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Visa and Immigration FAQs - Anglian College London
- What is a visa, entry clearance certificate, or leave to enter?
- What do you mean by Visa National?
- What do High Commission, Consulate or Embassy mean?
- Now I know that I am a visa national. How can I get a visa for me to join Anglian?
- What about the British Council? Is it same as a British Consul?
- Okay, now I know that the British Council cannot give me a visa, will it at least recommend me to study at Anglian College London?
- What about British Consulate, High Commission, or Embassy? Will they give me a visa to study at your college?
- Generally speaking, what are the requirements for obtaining a visa to the UK?
- What else do I need to do?
- I know what ECOs do. They refused my visa the last time round without any good reason. Can I be sure that I will get a visa to study at Anglian this time around?
- What happens if I am refused an Entry Clearance or visa?
- If I decide to make an appeal, will I need a solicitor/lawyer in the UK?
- Will you help me find a solicitor?
- Can I use the deposit or initial payment made to the College for my course for paying the solicitor's fee? Or, could you transfer that money to a solicitor’s fee?
- Can I use the deposit or initial payment made to the College for my course for paying the solicitor's fee? Or, could you transfer that money to solicitor’s fee?
- I have scanned all my documents, do I send them to admissions@angliancollege.co.uk?
- What if I have more questions?
All three terms above refer to a permission granted to our students to enter the United Kingdom. While ‘Leave to Enter’ is also a permission given by the Entry Clearance Officers (ECO) for a student to enter the United Kingdom, ‘Further Leave to Remain’ is the permission given to those people already in the UK to extend or vary their stay in the UK.
'Entry Clearance' is the process of applying to a British Consulate/Embassy before entering the UK. Entry Clearance is mandatory for some types of entry to the UK (including students, HSMP candidates, and all those holding a UK Work Permit of more than 6 months duration) and it is also mandatory for Visa Nationals.
Visitors to the UK are normally divided into two categories, visa nationals & non-visa nationals. Visa nationals are citizens of countries who always require visas before entering the UK. Non-visa nationals are citizens of countries who can come to the UK and get their visa simply stamped into their passport at the port of entry (e.g. airport or seaport) once they arrive in the UK. To find out whether you require a visa before entering the UK please consult your local British High Commission, Consulate or Embassy. Top ^
An Embassy (diplomatic mission) is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation (such as the United Nations) present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state. In practice, a diplomatic mission usually denotes the permanent mission, namely the office of a country's diplomatic representatives, in the capital city of another country. An Embassy is headed by an Ambassador.
Instead of embassies, British Commonwealth countries (mostly former British colonies that have agreed to stay in the organisation called the British Commonwealth, for better relationships among them and with the United Kingdom) have High Commissions in each others' capitals, though it is possible for a country to appoint a High Commissioner (Head of a High Commission) without having a permanent mission in the other country.
A Consulate is the part of an embassy that deals with the visa paperwork, deaths, births and census of its citizen in the host country, and that also issues visas and entry clearance certificates to locals allowing them to visit the embassy's parent country. A Consulate is generally led by a Consul General or simply a Consul.
Find out what we have in your country and where. Collect necessary contact information to obtain your visa to the UK. Top ^
It would be best for you to visit the nearest British Embassy, High Commission, or consulate in your country and ask them for advice.
We will soon publish a detailed guide on preparing for a visa application to come and join us at Anglian. Top ^
No, it is not. The British Council is an organisation involved in promoting ‘cultural exchanges’ between Britain and the host country, for a better relationship or for potential partnerships in areas of mutual interest. The British Council may often share premises and costs with a British Embassy or High Commission, but it is not part of the diplomatic mission, so its staff are not protected by diplomatic immunity. One of the goals of the British Council appears to be to promote the English language and British education in other countries. Top ^
You may not always see Anglian College brochures in British Council premises, because we have not signed up with their particular (expensive) accreditation scheme. This has nothing to do with the quality of our education, but simply that we do not focus primarily on teaching the English language and would rather apply the money to keeping student fees low. Top ^
Of course, they will if you meet other salient criteria for the award of a student visa. Anglian College London is a properly registered and bona fide college that meets all criteria set out by the Home Office UK, British Immigration Agency (BIA) and the norms of the Entry Clearance officers abroad. Top ^
More precise answer to your question may be available from the BIA’s website at http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk as well as the website of your local British Embassy or BHC. However, for a brief outline, here are examples of what would benefit your application:
a. From a college registered with DfES such as Anglian College London or financed by the government bodies;
i. An Offer of a Place letter – to say you have been offered a course and asked for the minimum payment and copies of your educational documents
ii. An Admission letter such as ‘Admission to Anglian College London’ letter stating that you have made the minimum payment and have been admitted to a course of study at the College
iii. A letter confirming accommodation booking – if it has not been done from elsewhere
iv. Course information and financial breakdown – maybe downloaded from the College website
b. Proof of accommodation booking in the UK – if not booked through the College
c. Proof that you have competency in English Language required for a proposed course of study – e.g. IELTS, TOEFL or similar externally accredited exam certificates – please seek help from your local consular section of the British Embassy – also check with Admissions what is the minimum IELTS results you need for a particular course – minimum is 5.5 in average, 6 and 7 for Masters Degree and ONP respectively
d. Proof of finance to support your education for the duration of studies;
i. Sponsor’s financial status
ii. Bank Statements (3-6 months)
iii. Share, bond and debentures certificates
iv. Savings and long term deposits certificates
v. Wills and personal financial grants
vi. Study loans, official education grants
vii. Scholarship details if applicable
viii. Asset/Property valuation certificates and affidavit made by authorised accountants, lawyers or government bodies
ix. Earnings and income sources
x. Rents and business incomes etc
e. Proof that you return to your country after the completion of proposed education;
i. Strong relations to your home – financial and moral
ii. Lucrative job offer – if you are likely to get a decent job and salary and living in your country upon completion of your proposed education, you are likely to return
iii. Social family status – e.g. a minister’s son/daughter is less likely to disappear in the UK
iv. Culture and tradition – maybe you must return because you are the one who has the responsibility of looking after a large nuclear family
v. And others
f. Proof that your proposed education serves as progression to what you have already studied or achieved – if you studied commerce all the way through, then applied for BSc in Electronic Engineering, there is plenty of doubts that can be made about your application – business diplomas and degrees would be better options.
