Speak English Learn English
+44 (0) 161 88 30 247
info@a2z-english.com
UK Visas
Many students who want to study in the UK need a visa to live and study here.
- If you are from an EU or EEA country you don't need a visa to come to the UK
- If you are not from an EEA country then you will need a visa. We can help you to obtain a visa because our school is registered with the UK government as a highly trusted sponsor.
- However, we are not professional advisors, and the advice below is just to help you understand this complicated subject. For professional advice please visit a lawyer.
Types of visa
There are currently 3 main types of UK student visa which we sponsor;
- Extended Student Visitor Visa - this is the visa we recommend to most students.
- Student Visitor Visa
- General Student Visa
Please see our student visa table for a quick idea of what you can apply for and the conditions.
In addition please look at our UK student visa flow chart which should help you understand the process.
The law about student visas changes all the time, so you should not depend on any of the information on these pages! Consult a lawyer instead.
How to get a student visa
This is the normal proces, it might be different for you depending on which country you are from. If you want help just contact us by email.
1. ENROL and PAY for a course of more than 15 hours per week (A course of 20 or 30 lessons per week). You should also usualluy buy 2 - 4 weeks of homestay accommodation unless you already have somewhere to stay in the UK.
2. We will contact you to ask you to do our online English test.
3. We send you any letters and documents you need, including a CAS number by email if you need it.
4. Send/Take your letters to the UK embassy or consulate with other evidence. Hopefully they will give you a visa.
5. Come to England, have a personal interview/level test in the school and start studying
Other evidence;
For official guidance please read this government publication. You can also visit the UK Visas web page. The information below is only a guide. Generally to obtain a student visa for the UK you generally need to show 4 things;
1. You have enough money to pay for you food, accommodation etc. so you will not depend on the government for money or work too much. You need to have at least £800 (for Manchester and our London School in Wimbledon/ £1000 for inner London) for each month you want to live in the UK, e.g. 6 months = £3600. You can prove you have enough money by showing bank statements. These should be originals and should cover at least 3 months, ending not more than 1 month before your interview or application. You must show you do not intend to work more than 20 hours a week and that your main reason for coming is to study English and not to work. Working more than 20 hours a week with a student visa is illegal.
2. You have a good reason to study English. Some examples are; If I learn English I can get a better job in my country; I want to learn English so I can study in an English University.
3. You want to return to your country after you have finished. Some examples are; I have a job in my country; I have a house in my country; I have to finish University in my country.
4. You are enrolled on a course at A2Z School of English for at least 15 hours day time study per week (20 lessons or more per week). You must come to school for at least 80% of the course or the school must inform the government that you are absent.
Can I work with a student visa? How much?
No, you cannot work with any kind of student visa from A2Z. Even if you study on a GSV with us you cannot study because we are not a government funded institution.
How long does it take to obtain a student visa?
How long it takes you to obtain a Student Visa depends on your situation. There is no way to predict how long it will take, but it is generally between 4 and 14 weeks.
Can I get a refund if my visa application if rejected?
Yes, we will refund all fees minus any enrolment fees and a fee of £125. So, if you pay £1000 for tuition and £60 enrolment fees then we will refund £935. You can find out more details and how to claim a refund on our refunds page.
Bogus students
Please note that if you attempt to use deception in applying for a visa through A2Z School of English or are judged to have done so by an immigration officer or consulate employee we will not give you a refund of any kind. This is to discourage bogus students from trying to use our school as a way to enter the UK fraudulently. Please do not apply to A2Z if you are not a real student, we are not interested in you!
