As per the Department of Home Affairs preliminary data, around 44,000 applications for a student visa were obtained from India in the last 6 months of 2023. Also, as per the latest reports, Indians were issued the highest number of student visas by the UK for the year 2023. British High Commissioner stated that 25% of student visas have got approval for Indian students out of 2.8 lakh student visas that the UK issued overall. The number of Indian student visas has increased by 73% as compared to the year 2022. Recently, 'Young Professional Scheme (YPS) has been incepted by India and the UK government which would assist those eligible in obtaining a UK Work Visa for a maximum of two years. People aged between 18 to 30 years can apply for the same.
• Short-term Study Visa: Short-term UK Study Visa is for those who want to study an English language course for up to 11 months
• Student Visa: This visa category is for students coming to the UK for higher education. It was formerly termed as a Tier 4 (General) Student Visa, popularly called a Tier 4 Student Visa
• Child Student Visa: This visa is for children who are between 4 and 17 years old and wish to study at an independent school in the UK. It was formerly termed as Tier 4 (Child) Student Visa
• A student must have received an offer of a full-time academic course from a licensed student sponsor
• A student must have sufficient financial resources to support himself/ herself during the duration of the course
• A student must be able to speak, read, write and understand English
• If a student is aged 16 or 17, he/ she needs consent from his/ her parents
UK Student Visa Fees: (Formerly Tier 4 (General) Student Visa) is £363 (Approx. Rs 37,082) if the students are applying from outside the UK. In addition, you have to pay a healthcare surcharge, which depends on the duration of your stay. The methods of payment are stated below.
• Online using either a MasterCard or Visa card.
• Through demand draft at the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
• Through Cash at the visa application centre and selected branches of Standard Chartered Bank.
Students must note that if they wish to switch to a UK Student Visa from inside the UK, they will have to pay a fee of £490 (INR 50,056). Please ensure to check the UK study visa fees before making an application.
• Work and visa costs will increase by 15%
• All other visa costs will increase by a minimum of 20%
• Overseas students who are planning to move to the UK for studies may have to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge of £776 per year (earlier it was £470)
UK Student Visa Requirements: Applying for a student visa requires you to carry a lot more documents in comparison to a tourist visa, by comparison. Aspirants need the mandatory documents along with supporting documents of financial and academic records. There are some other requirements as well which one should remember and meet. Make sure you refer to the UK Student Visa checklist before going to the consulate for the visa interview.
You should have the following documents before applying for a UK student visa:
• A completed student visa application form
• If you're below 18 years of age, you need to get proof of your parent's or guardian's consent
• A letter of acceptance on the course - Your approved education provider will give you an acceptance letter (CAS or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) and a visa letter that are official and unconditional offers of a place on a course of study. The visa letter must be issued no more than six months before you apply. Students need to apply for their UK study visa within 6 months of receiving their CAS.
• Having a visa letter does not guarantee the application will be successful. The applicant must meet all the requirements of the category and any other requirements of the immigration rules.
• Proof of funds - The money you need to show covers your course fees for your first year of study and living costs for up to a maximum of 9 months (1 academic year). The amount you will need depends on whether you are applying as a child or adult and whether you will be studying in or out of London. You must show that you have held the money for at least 28 days. The end of that 28-day period must not be more than one month before the date of your application.
• You must show the following amount of money to meet basic living costs (not including fees) for a period of up to nine months i.e. £12,006 for nine months (£1,334 per month) if you are living in London and £9,207 for nine months (£1,023 per month) if you are living outside London.
• However, if a student has been in the UK, with a valid visa, for at least 12 months, he/ she does not have to show proof of funds for visa application
• The visa fee payment confirmation receipt
• ATAS certificate if your nationality and course need it
• Payslips
• Original mark sheets/provisional certificates
• Scoresheet of exams like TOEFL, GMAT, IELTS, etc.
• A full-time course would help to obtain a qualification which is below degree level and organised daytime study of a minimum of 15 hours a week
• A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above
• A full-time course which would help to obtain a qualification which is degree level or above which shares the same platform as that of a UK higher education programme
• A part-time programme which would help to obtain a qualification which is above degree level
• A known foundation course for PG doctors or dentists
• An English language programme at B2 level or above in the Common European Framework of Reference Languages
There are several steps to apply for a UK Student Visa. UK Study Visa applications are processed within three weeks of the completed application being lodged. Following are the steps to apply for UK student visa:
The first step is to check if you qualify for the student visa or not. You need to show that you have:
A confirmed place at the school, university or college where you intend to study. It is called a ‘confirmation of acceptance for studies’ (CAS).
Enough money (also known as ‘maintenance or funds’) to cover your course fees and living costs in the UK.
Get your documents ready
Apply online: You will need to register and create an account on the official UK Visa website. When you have completed your online application form, you will need to print and sign your completed form. You must use the online appointment calendar to book an appointment at the visa application centre. When you have completed your online application, you will receive an email message containing your application number.
Pay your application fee. There are 4 ways to pay your visa application fee.
