英国签证答疑

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This chapter will be updated at any time.

The restriction of not leaving the country unless necessary and urgent has been in place since 2020, but it does not have any impact on studying abroad or working overseas. Shifenmiao has seen many friends sharing this news from May 10th recently, but don't worry, studying abroad is not affected.

Who can leave the country?

1. Study abroad (with a student visa and an admission letter).

2. Employment (with a work visa and an employer's letter).

3. Humanitarian visit (for urgent reasons such as the illness or      death of family members).

4. After immigration approval, holding a landing document.

 

Question 1: Do I still need to obtain the "International Travel Health Certificate" and "International Travel Vaccination Certificate" (Yellow Book, Red Book) when traveling to the UK?

 

Answer: The "International Travel Health Certificate" is issued by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. International students going abroad are required to undergo a health examination at the International Travel Health Care Center in the provincial capital city, obtain the "International Travel Health Certificate" and "International Travel Vaccination Certificate," and carry them with them for inspection by Chinese customs upon departure and re-entry into the country. When entering the UK, only a tuberculosis test certificate within 6 months is required, and there are no requirements for other medical examination certificates or vaccination records (including COVID-19 vaccines). The records of COVID-19 vaccination administered in China can be obtained conveniently through the mini-program "International Edition of Health Code for Epidemic Prevention," which provides an English electronic version of the COVID-19 vaccination record issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, we still recommend that students traveling to the UK undergo a medical examination according to national regulations and prepare the Yellow Book and Red Book for inspection when leaving the country.

 

Question 2: The requirement to register at the police station within 7 days after arriving in the UK was canceled locally on August 4, 2022, but the confirmation letter for my Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) still states that I need to register at the police station. What should I do?

 

Answer: Students entering the UK with a student visa after August 4th no longer need to register at the police station, even if the requirement is mentioned in the BRP confirmation letter. There is no need to contact the UK Visas and Immigration to modify the BRP confirmation letter, and when renewing the visa, there is no longer a requirement to provide a registration letter.

 

Question 3: Can I bring Chinese patent medicine into the UK?

 

Answer: You can bring a small amount (1-2 months' dosage) of Chinese patent medicine (powder or capsules) for personal use, provided that the medicine has a complete ingredient manual. If you are unsure whether the Chinese patent medicine you are taking contains controlled ingredients in the UK, it is recommended to consult a doctor or not bring them. Traditional Chinese medicine, which includes a large amount of plant roots, stems, leaves, seeds, etc., is not allowed to be brought into the UK by customs. If you need to bring controlled drugs or a large quantity of personal medication into the UK, you need to declare it in advance. We recommend that students with long-term medication needs bring a 1-2 month supply of medication for transitional use in the UK, and after registering with a GP doctor, follow up on their condition and medication using NHS services. For more advice on bringing personal medication to the UK, please refer to previous articles.

 

Question 4: If I haven't received the COVID-19 vaccine in China, which vaccine should I get before departure?

 

Answer: The UK Department of Health currently recognizes two Chinese inactivated vaccines, Sinopharm and Sinovac, which have been approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization. We still recommend that you complete all available vaccine doses, including the third booster dose, before traveling to the UK. The vaccination records of Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines administered in China can be obtained through the mini-program "International Edition of Health Code for Epidemic Prevention," which provides an English electronic version of the vaccination record issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. After obtaining the NHS medical insurance number in the UK, you can upload the records to the NHS website, and the NHS will contact international students for further guidance on COVID-19 vaccination in the UK.

 

Question 5: Do I need to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine after receiving two doses in China and arriving in the UK?

 

Answer: Medical research both domestically and internationally shows that the protective efficacy of all COVID-19 vaccines weakens over time, and the booster dose has a significant effect on reducing severe cases. Domestic research also indicates that receiving vaccines of different technological routes significantly enhances protection against COVID-19. In the UK, the third booster dose consists of half a dose of Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccine, both of which have been widely recognized for their effectiveness. Any vaccine, regardless of the technological route, carries a very low risk of adverse reactions. However, considering the overall benefits, it is recommended to follow the advice of the healthcare department and receive the booster dose at the appropriate time. Regardless of the number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received in China, it is important to synchronize the records on the NHS website or consult your GP doctor for further advice on continuing COVID-19 vaccination.

Question 6: When filling out the visa application form, I made a mistake with my name and passport number. Can I make a note to correct it on the printed application form?

 

Answer: If there are key errors in the visa application information, it is advisable to withdraw the application and reapply before submitting it to the visa application center. The visa fees and healthcare surcharge may take some time to be refunded. Students can first submit a new online application.

 

Question 7: I am a undergraduate student from the 20/21 academic year, and I attended online classes in China during the pandemic. Can I still use the previous CAS to apply for a visa?

 

Answer: As long as the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) is valid and has not been used for a previous student visa application, you can use the existing CAS. However, the CAS usually has a validity period of six months. You can contact your university to modify it or request a new CAS number. The final CAS information confirmed by the university should be followed.

 

Question 8: What is the current processing time for UK student visas? Can expedited services be resumed?

