Student visa for uk from india processing time

Do you often wonder how long it’ll take for your U.K student visa to be processed by the UKVI? Do you know how to estimate when you can expect it? Well, this post will provide some useful information on how long a visa application can take to process and what you can expect from the whole experience, including your chances of receiving a decision on your application within 20 working days.

Time waits for no one. The same is true when you apply for a UK visa. If you want to know how long is the UK student visa processing time, then you’re at the right place. Read on to find out more!

Student visa processing time is a popular search term on Google and traveller forums. The time taken for student visa to be processed from India is known to be 4-5 months. But the actual time is even longer than this and many students who have gone through this process can vouch for it.

Introduction

If you’re an Indian student looking to study abroad, the United Kingdom should definitely be high on your list of potential destinations. Thousands of Indian students head to the UK every year to get a world-class education, seek out professional opportunities and make connections that can help them advance in their careers. But with all the excitement comes at least one big concern: How long does it take for a UK student visa from India to be processed?

If you’re looking to study in the UK, you’ll need a student visa. The student visa process is more complicated than it might seem at first glance, but we’ve got your back!

Here’s what you need to know about how long it takes to get a student visa.

Why the processing time differs

Processing times vary based on your country of origin, visa category, visa type and other factors. The processing time is also different for each type of application. Here are some key factors that can affect your application processing time:

Your country of origin
Your visa category (student/work)
Your visa type (short stay or long stay)
Your application form (paper or online)

We recommend that you start your application as early as possible to avoid any delays in getting it processed. If you submit your form after the deadline date then there may be more chances for rejection.

How to track your visa application

There are several ways to track the status of your visa application.

The first is by using our online tracking tool, which you can access through your account dashboard on this website. You will need to enter your visa application number and reference number if you have one, or click on the button for “Track My Visa Status” if you do not know either of these numbers. The next page will show a list of all applications we have received from India between those dates, with their current processing times and statuses listed next to each one in order from newest to oldest. For example: If your application was submitted at 9:00 PM on January 4th and received by our team by 10 PM that same day, then it would appear as “Processing within 24 hours” under “Application Date.” This means that we will process this file within 24 hours from when it was submitted (which includes checking for errors).

How long it takes for a UK student visa from India to be processed

The processing time of a UK student visa from India to be processed varies depending on the country you are a citizen of, and the category you are applying for.

Processing times differ between different countries. For example, it takes an average of 6 days for an Indian passport holder to get EEA family permit, whereas it takes about 2 weeks for an American passport holder who is applying for the same permit.

Similarly, processing times differ between different categories such as Tier 4 student visa or Tier 2 work permit etc., which may further vary depending on visa subtypes and subclassifications.

Processing times

The processing time for a visa application depends on several factors:

The type of visa you are applying for. Each type of visa has a different processing time, and some will take longer than others. For example, a visitor’s visa can be issued in as little as 24 hours while an employment-based sponsorship application could take over 30 days depending on the country you are from, the visa category and other factors.
Your country of origin. If you are applying from India and want to visit the UK for tourism purposes, it might take only 2 weeks to process your application whereas if it is an employment-based sponsorship form that was submitted by a US citizen who wants to work in London, then it could take about 12 weeks or more (depending on your nationality).
The nationality of applicant at point of submission. Applications from individuals with Pakistani or Chinese passports will require additional security checks which means they may face delays of up to 6 months or longer before visas can be issued – even if they have applied within their own countries!

Tips to speed up visa processing time

Be prepared:
Use the right form:
Submit the right documents:
Be patient!

If your visa application is delayed

What to do if your visa application is delayed:

The UKVI may delay a decision on an application if they require more information from you. You will be notified in writing of any further action that needs to be taken and given a timeframe in which to provide it. If you are asked for further evidence or documents, it’s important that these are sent back as soon as possible and within the time limit given by the UKVI.

What to do if your visa application is rejected:

If your application is rejected, you’ll receive written confirmation from the Home Office detailing why this decision has been made. There are different reasons why an applicant might be refused entry into Britain; some examples include failing to meet English language requirements or being unable to prove financial self-sufficiency during their stay (this can include not having enough money in savings). If this happens, then it’s likely that an appeal will be required before any other options become available – so make sure all supporting documentation has been included with your original application!

