Syracuse University

IMPORTANT VISA INFORMATION FOR THE SU LONDON PROGRAM

Fall 2013 Visa packet [pdf]

A visa is a stamp inside your passport that gives you permission to travel to a specific country for a set period of time.  The visa is issued by the UK Border Agency/British Consulate in New York City for students applying in the US and by the UK Border Agency (UKBA)/British Consulate, or embassy in your home country for those applying outside the US.

There are two categories of visas for students studying in the United Kingdom. Most students will either obtain a Tier 4 Student Visa (if required) or will enter the UK as a Student Visitor without a visa.  Please read below for more details on each category. 

There is a third category of visas for non-US citizens who are visa nationals.  If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed, you need to apply ahead of time for a student visitor visa.  If you are also planning to work, do an internship, or stay longer than 6 months (or continue in a summer UK program), you must apply for the Tier 4 visa.

All students should complete the London Visa Form (one of the post acceptance forms), and return it to Gail Rich (gnrich@syr.edu) by May 1 (fall students) and by November 1 (spring students).  This is very important because failure to do so will result in you not getting the materials you need for your specific visa requirements. 

I.  TIER 4 STUDENT VISAS

The Tier 4 visa gives students a Prior Entry Clearance status, meaning visa holders are considered to have cleared immigration before arrival in the UK.  The visa is stamped inside your passport. 

Visa Regulations and Housing:  Please note that due to the UK visa requirements, all SU London students must take part in one of the SU housing options, either pre-arranged or independent. 

A Tier 4 Visa is required if:

1) You are considering applying for a work study position (SU students only), an internship in any field or participating in long-term volunteer or community service opportunities.
You will not be allowed to participate in the SU London internship program without first obtaining a Tier 4 Visa.  SU London is required, by law, to report any student participating in internships both arranged independently or by the school.  Students interning without this visa may be subject to deportation.

While an internship placement is not guaranteed and is subject to a successful interview, the internship coordinator will work one on one with the student to find a placement best suited to his/her abilities and interests.  We generally have an ample supply of engaging and educating internship placements to offer.  Any questions regarding this can be directed to the External Relations Coordinator Amelie Laparra in London at alaparra@syr.edu.

2) You are contemplating ANY KIND OF PAID WORK IN THE UK.                                                                                    

These rules have come into effect, in part, to combat “under the table” employment and SU London is inspected on a regular basis by the Immigration and Nationality Inspectorate.  If you think you might seek paid employment in the UK during your time in London, including work study (SU students only), you will need a Tier 4 Visa.  Please note that you are not allowed to work for more than 20 hours per week, and you should not count on being able to obtain employment when budgeting for your time in the UK.

3) If you are planning to participate in a yearlong program in London (fall and spring semesters) or remaining in an SU Abroad UK summer program after the spring semester.

If you are considering an academic year abroad you will need to apply for a yearlong visa.  If you later decide not to stay in London for the spring semester it will not be a problem, but you will not be able to apply to stay if you do not already have a visa.  You will also need to apply for a visa with the extended dates if you participate in the spring and continue on a UK summer program. Please notify Gail Rich (gnrich@syr.edu) if you are planning to remain longer than one semester in London. 

To Apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa

You can only apply online three months in advance (no earlier than June 2 for fall and October 17 for the spring).  After completing the online application and having your biometrics taken, you should have all your documents ready to send to the UK Border Agency at the New York City British Consulate by July 15 (fall students) and by November 25 (spring students) in order to ensure you have it back in time for departure. 

The UK Border Agency in New York City is responsible for processing all visa applications in the United States.

• Go to the web site at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk to complete the online application.  The home page for the UK Border Agency is http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en.  Make sure you have had $1,500 in your bank account for the 30 days prior to completing the online application.  Please note that the online visa application form is only valid for 30 days from the date you begin the application process online. The consulate cannot accept online visa application forms that are older than this. If you try to submit an application that is more than 30 days old, you will be asked to make another application and start the process again.
• Schedule an appointment for your biometrics (digital photo and finger scan) to be taken as part of the online application.  This is the last step of the online application before making your payment.
• Have your biometrics taken (you must bring to your appointment with you: 1) the printed appointment confirmation.  You will receive this via e-mail after you schedule the appointment online. 2) valid travel document (passport), 3) printed online application.
• Within 2 weeks of having the biometrics taken, mail in your passport, application form, and other supporting documents (see list below) to the consulate -overnight express mail it so you can track it.  Make two copies of all of your application materials; mail one copy along with your original documentation and keep a copy for your records. 

It normally takes 2-3 weeks for the visa to be processed (more during the holidays and over the summer). If you can't send in your materials by July 15 (fall students) or November 25 (spring students), you should consider purchasing the Priority or Premium Service for an additional fee.  You can also use a visa agent/facilitor service. 

