22 July 2010: Secure English language testing announced for student Tier 4 (General) applicants. The British Government announced today that it will be introducing mandatory secure English language testing for adult students studying below degree level under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system. The new requirement will come into effect on 12 August 2010. For further details of these changes please visit the UK Border Agency website.
19 July 2010: Corrections to the Student Tier 4 policy guidance. On 13 July 2010 we published a new version of the Tier 4 guidance setting out a number of policy changes. The document contained a number of draft paragraphs relating to the introduction of secure English language testing for Tier 4 (General) students. These paragraphs were included in error. We have not introduced secure English language testing for Tier 4 (General) students. Should we do so, we will publish full guidance at the time.
The incorrect version of the policy guidance was withdrawn and replaced with the correct document on 14 July 2010. Please ensure you are using the most recent version of the Tier 4 policy guidance.
19 July 2010: Important changes to Tier 1 (General) visa applications from 19 July 2010. Following an earlier announcement by the UK Government, 2 important changes have come into effect for Tier 1 (General) visa applicants today, 19 July 2010.
An interim limit on the number of visas that will be issued to Tier 1 (General) applicants between 19 July 2010 and 31 March 2011.
The number of points required for a Tier 1 (General) applicant has been increased from 95 to 100.
The interim limit will also apply to some Tier 2 applications, please see the information on the UK Border Agency website.
13 July 2010: Changes to Tier 4 guidance on student loans and students with International Baccalaureate qualifications. On 12 July an addition to the policy guidance was introduced for students applying under the Tier 4 point-based system. This applies to students making visa applications using a loan letter and students making visa applications using an International Baccalaureate qualifications awarded on 5 July 2010. Please see the latest Tier 4 Policy Guidance found on the UK border Agency website for more information.
12 July 2010. Beware of bogus UK visa websites. We have recently been made aware of a number of websites who are using similar names to official websites operated by the UK Border Agency and its commercial partners, VFS Global and WorldBridge. These websites have been making inappropriate claims about processing UK visa applications. The UK Border Agency operates through the following official websites:
We would advise you to avoid all other websites claiming to be in partnership with the UK Border Agency as they may be operating on a purely commercial basis and are not authorised to provide information on behalf of the Home Office or the UK Border Agency. Please let us know if you come across such websites.
2 July 2010: Student Tier 4 visa applications - apply early. During our busy summer period, it is important that you submit your Tier 4 points-based system visa application in good time. This will allow us enough time to process your visa application and for you to attend the start of your course. To enable you to do this you can apply for your visa within 3 months of the start date of your intended course. For courses longer than 6 months your visa will be valid for travel from 1 month prior to the start date of the course. If your course is less than 6 months you will only be allowed to travel up to 7 days before the start of your course. To find out about our most recent visa application processing times, please see the 'Guide to Processing Times' page on this website.
28 June 2010: The UK Government will introduce a limit on non- European immigration. The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit, the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced today. Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed following a 12-week consultation with businesses and other interested parties. In the meantime an interim limit will be introduced to ensure there is no rush of visa applications being submitted and the number of work visas issued stays below levels from 2009. For further information please visit the UK Border Agency website.
16 June 2010: New English language requirement for partners. The UK Border Agency has produced further guidance on the English language testing for:
nationals of a country outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland; and
nationals in a relationship with a British citizen or a person settled here; and
nationals who want to apply to enter or remain in the UK as their husband, wife, civil partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner.
Please see the UK Border Agency website for the latest up-to-date information and the latest news dated 9 June 2010 on this website.
09 June 2010: Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English. Compulsory English language tests will be introduced for non-European migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner. The new rules will apply from autumn 2010 to anyone applying as the husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or prospective civil partner of a UK citizen or a person settled in this country. The compulsory English language test will be with a UK Border Agency approved test provider and will apply to visa applications from overseas as well as people applying from within UK. The full news report can be found on the UK Border Agency website.
21 May 2010: UK Border Agency website changes. The UK government has changed following the UK general elections held in May. Some of the strategies, aims and objectives have changed since the previous government. This may mean that certain links on this website may be broken. Information on how to apply for a UK visa will still be available on this website.
31 March 2010: Important visa application fees changes on
6 April 2010. The visa application fees given on this website
will be updated on 6 April 2010 as part of the annual visa fee
review. Some visa application fees will change and you should
bear this in mind if you want to submit your visa application
on or after 6 April. Payments made after 00:01 GMT on 6 April,
either online or by using any other acceptable payment method,
should be paid according to the fees given on this website.
31 March 2010: New visa customer service standards.
From 1 April 2010 the UK Border Agency is changing the customer
service standards for processing visa applications. The changes
are to complete 90 per cent of visa applications (except settlement
categories), in not more than 3 weeks, 98 per cent in 6 weeks,
and 100 per cent in 12 weeks. There are also new standards for
biometric appointments and processing appeals that have been allowed
by an immigration judge. Please see the UK
Border Agency website for more information about the customer
service standards.
23 March 2010: UK Immigration Rule changes effecting Tier
1 and 2 and other changes. On the 6 and 7 April 2010 the UK
Government will make significant changes to Immigration Rules.