What do i do next?

Processing times for UK visas vary, but you can take steps to help speed up the process.

If your student visa application is delayed, it may be worth following these tips to speed up your processing time:

Start preparing for your UK study abroad experience early.
Provide all of the requested documents and information needed in a timely manner.
Take advantage of any medical examinations or interviews you may be required to complete during the application process as soon as possible.

Make sure that you understand all of the requirements for your specific type of visa before you submit an application so that there are no surprises later on down the road!

The processing time for a student visa for the UK from India is about three weeks, but you should allow several weeks extra in case there are any delays.

You will need to provide various documents to prove that you qualify for a student visa. These include:

Evidence of financial means (by showing that you have enough money to support yourself while studying)

Your educational qualifications and certificates (to show that you can study at a university or college)

Confirmation of your acceptance into an educational institution (also known as ‘confirmation of offer’)

UK has always been a go-to study destination for Indian students who want to pursue higher education at some of the world’s leading universities. Annually, more than 30,000 Indian students go to study in UK after going through a three-four week UK student visa process. Your acceptance of visa application is totally dependent upon your choice of program, maintenance of funding, adherence to UKVI rules and regulations and personal interview session.

UK Student Visa: Types

Prospective non-EU applicants are primarily eligible for three types of UK student visa, depending upon their choice of the program:

Type of Visa	Visa Duration	Who can Apply	Application Fees
Short-term study visa	6 months 11 months	Applicants over 16 years of age; Enrolling in 6-month Short Course in UK institution; Enrolling in 11-month English Language Course	97 GBP for 6 months; 186 GBP for 11 months
Tier 4 student visa (General)	Duration of the program + 1 month	Applicants over 16 years of age; Enrolling in course longer than 6 months	348 GBP
Tier 4 student visa (child)	Under 16: 6yrs + 4 months; 16-17yrs: 3 yrs + 4 months	Applicants aged between 4 and 17 years	348 GBP

Of all the students applying for higher education in UK universities, 95% of international students tend to pursue full-time courses, and therefore, require a Tier 4 student visa.

UK Student Visa: Eligibility

UK Student Visa: Eligibility Requirements

Tier 4 Student visa is issued to students who are at least 16 years old and want to pursue higher education in the UK. While the eligibility is calculated on the point-based system, you must fulfill the following requirements:

Course Selection & CAS

Before applying for a UK student visa, it is mandatory for candidates to apply for an eligible course. As a Tier 4 (General) visa applicant, you can pursue one of the following courses:

A full-time program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 6 (graduate diploma or graduate certificate, Bachelors degree or equivalent)
A part-time program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 7 (postgraduate certificate or PG diploma, Masters degree or equivalent)
A full-time, minimum 15 hrs per week day-time study program leading to a qualification equal to or higher than NQF level 3 (higher education diploma, IB diploma or equivalent)
A recognized Foundation program, for postgraduate doctor or dentist.
An English language program at the Level B2, that is, Independent user leveling up to a proficient user.

Once you have been admitted to a university approved by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), you will receive a reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).

Note: You must apply for the UK student visa within 6 months of receiving the CAS.

Knowledge of English

As a part of their academic assessment, your chosen Tier 4 Sponsor, i.e, UK university will assess your level of English language competence as an integral part of their academic evaluation for the applied course. However, for the Tier 4 student visa, you must prove your knowledge of the English language by passing a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with CEFR Level B1 and B2.

IELTS and PTE are the common SELTs taken by the prospective applicants, the equivalents of CEFR levels for these exams are tabulated below:

SELT	IELTS	PTE Academic
Level B1	4.0	43
Level B2	5.5	59
Level C1	7.0	76
Level C2	8.5	85

Applicants must obtain the above-mentioned scores in each section that is, Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening.

UK Student: Minimum Funds

Availability of Funds

As a Tier 4 UK Student visa applicant, you are required to provide evidence of funding to pay for your tuition fees course and monthly accommodation expenses, up to at least a year. At the time of visa application, you must show that you have

at least 12006 GBP (11,97,617 INR) to cover your Year-1 course fees.
- calculated with an approximation of 1,334 GBP(1,33,068 INR) per month.
received official financial sponsorship, and
enough funding to cover the remaining course fees and living costs.

