MESSAGE TO NEW STUDENTS
TO ALL STUDENTS COMING TO THE UK IN SPRING 2010
This message on our website is to welcome all students who are arriving in the UK in the spring of 2010 and to make sure you have important information for the beginning of the semester.
I'm Liz Simpson, the Cornell/Brown/Penn Centre's director and I'm also posting this message on behalf of my friend and colleague Sue Welsford, the programme assistant.
You should already have received a letter from us via your study abroad office in the US so this will act as a reminder. After this, all the information we want you to receive will be sent to you via email (to the addresses your US universities have provided us with - so remember to check them!). Later in the semester, these emails should all get posted on this website so you can refer back to them.
The most important info is to remind you of the dates we have set aside for our own 'welcome meetings' at the start of the semester. These are essential dates for your diaries. If you are in the UK, we think it's a priority to keep these dates free and come and meet us. We don't expect to hear that you are already travelling and cannot attend!
First of all, for students in Scotland, I will come up to Edinburgh on January 20 and 21, at the start of the semester, so we can get together to talk about any issues you might have. I will meet you at 55 George Square next door to the International Office 4pm-5pm on Jan 20. I'll email you with more details.
In London, we will host a large meeting on Saturday 23 January for everybody else at Birkbeck College, Torrington Square, between Malet Street and Russell Square, London WC1. Go to www.bbk.ac.uk/maps to find your way. We start at 1:30pm and finish at about 3:30pm. This is timed so that the majority of students in London and elsewhere in England will have arrived and settled in and it's an opportunity to meet us and our guest speakers, to consider subjects like studying and living in the UK, working and travelling, safety and security. We hope you will all come to this meeting.
Some of you have already contacted us with questions; please do continue to do so. Our address is 51 Gower Street, London WC1, our telephone number is 020 7255 2715, and our fax is 020 7255 2716. You can email me, Liz, at liz.simpson@btconnect.com. Check below for some information on immigration and onward travel from UK airports, which we hope you'll find useful.
Sue Welsford and I are looking forward to meeting you soon. Please note that the office will be closed from 24th December to 3rd January inclusive (as will UK University Offices). Happy Holidays.
APPLYING FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER THE UK TO STUDY
Changes: There have been many changes to UK immigration regulations and application procedures recently, and more are promised as the UK implements fully the Points-Based System (PBS). These information notes are written to help you to decide whether to apply for ‘pre-entry clearance’ or a visa before coming to the UK. They should be read in conjuction with information provided by your hosting UK university and/or your home campus.
Websites for information and application: First of all – start
off with www.ukvisas.gov.uk, the official
website of UKBA, the UK government department. Click on WorldBridge Services,
the commercial partner of the UK government immigration services in the
US and many other countries, use the dropdown menu for United States and
by following links for Students Visitors you’ll find a useful flowchart
‘Visa Options for Students’ to help you decide whether you
have to apply for a visa and then what type you need. The main UKvisas
site also has the forms and guidance notes you need and links to the online
application system (www.visa4UK.fco.gov.uk)
if you decide to apply for a visa. UKCISA (www.ukcisa.org.uk)
is an invaluable source of full and accurate independent information and
advice on immigration.
Some nationalities do not have to apply as an adult student to be able
to study in the United Kingdom, and certain nationalities must meet some
requirements to be able to work while studying. This page explains what
nationalities do not have to apply to study in the United Kingdom (and
what are visa or non-visa nationals), and how nationals of the Czech Republic,
Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria
and Romania should apply to work when studying (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-i-apply/nationality/)
Do you need – or want – a visa?: If you are coming to study
in the UK for a full academic year you must apply for a visa, whether
you hold a US passport and are a ‘non-visa national’ or not.
This will give you admission to the UK as a PBS ‘Adult’ or
‘General Student’ and also gives you permission to work part-time
during the academic year and full-time during vacations. Even if you are
planning to leave the UK during vacations you must still get a visa as
your study programme is for a full year.
If you are a non-visa national coming to the UK for a study programme of 6 months or less (this means the fall semester, or the spring semester if your programme starts at the beginning of January and finishes by the end of June) you have the choice of applying for a visa and entering the UK with the status of ‘Adult General Student’ or entering the UK as a ‘Student Visitor’ (a new immigration status designated on 1 September 2007). Student Visitors cannot work, either paid or unpaid and cannot change their immigration status or apply for an extension of their stay in the UK, from within the UK. Under no circumstances should you try to negotiate permission to work on arrival in the UK if you have not applied for and received a visa before leaving the US, because you risk immediate deportation.
A visa national coming to the UK for a course of less than six months may also enter as a Student Visitor but you must apply for prior entry clearance. Leave to enter will not be granted at the port of entry as it can for non-visa nationals.
