Sponsor for UK Student Visa

[pj123]

My niece is being sponsored by her aunt to do a masters in the UK starting Sept this year.

Her visa agency has said that sponsorship for a masters or degree can only be by the mother or father of the student. 

I find this very surprising.

 

If the agency is correct, my niece has worked for her aunt's company for three years so I thought the sponsor could be the aunt's company? She will return to work for the aunt after she completes the masters.

[Tony M]

This is from the Tier 4 guidance :

 

Money that can be used.  You can use money held in an account owned by you or by your parents or legal guardian. If you are a Tier 4 (General) student and using funds held by your parent(s)/legal guardian(s), you will need to show us evidence that you are related to your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and that you have their permission to use this money.

 

How do I show evidence of my funds? You can show that you have enough funds in one or more of four ways.

• Your bank statements

• Parental/legal guardian(s) bank statements

• Official financial sponsorship

• Student loans The Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 38-43) explains these documents and what they should contain. www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/514308/T4_Migrant_Guidance_Apr_2016.pdf Most visa applications are refused because of incorrect financial documents. You must meet the requirements exactly in order for your application to be approved.

 

1. Your bank statements If you use your own money, or your parents’/legal guardian’s money as evidence of maintenance, you must provide a document from your bank which confirms that you have held the required amount for one month (at least 28 days). The most commonly accepted documents are an official bank statement or a purpose written letter from the bank. An official statement must cover a period of at least 28 days that ends within the month prior to your visa application date. Alternatively, a purpose-written letter from your bank (on letter-headed paper) should confirm that the minimum balance on the account has been above the required amount over a period of at least 28 days. The letter should be dated within the month prior to your visa application date. The statement or letter from the bank must show: • That you have had at least the required amount of money (tuition fees + living costs) in your bank account for every day of a 28 day period. The balance must not fall below the required amount during the 28 day period, otherwise your application will be refused; • The date of the statement or letter. This date must be within one month of your date of application; • Your name/your parents’/legal guardian’s name(s); • The account number; • The financial institution’s name and logo. Salary, stocks, shares portfolios, property value or other non-cash assets such as government pension schemes are not considered as evidence. The evidence you provide can be issued from a bank in your home country or from the UK. There are restrictions on the acceptability of some banks’ statements. You can find more information on which banks can provide evidence of your funds online: www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-p

 

2. Parental/legal guardian(s) bank statements If you are using your parents’/legal guardian’s bank accounts, you must also send:

 

• Your original birth certificate or an adoption certificate or official court document confirming legal guardian status.

 

• A brief, signed letter from your parents/legal guardian which confirms your relationship to them, and that the funds can be used for your UK education.

 

• Official translations of all documents that are not in English or Welsh (for further information about translations see page 5). Only biological parents or legal guardians (through a court of law or adoption procedures in your country) are eligible to be considered for ‘parental’ sponsorship. You cannot use financial evidence which belongs to other family relatives.

[pj123]

Thank you. Best option is for her aunt to pay the money into her account one month before she applies for the visa.