Visa

Do I need a visa to study in the UK?

EU and EEA citizens do not require a visa to study in the UK. If you are not an EU or EEA citizen you may need a visa to study in the UK. We recommend that you visit the UK Visas website or the British Embassy in your home country for more information on whether you require one or not. If you do require a visa you will need to gain pre-entry clearance before attempting to leave your home country.

How can I get my visa?

When applying for a Student visa it is critical you have a Student Enrolment letter from an accredited school. All of our schools are British Council accredited and are members of English UK. When you have paid for your course fees in full we will send you the Student Enrolment letter for you to attach to your application form. You should follow the visa application process very carefully and precisely. If you do not give the visa authorities full and accurate details, you may be refused a visa. For more information about applying for a visa to study in the UK go to UK Visas.

Can Answer English help me obtain my visa?

We are not legally allowed to help students obtain a visa. We highly recommend that you speak to your local British embassy to obtain more information on what you will need before you apply.
It is widely known that in order to apply for a visa:
- You will need a letter from the college confirming that you have booked the course.
- You will need information on your accommodation in London.
- You must be enrolled on a course for a minimum of 15 hours a week.
- You must show that you have enough money to pay for your studies and are able to support yourself in London.

Who is responsible for applying for a visa?

It is your responsibility to apply for your visa. Answer English does not apply for visas on behalf of its students.  Answer English helps students to arrange their English courses and/or accommodation. It is our duty when you have paid in full to ensure that you receive your enrolment letter from your language school as quickly as possible. We are in no way responsible for your visa application.

What if I cannot get a visa?

If you cannot come to study in the UK because your visa has been refused we will refund you your course and accommodation fees minus the language schools & Answer English administration fees. Typically this is between £100 - £150 depending on the school where you are studying. This is subject to Answer English's and the individual language schools terms and conditions. If your visa is refused please Contact Us urgently. To complete a refund we will ask you to send us the letter of refusal from the British Embassy, the original copy of your Enrolment letter from the school and fill out our Refund Application form. Please send these by registered post to: Answer English Ltd., 19 Bryanston Mews West, London W1H 2BW.

What is the difference between a Student Visa and a Student Visitor Visa?

According to the English UK directive on the UK Student Visitor Visa, for students who need a visa to enter the UK (visa nationals), the new Student Visitor visa will:
- cost £63, the same as a visitor visa
- be issued normally for 6 months, even if students intend to take shorter courses
- not allow students to work
- not allow students to extend their stay in the UK beyond 6 months
- be issued only if students are enrolled at centres on the DfES Register
- need students to show they meet the visitor rules to enter the UK.

For students intending to stay less than 6 months who do not need prior entry clearance to enter the UK (non-visa nationals), they should ensure that they ask for the Student Visitor category at the airport or port where they enter the UK.

ALL students that are going to do a work placement as part of their course, or wish to work or possibly to extend their stay, will need to apply to the nearest British Diplomatic post abroad for a visa to enter the UK as a STUDENT, not as a Student Visitor.