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IMPORTANT VISA INFORMATION FOR THE SU LONDON PROGRAM

There are two categories of visa in the UK - Full Student Visas (which require Prior Entry Clearance) and Student Visitor Visas. We strongly recommend that all students apply for the Full Student Visa in order to keep as many options open as possible, and to make your travel in and out of the UK much faster and easier.

Full Student Visas

Full Student Visas require Prior Entry Clearance (PEC) before you arrive, issued by British Consulates in the United States. Students with these visas are considered to have 'cleared' immigration before arrival in the UK, and may have a much quicker time at Immigration on subsequent trips in and out of the UK, as the visa is valid for their entire stay.

A Full Student Visa is required if:
1. You are considering applying for an internship in any field. You will not be allowed to participate in the SU London internship program without submitting a copy of your PEC, and SU London is required, by law, to report any student studying at SU London in any internship arranged independently; students interning without prior entry clearance may be subject to deportation.
2. You have any intention at all of continuing in the UK for the spring of 2009. If you later change your mind and decide not to continue for the spring, that won’t be a problem.
3. You are an architecture student who may study abroad in Florence in the spring of 2009 (only a Full Student Visa allows you to apply for your Italy visa in London).
4. 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 we fully expect to be audited and reviewed by the Immigration and Nationality Inspectorate. If you think you might seek paid employment in the UK during the semester, you will need a Full Student 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.

STUDENT VISITOR VISAS

Student Visitor Visas are issued as you arrive in the UK, with a stamp in your passport, on the basis of an SU immigration letter. It is the “default visa” for those students who do not get the Full Student. While the Student Visitor Visa allows you to study in the UK for up to six months, each time you leave the UK and re-enter you must go through Immigration, produce the letter documenting your program of study, and receive a new stamp. The Immigration officer has the right to refuse entry if they have any reason to believe you are working or in any way not a legitimate full-time student each time you re-enter the UK (eg coming back from a weekend on Eurostar), not just when you first arrive at in the UK.

More importantly, with the Student Visitor Visa there are important restrictions:
1. You cannot work as an intern or volunteer in the UK
2. You cannot take up any kind of paid employment
3. You cannot extend you stay in the UK or travel and return to the UK beyond the 6-month visitor period.

In addition, student visitors are usually asked to produce a round-trip airline ticket when they enter the UK initially, so you will need to purchase this prior to departure.

TO APPLY FOR A FULL STUDENT VISA

You may apply for your Entry Clearance/Visa at the New York City Consulate or at the consulate that has jurisdiction over your permanent residence. There are consulates in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. You must apply online as they no longer accept in person applications. For consular contact information, see http://www.britainusa.com/embassy. The NYC Consulate contact information is:

845 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Tel: (212) 745-0200
Fax: (212) 754-3062
Website: http://BritainUSA.com/ny/

1) Go to the website at http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ to complete the on line application. The home page for the British Consulate is http://www.britainusa.com/visas/. Click here for sample application questions [PDF]

2) Mail in your passport, application form and other supporting documents to the appropriate consulate. You can also use a courier service which is explained on the British Consulate website at
http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show.asp?i=65016&L1=41000

Required Application Materials/Documents

You will need the following materials:
• Completed visa application form on line at http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/
  Note: When completing UK arrival and departure dates, please make sure the dates you enter on your application match the dates on your SU letter!
• One passport sized photo
  For more information, visit http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?a=41099)
• Application Fee
  Check the website for updated fees. Currently, it is approximately $200 for in-person and online applications. Payment should be made either online or in the form of a money order or certified check (no personal checks or cash will be accepted).
• A notarized letter from Syracuse University,
  verifying program acceptance, dates, and payment (sent later in the semester). You can’t apply for the visa more than 3 months before departure.
• Passport, valid for period of study
• Evidence of funds (eg: loan approval, personal financial statements, financial statement from parents or from the person who is paying the fees)
• Evidence of your Immigration Status in the USA and permission to re-enter the USA after your trip (not necessary for US citizens). Please submit original documents. Examples include:-
  • - Permanent Resident Card
  • - Valid US visa (e.g, H1B, F1)
  • - Advance Parole Document
  • - Employment Authorisation 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
• You will need the SU London Program address to complete your application

  SULP Faraday House
  48-51 Old Gloucester St.
  London WC1N 3AE
  UK

• Biometric information (finger scans)

When you apply on line, you will be asked to make an appt. at that time to one of the locations and you can choose one that is convenient for you. You should choose one convenient to your home address as you can’t apply for the visa more than 3 months before departure and you will most likely be at home during the summer. There is also a location in Syracuse, New York. For more information, see UK official guidelines for student applications here.

Entry Clearance/Visa Processing Time

Currently, it is taking about two to three weeks for the UK Consulates to process student visa applications. You should apply as soon as possible, but not more than three months before departure.

Because the new immigration legislation has only just come into effect, there can be significant delays in processing applications. Please allow sufficient time.

Entering the UK

Whether you have a Full Student Visa or plan to apply for a Student Visitor Visa on arrival at Heathrow, you will still need to carry an immigration letter from Syracuse University to use upon entry to the UK. If you participate in the group flight option offered through Advantage Travel, you will receive the immigration letter at the airport on the day of departure. If you are traveling independently, the immigration letter will be sent to your home address with the independent travel memo over the summer.