How to Apply for Student, Marriage, and Work Visa in UK

All international students who wish to study in the United Kingdom must get a student visa (Tier 4). This form of visa is only accessible to full-time university students pursuing a degree in the UK, not for short-term or language courses.

Also, anyone wishing to work in the UK will need a visa to work for a prolonged amount of time. The immigration criteria for the UK (and the United Kingdom as a whole) are governed by your nationality and country of citizenship.

This article will provide you with a general overview of the rules for obtaining a visa to study, get married, and work in the UK.

How to Apply for Students in UK?

The UK student visa application can be submitted online, via mail, or in person. Online applications are only accepted outside of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man (except in North Korea). Applicants who are currently residing in the United Kingdom must apply in person or by mail.

What Documents Do I Need?

Remember that the rules for a student visa in the UK change frequently. As a result, you should always review the visa policy rules before beginning an application.

Here are the most typical documents required to apply for a UK student visa:

• Application form.
• Valid passport.
• Two photographs: According to MyBiometricPhotos’ requirements, your UK visa images should be 45mm x 35mm in their original form, not cropped from a larger image. The gap between the top of your hair and the bottom of your chin should not surpass 34 millimeters. Additionally, your head and shoulders should take up around 70% to 80% of the photo.
• Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: The school normally sends this confirmation to the applicant online. To include CAS in your visa application, you must enter its reference number.
• Proof of sufficient funds: The candidate must confirm adequate financial resources to support themselves during their stay. In the case of financial support from a parent or guardian, the applicant must provide proof of relationship, such as birth or adoption documents.
• Proof of English competence: If English is not specified as a qualification on the applicant’s CAS, they must produce proof of English proficiency independently.
• The Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). International students (except select nations) must apply for an ATAS certificate to conduct undergraduate or graduate research studies.
• Tuberculosis testing results*: For studies lasting more than six months, some students may be required to produce a negative tuberculosis test result valid for six months.

Official translations of non-English documents:

• Proof of parental consent. This requirement applies exclusively to students under the age of 18, who must also provide proof of relationship to their parents or guardians.
• The embassy or consulate may seek extra documentation during the application process.
• A returning resident of the United Kingdom.
• Has spent at least six months living abroad in a nation where tuberculosis testing is not required in the UK.
• It should be noted that after six months of staying in the UK, you must retake the tuberculosis test.

When can I apply for the Student Visa?

The timing of an application for a UK student visa is determined by whether the applicant is in or outside of the UK at the time.

When to apply in both cases:

Applying from within the United Kingdom. You can apply as early as three months before the start of the academic year. You will normally receive a response within eight weeks after submitting your application.

Applying from outside the United Kingdom. You should apply for a student visa at least three months before the start of the academic year, or as early as six months.

You can apply for a student visa as soon as you get your CAS from the university. To support your application, you must utilize the CAS reference number.

The procedure comprises giving your biometric information at the visa application facility or applying online through the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ application to scan your passport or any other identification document.

You should receive a decision on your student visa application within three weeks.

What are the UK-dependent visa requirements?

To apply for a UK-dependent visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Relationship: Prove your link with the visa holder, such as a spouse, partner, or child.
• Financial: Prove that you have enough money to support yourself in the UK. This could include bank statements, pay stubs, or other financial records. The amount of money needed is determined by the main visa holder’s visa type.
• Identity: Provide a valid passport with at least six months of validity.
• Lodging: Provide evidence that your lodging is adequate and that portion of it is for the exclusive use of your family.
• Application Form: Fill out the correct online application form.
• If you have a biometric residency permit (BRP), please send a copy of it.

Additional criteria may include:

Parental Dependency Documents for Parent Visa Applicants

University enrollment letters for student-dependent visas

Marriage Certificates for Student Dependent Visas

Children entering on a dependent visa do not have to meet English language requirements. However, if they become British citizens by naturalization, they must pass an English language test.

What are the UK Spouse Visa requirements?

There are also a few other Spouse Visa UK regulations that, in most situations, must be properly followed, not least since UKVI is constantly looking to crack down on fake marriages.

You may be eligible to apply for a spouse visa if you can demonstrate that the following requirements are met:

• Your spouse qualifies.
• You and your partner are 18 years or older.
• Your partnership must be honest and sustainable.
• You must intend to live together permanently in the UK and have suitable accommodation.
• Financial requirements are met.
• You can speak and comprehend English at the required level.

Your partner

To apply for a Spouse Visa UK, you must be the partner of a British citizen, the partner of someone with indefinite leave to remain or settled status, or the partner of a person in the UK with a Turkish Businessperson visa, Turkish Worker visa, refugee status, or humanitarian protection.