Payment at Standard Chartered Bank - You can pay your fee at some branches of Standard Chartered Bank. The bank will issue a demand draft in favour of the 'British High Commission'.
Demand draft from a nationalized or foreign bank - You can pay your fee by getting a demand draft issued by a nationalized or a foreign bank. Bank charges for this service will vary. The demand draft must be in favour of the 'British High Commission’.
Payment at the visa application centre - You can pay the visa application fee at the visa application centre when you submit your visa application.
Pay online - You can pay your visa application fee online using a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card.
Visit the visa application centre on the appointed date. You must book and attend an appointment at the visa application centre to submit your application and facial photograph and fingerprints.
Students are allowed to withdraw their applications. For this, they need to contact UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration). If their application processing has not started, their fee will be refunded.
If you are enrolled in a bachelor's degree program or higher at a UK college that is listed on both the official ‘UKBA Sponsor list’ and the list of ‘recognized bodies’, you are allowed to work for up to 20 hours per week for (UK Student Visa) and work full-time during vacations or summer holidays. In this regard, students must note that if their course is below the UK degree level (e.g. foundation or pre-sessional English), they can work for 10 hours per week. Moreover, students who hold a Short-term Study Visa cannot work.
Tier 2 Visa (General) route is for migrants who have been offered a place to work in the UK and are being sponsored by UKVI authorised employers. It is the main immigration route for the skilled workers to be employed in the UK.
• Work in UK for 5 years.
• Get a faster decision on your application.
• Best route to migrate to UK.
• Average annual gross salary is £35,000 TO £45,000 in the UK.
In order to retain its competitive edge, the UK invites skilled professionals to work in the UK under the Tier 2 visa program. Under this program, workers whose occupations are listed on the Tier 2 Shortage Occupation List can apply to work in the UK on a long-term basis. Among the popular professions on the list are IT, finance, teaching, healthcare, and engineering. Eduroute can help you take advantage of this talent shortage in the UK and position yourself to gain a work permit to the UK.
If skilled workers must come to the UK, they need to have a Skilled Worker visa, (formerly the Tier 2 visa). You can apply for this visa if you have been offered a skilled job in the UK. The salary requirement for this visa is £25,600, or the specific salary requirement for the occupation or the ‘going rate’.
The UK work visas are classified into four main groups.
• Short-term work visas.
• Long-term work visas. • Investor, business development, and talent visas.
• Other work visas.
UK job market is robust and is witnessing an increase in demand for professionals with specific skills in the growing industries. Professionals can find ample opportunities in various fields with high paying salaries anywhere in the United Kingdom. The most in demand jobs in the UK include Information technology and software, engineering, healthcare, finance and accounting, management, human resources, nursing, marketing and sales, hospitality and etc. Apart from these in demand jobs and industries, UK also provides wealth of opportunities across all other sectors and Individuals who possess the right skills and expertise can thrive in the ever-evolving UK employment landscape.
Some of the places where there is wealth of opportunities in UK include Milton Keynes, Oxford, York, St Albans, Norwich, Manchester, Nottingham, Preston, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff, and Birmingham. These cities are a home to man top companies and businesses and provide opportunities for professionals with attractive salaries.
With the ever-changing tech world, the demand for IT and Tech skills has become invaluable to companies following the trends. Below is the list of top skills in demand in the UK.
• C++
• Python
• JavaScript
• SQL
• Java
Java Script is used for Front End Technologies. Many businesses use these languages to streamline processes across systems.
It is one of the fastest-growing In-Demand digital skills in the UK.
Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning.
This is also an In-Demand IT Skill in the UK. This skill includes jobs like:
• Data Architect
• Data Warehouse Developer
• Data Analyst
Because of the need for data storage and computing power, the cloud computing market has become a popular business solution and a fast-growing industry in recent years.
The rise of cybersecurity attacks in the UK in recent years has made this IT skill one of the most in-demand digital skills in the UK.
The 14% increase in CRM skills since last year has made up more than 7.2 million professionals globally.
Industry and Count - IT - 5,641 BFSI - 2,651 Engineering - 1,264 Healthcare - 2,712 Hospitality - 983 Sales & Marketing - 1,247 Education - 2,629 Automotive - 435 Oil & Gas - 488 FMCG - 321 Accounting - 510 Restaurants - 1,411 Pharmaceuticals - 415 Chemicals - 159 Construction - 1,141 Biotechnology - 311 Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing - 954 Telecommunications - 250 Non-Profit/Volunteering - 883 Machinery - 655
The Skilled Worker visa allows skilled professionals to build their professional careers in the UK. The duration for stay as per the U.K. Skilled Worker is for a maximum period of 5 years. The Skilled Worker Visa is a points-based visa and applicants must score a minimum of 70 points for their application to be considered. The points are awarded based on:
• Whether you have a Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer.
• Whether you are receiving an appropriate salary.
• Your English communication skills.
• The maintenance funds you hold.
• The Tier 2 visa is subdivided to allow for the following professionals:
• Tier 2 General Visa: For workers who have a job offer in the UK and whose profession appears on the shortage occupation list. This has been replaced by the Skilled Worker visa.
• Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa: For workers of corporations transferring to the UK.
• Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa: For ministers of religions within a religious organization.
• Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa: For coaches and sportspersons.
• If you have successfully received a Skilled Worker visa, you can:
• Study in the UK.
• Bring family members to the UK.
• Travel to and from the UK.
You can apply for this visa three months before you begin working in the UK. The starting date will be mentioned in the certificate of sponsorship you will receive from your UK employer.
You will get the decision on your visa within three weeks of your application. With the UK government including more occupations in the Shortage Occupation List, the processing time is expected to be reduced for many applicants.
You can stay for a maximum of 5 years on this visa. The duration of a work visa depends on the length of your job contract. If you have not exceeded the maximum duration for your visa type, you can extend your stay. You will need to apply for an extension, either online or at a premium service centre for UK visas.
You can stay for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days on the Tier 2 visa or the duration mentioned on your certificate of sponsorship (plus 1 month) whichever duration is shorter.
The documentation required for the UK Tier 2 Visa includes:
• Having a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an employer.
• Salary and financial details.
• Current passport and travel history.
• Certifications proving your English skills.
• Police verification certificate.
• Other supporting documents.
The Skilled Worker dependent visa is for children and partners of those who have come to the country on a Skilled Worker visa or have applied for one.
• Spouse.
• Unmarried or same-sex partner.
• Children under the age of 18 at the time of application.
• Children over the age of 18 who are dependents.
The partnership between spouses and partners should be genuine and they should plan to live together for the duration of their stay in the country.
Maintenance funds: Skilled Worker dependents have no recourse to public funds as such; in their application, they must prove access to adequate financial means for the period of stay in the UK and if there are dependents, they must demonstrate an additional £ 630 available for each dependent.
Age: The principal applicant and dependent must be at least 18 on the date of arrival in the United Kingdom, or when the visa is issued.
Other requirements: You must not be a previous holder of a UK visa for students, or a short-term study visa on or after April 2015, or have been given leave on or after April 2015 as a parent of a Tier 4 student (child).
Furthermore, you will have to qualify for the general grounds for admission. You must have a clear history of immigration, with no case of overstaying. When your spouse or relative’s visa expires, you must have no intention to stay in the UK.
• Skilled Worker dependent visa applications may be made with the main Skilled Worker visa application either simultaneously or later.
• Regardless of when the applications are submitted, successful applicants will be given leave in accordance with the time of leave of the principal visa applicant.
• The approval process can vary according to where the approval for a Tier 2-based visa is made.
As a holder of Skilled Worker dependent visas, you can:
• Remain in the UK for the same period as the main Skilled Worker visa holder.
• Work, with limited exceptions.
• Work, with limited exceptions.
• Apply to extend your visa in compliance with the principal applicant, provided that you continue to meet the eligibility conditions. When the key visa holder has left the UK, they will not be eligible to apply for an extension.
You cannot access public funds, work as a doctor in training, as a dentist, or as a sports instructor for professionals.
Tier 2 visa applications are evaluated on the basis of the UK’s point-based system. One must have at least 70 points to qualify for the visa. You can score 30 points with a job offer with an employer sponsorship certificate. You can score another 30 points if your occupation finds a place in the Skills Shortage list. With these 60 points, it will be relatively easy to get the remaining points to qualify.
It will be easy to find one in the ‘Register of Sponsors Licensed Under the Points-based System’ which is available to the public. This contains a list of all the employers who have permission to sponsor international employees.
TOURIST VISA
Why apply for a visit visa? The UK has magnificent gardens, more than 50,000 species of plants The best Restaurants are there in the UK Has the first-class restaurants International music festivals will be held You will get to see Breath-taking views UK Visitor Visa UK visitor visa permits individuals to visit the UK for a variety of activities for up to 6 months. The visa allows individuals to do a range of things in the UK such as visiting family or friends, tourism purposes, business purposes, and other permitted activities. UK Visitor Visa from India The UK visit visa permits Indians to visit the UK for 6 months for tourism, business, study, or other permitted activities. The UK has diverse culture and stunning landscapes and you can explore vibrant cities like Glasgow, Liverpool, and London’s Brick Lane. Indian individuals are required to ensure that all the necessary documents are available and that they meet all the requirements. The UK provides a wide range of visit visas including the Marriage visitor visa, UK Visitor Visa, Tier 4 visa, Short-term study visa, and Permitted paid engagement visa. The type of visa you chose depends on your requirement. Benefits of UK Tourist Visa You can stay for 6 months with a Visit visa in the UK Visa can be extended if you wish to stay Attend conferences or meeting Meet family or friends Explore the authentic British cuisine Types of UK Visit Visa Marriage Visa Tier 4 Visa Permitted Paid Engagement Visa Short-term Study Visa UK Visitor Visa Eligibility for a UK Visit Visa Should have a valid Passport and 6 months of validity, and the passport should have two blank pages. Sufficient bank balance should be present for themselves and their family. Should not intend to seek a job No criminal records.