There might be other things you may need to demonstrate to your local British Entry Clearance Officers (ECOs). Please visit them and ask them for an advice. Top ^
At Anglian, we believe that ECOs do a difficult and thankless job of ensuring the right people get the Entry Clearance to enter the United Kingdom. There might be hundreds of applications made to them each month that they need to study through. They also have guidelines (list of instructions on what to do on what situation) to follow to ensure that the applicants meet the set criteria. Therefore, given the circumstances most of them do fantastic jobs. Your aim should be to put yourself on their position, at least pretend to be an ECO, and then ask yourself why you should be allowed into the UK based on the criteria laid out by them. This way, the whole process of documentation and other preparation would be easier for you and the visa officers as well. Top ^
Please check the reason given by the ECO as to why he/she has refused your visa and attempt to rectify them on your next application. See if they have allowed you to make an appeal. An appeal process is lengthy, therefore, they normally give you option to go back with them with evidence that address the problem or questions they have raised on the refusal letter. If they are satisfied with your application, they will invite you in for a visa. If not, you reserve the right to appeal through Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT). Please ask the visa section for more details and do more research on the issue.
You need to understand a few things on this. You may make the appeal yourself via local visa section, via your friends or relatives in the UK or through a solicitor in your country or here in the UK. The solicitor’s charges are quite high in the UK and it does not mean that you will win the case if you appoint a solicitor – it is just that they address the questions asked thoroughly (if you find a good solicitor). Top ^
The College has a list of solicitors who have agreed to provide their services to our students on a lower than average fixed fee basis. If you wish to instruct them, please have all your documents despatched to the College with the up front payment of current fees (please ask Admissions for how much it is at the time of your query) immediately after the date of refusal. We will not entertain late arrival of documents or documents without payment of solicitor fees in advance. Top ^
Sorry, no. The initial payment is part of your admission to Anglian College London and is governed by the College Tuition Fee and Refund Policy. You may ask for a refund (See Admissions FAQ and other documents on the website) less the minimum administrative charge, but you forfeit your status as an admitted student of ACL. This means when you go to AIT for an appeal your status will not be an admitted student. Furthermore, you need to declare to us (declaration form provided by Admissions on request) that you will not go for an appeal, and if you do, you still owe us the amount. Summing up, if you really wish to go ahead with an appeal through our recommended solicitors, you have to pay their fees up front to the College. Top ^
Not at the moment. You still need to make a draft in British Pound payable to Anglian College London and send them with your documents to the College. This draft must not be held by the Agents. Please note that this is an extra facility we are providing to you and you do not have to use it if you are not entirely happy with the procedure – you may employ your own solicitors instead. Top ^
It would be better if you sent them to legal @ angliancollege.co.uk and drop a line (confirming that you have sent them to legal) to admissions @ angliancollege.co.uk.
You are always welcome to ask us questions. Please do so either by phone or email your queries to admissions @ angliancollege.co.uk (with no spaces) and we will respond to you the earliest. Top ^
Disclaimer: We, Anglian College London are not OISC member and are not authorised to give immigration counselling. The information above is prepared from the non-immigration point of view, therefore should not be taken as an authoritative instructions but a guide to deal with the issues directly relevant to the contractual agreement between our students and us. For genuine legal advice, please visit an immigration advisor or practising solicitor.
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Principal's MessageDr Anthony Durham
is a scientist with a PhD in molecular biology from Cambridge University.He takes a keen interest in the progress of our students on all courses.
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