Required Application Materials/Supporting Document Checklist

• Completed online visa application form (at www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk).  Print out the application after you complete it as one of the supporting documents. 
• Original U.S. Passport, valid for six months after the program ends.  Your passport must be signed.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE VISA IS STAMPED INSIDE THE PASSPORT so the one you submit is the one you must travel with.
• Two passport sized photos (they must be professionally printed or taken in a passport photo booth) - please see specific instructions online here:  www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/12160810/Photoguide
• Application Fee - Check the website for updated fees.  Currently, it is approximately $450 (£298).  Payment should be made online at the time of application.  Payment online can only be made with a Visa or MasterCard.  At the time of application, you must also pay a $12.00 fee to cover the cost of shipping your visa and passport back to you after it is completed.  Select the Return Mail box when applying online and this amount will be added to your total.  The $12 fee must always be paid unless you have arranged for a visa agent to submit your application on your behalf.
• Point Based System Appendix 8: Tier 4 (General) Student Self- Assessment form -download the form here:  and it is included in the visa packet. Also included in the packet is guidance to complete the form. 
• CAS Number (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from SUL - Syracuse University in London).  A CAS is a unique reference number that is required for all Tier 4 applications. SUL is the sponsor and they will provide students with a CAS number to quote on Appendix 8 which is one of the supporting documents. We will send the CAS number to you via e-mail.  When you receive it you should write this number on Appendix 8 Self Assessment form, under question 5.2.
• Biometric (finger print scan and digital photo) appointment confirmation - When you complete and pay for your application online, you will be directed to make an appointment at an Application Support Center (ASC) for your biometric data (digital photo and finger scan).  There are 129 centers around the United States, including one in Syracuse.  You should choose one convenient to your home or campus address, or to a location where you will be at that time.  Please note that appointments may not always be available immediately at the ASC, especially during the summer months or during holiday times, so you should complete the online application as soon as is appropriate (beginning of June for fall and mid October for spring).
• Evidence of maintenance funds - financial documentation. See this page to see if you meet the conditions to be considered "low risk" and therefore don't need to submit the financial documents. You must submit one or a combination of the following types of original documentation to show evidence of funds for your semester abroad.  Normally you must show ₤1,000/month for maintenance but since you pay Syracuse University a program fee, you don’t need to show that much. The documents must be dated no more than one calendar month before the visa application is made online and must show that the money (at least $1,500 - the more you can show, the better) has been in the account for at least 28 days preceding the online application.  If you are going to London for the full academic year or remaining for the summer, you need to show more maintenance funds (approximately $2,500 for the year and $2,000 for the spring and summer).
  • Proof of loan approval (must be in the student’s own name),
  • Original bank statement in the student’s or the parent’s name* (cannot be online print-out)
  • Or an official bank letter certifying funds.  The bank account can be in either the student’s or the parent’s name.  Please note: if the account is in your parent’s name only, you will need to submit additional documentation: 1) Original document confirming the relationship (birth certificate, certificate of adoption, or court  document confirming guardian status) and 2) Original signed and dated letter from the parent(s)/guardian(s), confirming the relationship to the student, the funds available, and consent to make the funds available to the student. 

Bank statements must:

Be an original statement (electronic bank statements are acceptable as long as they include all the same information and they must be stamped with the official bank stamp on every page)

Be in the student’s own name, included as a joint account holder, or in the name of parent(s)/guardian(s)Show the date of the statement

Show the bank’s name and logo

Show the amount of money available (at least $1,500), more if you are going abroad for the year or going to London in the fall and Florence in the spring

Show the money has been held for at least 28 days

• Non-US Citizens - Evidence of your Immigration Status in the USA and permission to re-enter the USA after your trip.  Please submit original documents.  Examples include:
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Valid US visa (e.g., H1B, F1)
  • Advance Parole Document
  • Employment Authorization Card (does not permit re-entry to US)
  • Valid DS 2019 (Formerly IAP66)Valid I-20 (must be signed on the reverse by designated school official)
  • Valid I-94

Additional Information for NON-US Citizens:

• If you are a visa national, you need a visa for every entry into the UK.  If your country of citizenship is listed, you need to apply ahead of time for at least a student visitor visa.  Currently this visa is approximately $120 (£80).  If you are planning to do an internship, work (including work study), or staying longer than 6 months in the UK, you must apply for the Tier 4 visa.  If your country of citizenship is not listed indicating that you are a visa national, you don't need to apply for the student visitor visa ahead of time but you will need the Tier 4 visa if you are planning to do an internship, work, or are staying for a summer program in the UK.
• If you are a non-US national, you must apply for visas for every country you hope to travel to BEFORE you leave the US. For example, if you plan to travel over the break to Italy, Ireland, France, etc. you need to contact the consulates of those countries with the details of your specific situation and to find out what the visa requirements and application process are for that particular country. The same thing applies to any countries visited during field trips. You must find out what the visa requirements are ahead of time. You should limit your travels to the Schengen Countries.  Please Note: You cannot apply for European visas once you are in the UK.

Visa Processing Time

It will take the UK Border Agency 2-3 weeks to process your visa, as it is busy over the holidays.  When making travel plans over the summer or holidays, please keep in mind that you must submit your original passport with the rest of the supporting documents to the British Consulate.

Review your visa when you get it.  You should make sure that:

• your personal details are correct (please note that birthdates are designated as dd/mm/year)
• the visa correctly states the purpose of your entry into the UK (General Student)
• it is valid for the dates of the program

If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, please email WorldBridge free of charge using the Send us an Email Enquiry link on this website.

If you have questions about the visa process, please see http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ or Worldbridge.

II. STUDENT VISITOR VISA

You can enter the UK as a student visitor if you are a U.S. citizen and NOT planning to work (including work study for SU students), do an internship or any long term volunteer work and are not going to be in the UK for more than six months. Your passport will be stamped upon arrival in the UK with the student visitor visa.  If you do not apply for the Tier 4 Visa you will not be able to apply for one once you are in the UK.  If you enter as a student visitor, you will not be able to work, do an internship, participate in long term community service, or stay longer than six months, and you must leave the country at the end of the program.  You will be able to travel freely out of the UK but you may need to answer more questions from immigration officials or be in longer lines than students with the Tier 4 student visa.  You must carry the immigration letter with you at all times to show to officials each time you enter the UK.  This letter will be sent to you by us if you are traveling independently or given to you at the airport on the day of departure.  You should also bring bank statements (original statements, not an online print-out) or other documentation demonstrating means of financial support while you are in the UK (see Evidence of Maintenance Funds above).  You should also have with you evidence of your return plane ticket.