 

Answer: As of early August, student visa applications submitted in China can still be processed within 15 working days. This is the average processing time for a large number of visa applications, although there may be faster or delayed processing times due to various reasons related to document submission. The UK Visa and Immigration has increased staff to process student visas during the peak summer period, but they are unable to guarantee the time requirements for expedited visas. Therefore, expedited services are temporarily not available. Students should prepare their visa documentation early and submit their student visa applications as soon as possible (student visa expedited services have resumed as of the 12th).

 

Question 9: Do I have to wait until I receive the CAS from the university to apply for a visa, or can I use the provisional acceptance letter to apply?

 

Answer: A student visa application requires the CAS number provided by the university, which means that the university has already submitted the student's passport information and intended course of study to the UK Visa and Immigration system. Students need to have the CAS confirmation letter before applying for a visa. However, it does not mean that students cannot prepare their visa documents in advance. Funds can be deposited in the student's account for at least 28 days in advance, and if required to provide financial evidence during the application process, students can obtain bank statements or proof of deposit from the bank. Additionally, student visa applications can now be submitted up to 6 months before the start of the program, so applicants should prepare their visa applications early to avoid delays during the visa peak period.

 

Question 10: After completing my undergraduate studies in the UK and applying for a graduate work visa, can I apply for it again after completing a master's degree in the future? Does the graduate work visa count towards the 10-year residency for settlement?

 

Answer: The graduate work visa can only be applied for once, and it does not count towards the time required for settlement (also known as indefinite leave to remain). If an applicant uses the graduate work visa to bridge between the undergraduate and master's degree stages of their student visa, it may provide more time for them to renew their student visa in the UK without returning to their home country. However, it also means that the remaining time on the graduate work visa will be wasted, and they will not be able to apply for it again after completing their master's degree. The remaining time on the original work visa will be invalidated.

UK Student Visa FAQ July 2022

1. Can a Tier 2 Visa be extended within the UK?

Both of the following conditions must be met to extend the visa within the UK: 1. Academic progression requirement; 2. The current visa expiration date and the start date of the new course must be less than 28 days apart.

2. What documents are required for a UK visa extension, and what      is the process like?

Please refer to the official information: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/extend-your-visa

3. Can a Short-Term Study Visa be extended in the UK for a student      visa?

A Short-Term Study Visa cannot be extended to a student visa within the UK.

4. For students extending their stay in the UK, how early can they      submit the visa application if the current visa expiration date and the      start date of the new course are less than 28 days apart? Is it 3 months      or 6 months?

The student visa application can be submitted as early as 3 months before the start of the course.

5. In the case of extending the visa in the UK, it is required      that the current visa expiration date and the start date of the next      course are within 28 days. If a student cannot meet the 28-day requirement      and it is difficult to return to their home country due to the pandemic,      are there any alternative visas or methods to extend the stay in the UK?

Please communicate with your school for further guidance.

 

Visa Application Service FAQ

2. Visa Application Service-related

3. When will the expedited visa service reopen?

• We have not received any further notifications. Please follow       our official public account and check the UKVI website for updates.

4. How long is the current processing time for UK visas?

• The processing time for student visas is approximately 15       working days (around 3 weeks), excluding holidays in China and the UK.       The processing time for tourist visas is around 7 weeks.

5. If I reschedule my appointment to submit documents at the visa      center, how can I get a refund for the postage fee paid for the initial      submission? (I couldn't find a refund request form as mentioned on the      official website)

• Please contact the visa application center for assistance.

 

Visa Application Materials FAQ

3. Visa Application Materials-related

4. Besides the tuberculosis screening, are there any other medical      certificates randomly checked for entry to the UK?

• There are no requirements stated on the official website that       indicate additional medical certificates are needed.

5. Is there an age limit for undergraduate student visas?

• It depends on the restrictions set by the individual       universities.

6. Can a conditional offer letter be accepted when applying for a      CAS? Can it be submitted as an unconditional offer letter?

• Conditional offer letters are not accepted.

7. If the funds are deposited into the bank account and a bank      statement is issued immediately, would it affect the visa application      process?

• As long as the bank statement shows that the required amount       has been in the account for 28 days, and the funds are still present in       the account, it should not affect the visa application.

8. When calculating the financial proof duration, should it be      based on the date of online payment or the date of submission at the visa      center?

• It should be based on the date of online application       submission.

9. If returning to the home country for less than three months, is      a tuberculosis certificate not required when applying for a UK visa?

• If the previous stay in the UK exceeded six months, a       tuberculosis certificate is not required in the mentioned situation.

10. Is it mandatory to provide the information of a UK guardian for      those under 18 years old applying for a student route visa?

• Chinese guardianship information is sufficient.

11. If the deposit is in a current account, is a bank statement      required, or is bank transaction history sufficient?

• As long as the provided evidence shows that the required       amount has been in the account for 28 days prior to the application       submission date, it is acceptable.

 

4. Visa application related

1. The student language course ends on September 1st, and the      school only starts issuing CAS. It feels tight to apply for a visa within      this timeframe. Is there any other way to handle it in advance?

Please communicate with the school in advance and explain the situation.

2. How can students in Canada apply for a UK visa?

To apply for a student visa in a third country, you need to have a residence permit from that third country. The application process is also done online. For more details, please refer to: [link] (https://www.gov.uk/student-visa).

3. Duration of the latest entry visa page for UK Tier 4 visa.

90 days.