Can the College help me get a visa?

Yes. We will send you a visa support letter if you are applying for a Student Visitor Visa, after checking your course registration.

If you are applying for a General Student Visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System, we will send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to help with your visa application, again after checking your course registration. Oxford House College has been licensed by the UK Border Agency to enrol international students under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. Our Sponsor Licence Number is 0U191CHF9. A CAS is an electronically-generated number which we will send to you by e-mail and which you will need to quote on your 'Tier 4 General Student' visa application form.

If you are applying for a General Student Visa, you will need to send us some additional information when you apply for your course. Without this information we will not be able to send you the CAS you will need when you submit your visa application:

1.We need to see proof that you have the minimum qualifying level of English for a General Student Visa, which is Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Level B1. This level is roughly equivalent to Intermediate level (at Oxford House College this is Level 4 of 7 levels). The College will decide if you have the minimum CEFR B1 level required, based on the qualifications you provide and our own tests of your English.

You can send us your English language qualification(s) or other documents which demonstrate your current English level. The alternatives are listed below. A faxed copy or photocopy is sufficient - you will need to submit the same original document(s) with your visa application:

• an internationally-recognized examination certificate such as an IELTS Certificate / TOEFL Certificate / Cambridge ESOL Certificate / TOEIC Certificate
• a secondary school examination certificate showing your achievement in English
• an attendance certificate from an evening classes in English
• a College certificate showing attendance at an English course
• a College certificate showing achievement in an English course
• a University certificate showing attendance at an English course
• a University certificate showing achievement in an English course
• a reference from an appropriately-qualified person stating your level of English

The document(s) must be in English, so you may need to get an authenticated translation.

2.We need your Full Name exactly as it appears on your passport
3.We need your Passport Number
4.We need your Nationality as it appears on your passport

Before we can send you a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), you will also need to pay the course fees -preferably the full amount, but a minimum of 50%. For any payment being made by bank transfer, we must have received at least a copy of the transfer before we are able to send you a CAS.

You will also need to send us a handwritten essay (maximum 200 words) entitled ‘My previous education, my work experience and my reasons for studying at Oxford House College’. A faxed copy is sufficient.

How do I apply for the visa?

You can obtain more information from and apply to the British Consulate or High Commission in your country. To obtain a student visa you must prove that you will be studying full time (15 hours per week or more) and that you can support yourself financially while you are studying in the UK.

Visa application forms are available online. If you are applying for entry clearance into the UK as a Student Visitor (required for some Visa Nationals planning to study on a course of less than 6 months) you need to complete this form - www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/VAF1D

Help notes about how to complete it are at the bottom of the form. If you are applying for a General Student Visa (required for courses of more than 6 months) you need to complete two forms:

www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/vaf9
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/resources/en/docs/1903073/PBSappendix8generalstudent

Help notes about how to complete them are at: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf29pbsstudent

Will I get a refund if my visa application is refused? If so, how much will I get?

If you cancel your course before arrival due to visa refusal, we will refund your course fees in full minus a £60 cancellation charge and the registration fee. Please note that we need to see the original refusal letter in order to give you a refund and you must apply for the refund within 6 months of the date of the visa refusal.

What happens if I will arrive in the UK after the start date of my course due to a delay in my visa application?

You must let us know as soon as you find out about the delay and we will then advise you as to how to proceed.

Where can I find more information on UK visas?

You can call into your nearest British Council office or, alternatively, visit the UK visa website by following this link: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf2visitors