It's been well over a decade since we did mr boo's settlement visa so am well out of date on all of the rules.

When our neice graduates HS next year at 18 years old we would like her to come to UK for 2 years, live with us & study English at a language school. She is keen to come & her parents are happy to let her come as long as she is with us.

Figured we might as well look at what the requirements are these days in terms of sponsorship as neither she nor her parents could afford this otherwise;

We will be providing all financial support, do we need to show lump sums or an agreed set allowance or is it a case of "we'll cover what she wants & needs? & here are our financials to prove we can cover eventualities?

Accomodation - Will be owner occupies by them, presumably copy of mortgage?

Paying for her college place. - Deposit for a provisional place or just a "if she gets the visa we will be applying here?

Insurance - Assume she will need for UK but does it need to be in place before application?

Also is she allowed to work part time on a student visa as we may be able to line her up a local job after a settling in period.

She really is a nice kid & we think it will do her the world of good to get away from the MIL & parents & spread her wings a litte.

Anything I might have missed in terms of what we need to get in place & any recent stories of the student visa process much obliged.

These are the guidelines surrounding Student Visas, hopefully somebody with knowledge in the area maybe able to answer your specific questions.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student

Thanks theoldgit, that is a massive document! I will download it then find the filter through to the relevent parts

Tier 4 (General) student visa is the quick guide; but you should, of course, read the more detailed guidance linked to by theoldgit as well.

If she has difficulties meeting the requirements for a Tier 4 visa, another option would be a student visit visa; for which the requirements are less stringent.

However, that will only allow her up to 11 months in the UK as an English language student (6 months for any other course).

If there is a specific course and college you have in mind they are usually willing to bend over backwards to give assistance with the application! They make quite a lot of money from non-EU students.

All the local authority colleges of further education around here take foreign students. Be careful to check out private colleges with great care to ensure they have appropriate accreditation!