understand why you are so angry about them phoning her. These days face to face interviews are very rare, and surely it is better to have a brief phone interview than have to trek to the embassy?

Finally, it is not VFS that you need to contact to ask your questions, they are merely a handling agent and play no part in deciding the outcome of visa applications. You should contact the embassy

If you would like to provide feedback or make a complaint to the UK Border Agency about the service you have received from VFS or the UK Border Agency itself, you may do so in the following ways:

• In writing, addressed to the Visa Manager, The British Embassy, 14 Wireless Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330.
• By email, addressed to the Visa Manager at the address below: [email protected]

The UK Border Agency aims to reply to all complaints within 20 working days.

[VespaSeeker]

Ok ,reasons for refusal as explained word for word in official refusal document

Confirmation of acceptance of studies ( CAS )

30 points required points awarded 0

ECO Comment –

Your CAS states that your English language ability was tested by your UK sponsor by an internal diagnostic placement test and that you have achieved a score equivalent to the common European framework of reference ( CEFR ) Level B1 . However ,during interview with a visa officer you could speak very little English .

Consequently I am not satisfied that you have the necessary level of Englsih to complete an English course .

I am not satisfied therefore that you have a valid CAS and you have not been awarded any points for the CAS . You therefore do not meet the requirements to be granted entry clearance under Tier 4 (GENERAL) Student and I refuse your application under paragraph 245ZV( of the Immigration Rules.

General Grounds for refusal

ECO Comment :

I am satisfied ,on the balance of probabilities that false representations were made in your visa application . The reasons I have reached this conclusion are contained in the English language interview held on file .

I am therefore satisfied , to a higher degree of probability ,that you fall to be refused under the General Grounds for Refusal as stated in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph 245ZV of the Immigration Rules and refuse your application under paragraph 320(7a)

of HC395.

You should note that because this application for entry clearance has been refused under paragraph 320 (7a) of the immigration rules ,any future applications may also be refused under paragraph 320 (7b) of the immigration rules ( subject to the requirements set out in paragraph 320 (7c)

A refusal under paragraph 320 (7b) of the immigration rules attracts an automatic refusal period of up to 10 years .The period starts from the date of the previous event in which the deception or submission of falsified documents or information was employed.

Right so to sum up they have refused on grounds of the CAS , this I can understand but like I said we never claimed she could speak good English and understand conversation and questions from a complete stranger , we explained this fully to the college and they told us that was fine , her reading and writing however is reasonable good and this is why she passed the written test sent to us from the college , I made dam sure she took the test herself as the college told us she would be re-tested on arrival and if she failed she would not be aloud on the course and we would loose any money already paid in course fees etc .

Now on the second part where the ECO claims false representations were made , she never submitted her written test from the college because the application form states very clearly not to do so,so what exactly is false .

Anyway the appeal form will be going in on Monday saying she never missed represented her English ability and the college accepted her onto the course so we thought her English level was obviously good enough since she was accepted .

We will see what happens , just need to find out if she can fill the appeal from in in Thai language as all it says is use a black or blue pen .

[7by7]

It appears that they are saying that her CAS is false, so they have failed her for using deception, under Para 320(7A).

I would suggest that you obtain written confirmation from the college that her CAS was not false and also of her English ability as assessed by them and include these with the appeal.

The appeal form should be completed in English.

It may seem pointless to appeal because, as you said earlier, her course is likely to start before any appeal is complete. However, as she has been refused under Para 320(7A), as the refusal notice says, any future application in the next 10 years will probably also be refused under Para 320(7B); except an application covered by Para 320(7C), e.g. as a spouse. Even then, she could still be refused under Para 320(11).

See General grounds for the refusal of entry clearance, leave to enter or variation of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

So you need to get this refusal overturned; if not for now then for any future applications she may wish to make.

[VespaSeeker]

Yes that's the way I see it, we have to get it overturned even thought it will be too late for her to attend the college in September.

I am going tho contact the college on monday and see what they can do to help and I am also considering using a laywer or agent for the appeal as the possibility of a 10 ban is obviously very serious .

Can any one recommend someone ?, we are based in Pattaya now.