Qualifying relationship

Your relationship must fit one of the following categories:

• You are in a civil partnership or marriage that is legally recognized in the UK
• You and your fiancé(e) or planned civil partner will marry or get into a civil partnership in the UK within six months of arrival.
• You have lived together in a relationship for at least two years before the date of your application.

However, the definition of partner is rather broad, since it includes not only a spouse or civil partner but also the fiancé(e) or planned civil partner of a British citizen or someone having settled status in the UK.

However, if you and your spouse are engaged to be married or want to enter into a civil partnership, you must demonstrate that you will marry or enter into a civil partnership within 6 months of arriving in the UK.

If you are not married, nor plan to get married or join into a civil partnership—in other words, you are applying as an unmarried partner or common-law spouse—you must have been living in a relationship equivalent to a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years.

Genuine relationship requirement

In practice, one of the most difficult elements to demonstrate is that you and your partner are in a ‘genuine and subsisting’ relationship.

The Home Office expects you to demonstrate that you have met your partner face-to-face at least once throughout your marriage.

If you are not married, you may apply as a partner by demonstrating that you have been in a relationship for at least two years.

As part of your application, you must compile and submit detailed information demonstrating that you and your partner are committed and spend time together.

If you are not yet living with your spouse or have been separated for an extended period, you should be very diligent and exhaustive in establishing your connection as ongoing and genuine.

Supporting evidence typically includes details of any joint bank accounts, financial commitments, or memberships; photographs and videos of you together throughout your relationship; details of holidays taken together; proof of cohabitation such as a mortgage statement or tenancy agreement and utility bills; and proof of communications between you both such as telephone records for any time spent apart; and letters of support from family and friends.

Financial requirement

Under the financial Spouse Visa requirements, you must demonstrate that you and your spouse can support each other and any dependent children without using public funds.

The minimum annual income criterion is currently set at £18,600, increasing to £3,800 if you apply with one dependent kid and an additional £2,400 for each subsequent child.

The financial maintenance criterion for family visas is projected to rise to £38,700 in spring 2024.

To satisfy the appropriate criterion, numerous sources of income can be used, including income from job or self-employment, non-work income such as property rentals, cash savings of more than £16,000, and maternity and/or pension benefits.

Furthermore, if your partner receives a designated benefit or allowance in the UK, you will be excluded from fulfilling the minimum income criteria. Rather, you must give evidence of proper maintenance and accommodation.

To be eligible for indefinite leave to remain after five years, you must first satisfy the required financial criterion. Otherwise, if you do not meet this condition, you may be able to choose the ten-year option.

Steps to Apply for a UK Work Visa

If you discover that you require a United Kingdom work visa, you should begin your application at least three months before you plan to or are scheduled to work.

You can do these basic steps:

Step 1: Choose the Right Visa Type.

Having a job offer ahead of time increases your chances of being approved for a work visa in the United Kingdom, but you can also apply for a talent shortage area if you are eligible. In any case, choose which visa category best suits your skills and submit the necessary documentation.

Step 2: Collect all essential documentation.

Review the below list and gather the documents needed for your work visa in the UK.

Some professions or businesses may require additional eligibility documents, particularly for Ph.D.-level research positions. If you need to confirm your qualifications, you can go to a support service like Ecctis or ATAS, whichever is appropriate.

Step 3: Apply Online

To apply for a UK Work Visa, use the online platform and follow the guidelines provided on the UK visa and immigration webpage. Make sure the information on the application form matches the rest of your documentation. Otherwise, we will reject your application.

Step 4: Schedule an appointment.

At this point, you will make an appointment at the UK work visa application center of your choice. After submitting your application online, print the confirmation email providing your appointment information.

Step 5: Attend the interview.

Bring your printed confirmation receipt and the remaining paperwork with you to your appointment. An officer will interview you and review your documents. You will also provide biometric information, such as a photograph and fingerprint scan.

Documents Needed for a UK Work Visa

Foreign nationals from outside the UK apply for a specific visa tier based on their occupation, activity, or length of stay. To enter the UK, applicants must score enough points depending on their age, linguistic ability, qualifications, and financial situation.

In general, you will need the following requirements:

• Two colored photographs (must be taken in the last six months)
• Valid passport with at least two blank pages
• Proof of financial means
• Proof of accommodation or a visa invitation letter if staying with a relative or friend.
• Proof of payment of visa fees
• Proof of English knowledge
• Travel Insurance
• Criminal record certificate
• Medical records and tuberculosis test results (if from listed countries)
• If applying with family, proof of relationships (but they still need to apply separately)

Conclusion

Applying for a student, spouse, and work visa in the United Kingdom is a long process. With patience, perseverance, consistency, and following the guide in this article, you will succeed.

Also, ensure to link up with a verified UK travel agent to ease these processes.