Costs and other details to consider: There is a charge for a PBS Adult General Student visa -currently approximately $220 - and a lower charge of around $100 for prior entry clearance as a Student Visitor for visa-nationals. The UK government requires biometric information as part of the application procedure. This means you have to have your fingerprints taken – details are given during the online application procedure - and at a busy time like late summer or during December this will affect the length of time it takes to process applications. The visa will be scanned into your passport so you must send it with your application and other documents (do not send a photocopy). You will be given a visa for the length of time of your course as stated on your university or programme offer letter so make sure it’s correct. You may not apply more than three months before the start of your course. Do everything online: do not try to deliver documents personally to the consulates. In an emergency, there are some companies that offer the service of procuring visas – they make a charge for this of course so they are only to be used in an emergency (the WorldBridge website gives you a list).
So … remember:
• Applying for a visa takes time especially in the late summer
and the December busy periods – and you have to send off your passport
to have the visa scanned into it.
• It also costs quite a lot … do you really want that part-time
job if you’re only in the UK for a semester?
• ‘Students visitors’ cannot work and cannot stay in
the UK longer than six months.
• Immigration officials will ask you plenty of questions when you
come in … don’t try to negotiate permission to work on entry
if you haven’t applied for and received your visa first.
• Now use the UK Border Agency flowchart ‘Visa Options for
Students’ and read ‘Applying for your visa in three easy (?)
steps’ which follow.
Note: Students who hold passports from countries other than the US or the EU should use the UKvisas website to check whether they need visas and how to apply for them.
APPLYING FOR YOUR VISA IN THREE EASY(?) STEPS
STEP 1 Complete the online application and VAF9
The online application forms can be found at www.visa4UK.fco.gov.uk
• Complete the form online (‘PBS Tier 4 student’ application
form).
• Pay online for the return mail service of your documents (if you
are not using a commercial courier service to get your visa). The current
visa fee is £145.
• After completing the form and making the payments you’ll
be directed to make an appointment at an Application Support Center to
enrol your biometric data. There are 129 centres – you can choose
the most convenient date, time and location.
• Print out the completed application form, the payment confirmation/s
and the biometric appointment confirmation.
• Print out and complete paper form VAF9 – this collects further
information and acts as a check-list that you have compiled all the correct
documentation. The details you give should match the documents you supply.
STEP 2 Attend the biometric data collection appointment
• Remember to take along your appointment confirmation, as well
as a copy of the completed on line form and proof or payment and attend
the biometrics appointment. You will not be seen without an appointment
and your original passport. An electronic scanner will be used to take
your fingerprints and a digital photograph will also be taken. You will
receive a receipt showing you have completed the process.
STEP 3 Submit your visa application by post
You must submit your visa application by post to the appropriate consulate
in Los Angeles, Chicago or New York within 2 weeks of your biometric appointment.
You will be notified during the application procedure which is the right
consulate to deal with. Be sure to send your application by certified
mail or by an express mail service (e.g., Federal Express or UPS). Never
send your passport by regular US postage.
Send in the following items (all originals, not photocopies):
• Your original passport (not a photocopy).
• The copy of your completed online application form showing online
visa payment and return postage fees paid.
• Completed form VAF9.
• Receipt showing biometric enrolment.
• Original or certified copies of supporting documents: acceptance
letter from your UK university or programme, an up-to-date transcript
and documents proving you have the finances to support your study in the
UK. These will include bank statements in your own name, grant or financial
aid documents and a letter guaranteeing that Cornell, Brown or UPenn will
be paying your tuition. If you want the original documents returned you
must send copies as well.
• 2 passport sized photographs – taken full-face against a
white background (not scanned from another source).
Forms of Financial Documentation: Students studying in London must have evidence of £800 per month to cover living costs and students studying outside of London must show evidence of £600 per month. Acceptable forms of financial documentation:
• Official letter from ‘financial sponsor’ stating
amount of sponsorship, length of sponsorship, contact information etc.
• Bank statements (savings, current and notice accounts only) Shares,
bonds and pension funds are not acceptable.
• Applicant must be named on account (shared accounts are OK).
• Original statements only (internet statements are only acceptable
if they are stamped on each page by a bank official).
• Original signed letter from bank containing all necessary information
can be used in place of statements.
• Amounts must be given in sterling, not dollars. Use www.OANDA.com
to calculate the exchange
• Funds must have been held for continuous 28 day period before
date of application.
To be aware
1. Foreign language documents must be accompanied by a fully certified
translation by a professional translator
2. All financial evidence must be dated no more than one calendar month
before application date
3. Provisional student loans not acceptable. Letter must state that the
‘loan will be available on the issue of the visa’
4. All documents must be original and genuine
Be aware of the following:
Most Common Reasons Why Processing is Delayed or Applications are Refused:
1. Applicant forgets to send original and valid passport!
2. Application sent to the wrong issuing post.
3. Application split up in to several packages.
4. Application form not properly completed (insufficient information).
5. Applicant forgets to send photos.
6. Applicant unwilling to submit financial documents.
7. Applicant applies too late.
8. Biometrics do not record properly.
9. Applicant’s course does not meet the requirements of the rules.
10. Applicant does not provide clear contact details.
Timing: The earliest that year-long participants can
submit their applications is four months prior to the start date of their
program. The earliest that a semester participant (who has chosen to apply
for a visa because they want to work, volunteer, or do an internship)
is three months and one week prior to the start date of their program.
AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
[Times and fares correct in May 2008]
London to HEATHROW AIRPORT (www.heathrowairport.com):
• Heathrow Express
Fast, frequent trains operate from Heathrow to London Paddington. The
journey time is 15 minutes and the trains run every 15 minutes. A single
fare is £14.50 and it is £28 for a return. More information
about Heathrow Express at www.heathrowexpress.com.
• Heathrow Connect
Running every half hour, the brand new trains will take you in comfort
from any of the following stations to all Heathrow Terminals: Hayes, Southhall,
Hanwell, West Ealing, Ealing Broadway, Paddington. A single fare from
Paddington to Heathrow is £6.90, and trains begin running at 5:13
am and continue until 11:31 pm. More info at www.heathrowconnect.com.
• Underground
Tube trains operate every five minutes into central London with a journey
time of approximately 50-60 minutes. Cost is around £5. More information
can be found at www.tfl.gov.uk
• National Express coach
Frequent services throughout the day with journey times of between 45
and 85 minutes. More information about National Express at www.nationalexpress.com.
• Feltham Railair connection
The 285 local bus service links Heathrow to Feltham rail station. From
Feltham there are frequent trains to London Waterloo. The combined journey
time of the bus and train is one hour and 40 minutes. The cost is under
£5. More information about Feltham Railair. www.southwesttrains.co.uk.
• Taxi
London taxis are available outside each terminal. The cost to central
London is £45-£50 and the journey time is approximately one
hour. www.londonblack-cab.com
• Bus: www.tfl.gov.uk
London to STANSTED AIRPORT (www.stanstedairport.com):
• Stansted Express
Stansted Express is the fast and convenient way to Stansted Airport from
central London (London Liverpool Street), with trains departing every
15 minutes with an average journey time of 45 minutes. For the latest
information and timetables, please visit www.stanstedexpress.com.
The Stansted Express also calls at Bishops Stortford, Harlow Town and
Tottenham Hale (change here for Victoria Line).
• ONE Rail - Service to London Stratford and Lea Valley stations
An hourly off peak service connects Stansted Airport to all principal
stations along the Lea Valley to London Stratford, stopping at Stansted
Mountfitchet, Bishops Stortford, Sawbridgeworth, Harlow Mill, Harlow Town,
Roydon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt, Enfield Lock, Angel Road, Northumberland
Park, Tottenham Hale and Stratford. This service operates Monday to Saturday
only. For further timetable information, please call National Rail Enquiries
on 0845 748 4950.
• National Express: www.nationalexpress.com
• A50 - Terravision Express Shuttle - London Victoria (Central London)
A direct, non-stop service between Stansted Airport and London Victoria
- ideal for visitors to Kensington, Notting Hill and perfect for Underground,
rail and bus connections. Departing from coach bay 26. The journey takes
approximately 75 minutes with departures up to every 30 minutes. Adult
tickets cost £8 one-way and £14 return and for children £4
one-way and £7 return. First departure from London Victoria (Bullied
Way) is at 02:40, and last departure from Stansted Airport is at 01:00
• easyBus: operates an express minibus service to/from Central London
(Baker Street and Marble Arch), 7 days a week, from as little as £2.00
one way. Located at Bay 4 outside the main terminal building. Direct service
with no stops. Buses run every day from 4 am until about 10 pm. www.easybus.co.uk.
London to GATWICK AIRPORT (www.gatwick-airport-guide.co.uk):
• Gatwick Express
www.gatwickexpress.com
London Victoria to Gatwick Airport:
First trains 03:30 04:30
Then every 15 minutes 05:00 23:45 00 - 15 - 30 - 45
Last trains 00:01 00:30
• National Express: www.nationalexpress.com
• First Connect: Trains from London Bridge Station and King’s Cross: www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
• Southern Railway to/from Victoria: www.southernrailway.com
• easyBus: easyBus mini-coaches leave from Gatwick for London Victoria
as often as every 20 minutes from 6 am to 1 am every day. Fares start
from £2.00 one way. www.easybus.co.uk
London to LUTON AIRPORT (www.luton-airport-guide.co.uk):
• easyBus: operates an express minibus service to/from Central
London (Baker Street), 7 days a week, from as little as £2.00 one
way. Located at Bay 4 outside the main terminal building. Direct service
with no stops. www.easybus.co.uk
o Buses run every day from 4 am until about 10 pm
• Green Line 757: provides an express coach link between London
Luton Airport and Central London. If you are traveling with a large group,
of more than 15 people please call +44 (0)1582 584478 (open Monday to
Friday 9am to 5pm). Website: www.greenline.co.uk
• Local Buses: London Luton Airport is served by frequent bus services
connecting the airport and surrounding areas. For further information
please contact Traveline on: +44 (0)870 608 2608.
• National Express: nationalexpress.com
o Buses leave on the hour and half-hour from 7 am until 11:30 pm
• Arriva Bus Company: www.arrivabus.co.uk/
• First Connect: Trains from London Bridge Station and King’s
Cross: www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk
• More Information: http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/airport/