Documentation For A Uk Student Visitor Visa

[StChris]

My friend has already applied for the student visa online and I just want to check that we have all the appropriate documentation ready before we make an appointment with the visa processing centre.

This is what we have:

1. A letter from an English language school stating that she has already paid all of the studying fees in full.

2. A letter from her employer stating how long she has worked there, her salary, and the fact that he has given her permission to take extended leave, and that he expects her to return to work for him again upon her return.

3. A letter from my parents stating that she is a friend of the family and will be staying at their home, free of charge.

4. A letter from her parents stating that they will be supporting her financially during her time abroad. We also have 6 months bank statements showing her parents' salary being recieved every month, a copy of their IDs, plus a recent bank statement showing a balance of around 200,000 baht (this is the money set aside for her day-to-day living expenses).

5. Proof of her bachelors and masters degrees.

6. Proof of her ownership of a house in Bangkok (no outstanding mortgage, her parents bought the house, but the property is in her name only. Worth about 900k THB).

7. Her passport, birth certificate, ID card, and an official document proving that she changed her name last year (don't ask me why, but one of her friends has also just officially changed his name, so it seems quite a trend among Thais!)

8. A copy of the online application form.

9. Passport photo.

Ok, that's it. Her parents are both fairly high-up teachers (her father is retired now), so hopefully this "respectable" background will work in her favour. We hope that the letter from her boss, and the fact that she has property here, will be enough to convince the authorities that she intends to come back to Thailand. We haven't included any bank statments from her, as her work is seasonal (tourist guide), and she pretty much spends whatever money she gets pretty quickly.Her employer did state her monthly salary in his letter though. She has already said in the application form that her parents will be providing the financial support her anyway (hence the detailed information and proof of her parents' income), so I assume that the state of her parents' finances is more important than the state of hers.

The 200,000 baht is the money available after air tickets, study fees etc have already been paid. Since she will not have to pay any accommodation costs, her only major cost will be travel expenses in London (30,000 baht for 3 months). That leaves 170,000 baht for fun and shopping, so hopefully the 200,000 will be enough ( I think her parents will be pretty cheesed off if she spends all of this!).

If anyone can see any weak points in the application, or if you think I've forgotton something important, then please let me know. I hear that there are sometimes probems applying for a tourist visa, but I'm hoping that a student one is more straightfoward (seeing as it has a more specific purpose than just "visiting").

[StChris]

Oh, I forgot to ask one thing. The letter from her parents will be in Thai. Does it need to be translated into English? If so, can I do this myself, or does it have to be done through an approved translation agency? Does the letter from her emlpoyer, which is in English, need to be translated into Thai?

[Thongkorn]

I would get it translated with an official stamp on it. It would Only cost a few baht, It would make it look more official. She would need a letter from the University or Collage confirming what courses she would be taking, and what is the Course Times and dates. The UK Government is really cracking down now on student Visas. they have just admitted that there are 50,000 bogus students in the UK now.

[StChris]

Thanks. We already have the letter from the school and will apply soon.

[7by7]

Is she applying as a student visitor or a tier 4 student?

A student visitor is for someone on a short course, 6 months or less (11 months if an approved English course); a student visitor cannot work. A tier 4 student visa is for a longer course and the holder can also work up to 20 hours per week.

Whichever, have a read of the appropriate part of Studying in the UK

If a student visitor, is the English school she has registered with acceptable?

Para 56(k)(ii) of the immigration rules

(ii) has been accepted on a course of study which is to be provided by an institution which is:

(a) the holder of a Sponsor licence for Tier 4 of the Points Based System, or

( b )the holder of valid accreditation from a UK Border Agency approved accreditation body, or

( c ) inspected or audited by one of the bodies set out in guidance published by the UK Border Agency, or

(d) an overseas Higher Education Institution offering only part of their programmes in the United Kingdom, holding its own national accreditation and offering programmes that are an equivalent level to a United Kingdom degree

If applying under tier 4, does her sponsor (the English school) hold a sponsor licence for the tier 4 PBS? Does she have a CAS reference number from them?

See Evidence used to obtain your confirmation of acceptance for studies