The changes to Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system include
new points criteria for both tiers, a simpler route for very highly
skilled workers without a Master’s degree, greater flexibility
for short-term transfers by multinational companies, and more
protection against transfers to fill long-term vacancies that
should go to resident workers. Other changes to the Rules cover
asylum seekers, English language qualifications and marriage visas
for members of the armed forces. Please see the UK
Border Agency website for more information on the Immigration
Rule changes.
23 March 2010: Launch of new Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme
for Tier 4 sponsors. The UK Border Agency has launched the
'Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme' for education providers under
Tier 4 of the points-based system. Tier 4 sponsors can now apply
for a Highly Trusted Sponsor licence, and the register of highly
trusted sponsors will go live on Tuesday 6 April 2010. Please
see the UK
Border Agency website for more information on the Highly Trusted
Sponsor Scheme.
22 February 2010: Changes to Tier 4 student visa applications
from 3 March 2010. A new set of measures will be introduced
in a phased approach to tighten the criteria on student Tier 4
visa applications. Before you make your visa application, please
check the updates on the Tier
4 General and Child Student guidance on the UK Border Agency
website for full details of the changes. The following changes
will come into effect on 3 March 2010:
The minimum level of English language course has been raised
to level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages (CEFR). Students will need a higher level of
English at a minimum level of B1 of the Common European Framework
of References for Languages to come and study an English language
course in the UK. Exceptions apply to Government sponsored
students and specific pre-sessional English courses.
If you are coming to study below degree level (excluding
foundation degree students) you will only be able to work
10 hours a week (this has been reduced from 20 hours).
If you are studying for a course under Tier 4 for 6 months
or less, you will no longer be able to bring your dependants.
Dependants of anyone studying a course lower than degree
level (excluding those on foundation degree courses) will
no longer be able to work (unless they qualify in their own
right under Tier 1 (General) as a highly skilled migrant or
as a skilled worker under Tier 2 General, sportsperson or
minister of religion).
If you have submitted and paid for your application prior to
3 March 2010, you will be considered against the rules in force
at the time. Further changes will be introduced from April 2010.
10 February 2010: Closure of the VFS UK visa application
centre on 26 February 2010. The VFS UK Visa Application Centre
will be closed to the public on 26 February 2010 following an
IT upgrade to the UK Border Agency syste. We apologise for any
inconvenience.
10 February 2010: New rules for student points-based system
applications. Students who require a Tier 4 points-based system
visa to study in the UK will be required to meet stricter criteria.
The new regulations will ensure that students studying below degree
level will have limited ability to work in the UK, and their dependants
will not be able to work at all. There will also be a requirement
on students to demonstrate their English language ability. For
more information on the new rules, please see the full
news report on the UK
Border Agency website.
10 February 2010: Visa application fees for 2010-11.
The visa application fees for 2010-11, set by the British Government,
were completed today. The visa application fees are shown in pounds
sterling but are paid for in local currency. The new fees will
come into effect on 6 April and they attract the same equivalent
cost where ever you apply in the world. Please see the UK
Border Agency website for more information on the 2010-11
visa application fees.
5 February 2010: Changes to student points-based system
applications from 22 February 2010. From 22 February 2010,
any visa applicant who applies to study in the UK under Tier 4
of the points-based system must have a Confirmation of Acceptance
for Studies (CAS) from their sponsor (who is an education
provider in the UK and who is on the sponsor
register). The UK Border Agency will accept applications that
are supported by a visa letter that have been submitted and paid
for on or before 21 February 2010. Any visa applications that
are paid for on or after 22 February 2010 and are not supported
by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies will be refused.
The date of application is the date that the fee associated with
the application is paid. This will be the date shown on the official
payment receipt, whether the fee has been paid online, at a visa
application centre or at an approved bank. Applicants wishing
to apply with a visa letter must ensure that an appointment to
make a payment is made before 22 February 2010. For more information
about applying to study under Tier 4 of the points-based system,
see the Studying
in the UK section of the UK Border Agency website.
7 January 2010: Changes to the child visitor immigration
rules from 1 January 2010. The changes apply to exchange or
educational visits to a school in the UK for up to 6 months. For
more information about the changes please visit the UK
Border Agency website.
4 December 2009: Change in operating hours at the visa application
centre in Ghana. From 1 December 2009 the VFS visa application
centre will be changing its operating hours. Application submission
will be from 7:30 to 15:00 while applicants coming to collect
the decision on their visa application documents may do so between
13:30 and 17:00. VFS have recently introduced a courier delivery
service and will introduce a SMS alert service soon that allows
applicants to track the status of their visa application. Further
details of VFS services can be found on the 'Additional
Services' page of this website.
30 November 2009: Fingerprint checks at the UK border.
From 30 November 2009 the UK Border Agency is introducing fingerprint
checks at the border for passengers with biometric UK visas. On
arrival in the UK, passengers will have their fingerprints scanned
at border control in addition to the normal checks that take place.
The fingerprints provided will be checked to verify that the individual
entering the UK is the same person who gave their biometric data
when they applied for their visa. In the majority of cases the
passengers right hand thumb and first finger will be used for
the check. For more information about fingerprint checks and exemptions
please visit the UK
Border Agency website.