The overall amount of funding you are required to demonstrate depends upon the category you are applying under, the duration of your course, university, and your living arrangements in UK. As evidence of available funds, you must use one of the following:

Cash funds in saving or current bank.
A loan letter
Official financial sponsorship letter

Other accounts such as bonds, shares, overdrafts, etc cannot be used as evidence of funding.

Immigration Health Service Charge

All UK student visa applicants have to pay a health surcharge of 300 GBP per year to gain access to the UK’s National Health Service. The students have to pay it at the time of submitting their visa application online.

UK Student Visa: Application Process

International students seeking Tier 4 student visa are required to apply at least three months before the commencement of the program. The overall UK student visa process is mentioned below.

Documents Required

Details of passport
Tuberculosis test results
Criminal record certificate
Proof of financial sufficiency that you have enough funds for your entire period of stay in the UK.
Parents’ or legal guardian letters if you are under 18.
Recent passport size photograph

How to Apply?

Step I: Enroll for Biometrics at a visa application center to obtain a Biometric Residence Permit.
Step II: Complete an Online Application Form
Step III: Submit Tuberculosis Certificate with “negative” result.
Step IV: Pay the visa processing fee of 348 GBP.
Step IV: Undertake an interview

Generally, the UK student visa outcomes are notified within the 3 weeks of application.

UK Student Visa: Processing Time

UK Student Visa: Processing Time & Priority Service

Your application starts processing once you submit the biometrics and ends after the collection of your passport. As mentioned, the entire process takes about 3 weeks, wherein, 1 week is 5 working days. However, if you want to get the Tier 4 student visa decision on priority, you can contact the visa application center for the same. There are two priority visa collection services available:

Collection within 24 hours: 800 GBP + 348 GBP
Collection within 5 days: 500 GBP + 348 GBP

Note: Currently, these priority services for UK visa are available in limited countries. Fortunately, India is one of them.

UK Student Visa: Validity & Extension

UK Student Visa: Validity & Extention

Your Tier 4 student visa is generally valid for the duration of the program with an additional four months to wind up your studies. The UKVI also offers students a provision to extend their Tier 4 visa, in case you need extra time to complete your course or start a new one. To be eligible for extention of UK student visa, students must

Be present in UK at the time of application
Fulfill the eligibility requirements of Tier 4 visa
Have a sponsor to fund full or partial studies. It can be
- a Tier 4 Sponsor UK University
- an overseas provider
- an independent school

To apply for an extension, students need to complete an online application before their current visa expires, but a minimum before 3 months of course commencement on CAS. Furthermore, you need to pay additional charges for UK study visa extension, which will include

475 GBP for extension
Immigration health surcharge of 300 GBP per year
19.20 GBP for Biometric verification

UK Student Visa: Rejection reasons

UK Student Visa: Rejection Reasons & How to Avoid Them

A successful visa application for UK is not luck, but a result of good preparation. You must be well prepared in advance and do your best so that the application does not get rejected. Some of the major reasons why your Tier 4 student visa may get rejected are:

Missing documents:

The students must go through the visa policy guidance and must be prepared with all the documents in advance.
Every document provided has to be original.
In case you are unable to provide any original document, then you must provide an explanation letter along.

Failure to meet financial requirements:

Every student has to show up to 1,334 GBP per month to stay in UK to cover the study and living expenses.
The students have to show this amount for their entire course duration.

Incorrect document format:

The students must provide the documents in the given format.
Every translated document shall contain the date, name, signature, and contact details of the translator.

Genuine student interview:

In the interview, the applicants are asked a number of questions about their choice of course and future plans.
The students are required to be very clear about their thoughts and must be able to convince the interviewers about their choice of studying in the UK.

When you arrive in the UK with a Tier 4 student visa, somebody from the UK Border Agency (UKBA) will meet you. Your passport details will be cross-checked by them. If everything goes smoothly, then the UKBA officer will let you enter the UK, to begin with, your study abroad adventure!

Conclusion

Processing times for UK visas vary depending on factors such as nationality and the type of visa. You can track your application to find out where it is in the process and speed things up if you need to. If you need help with a UK visa application, get in touch with us today or visit our website for more information.