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Applying in the UK

Overview

If applying together with your dependants: Student visa Application form (dependant details can be added once you have completed main student personal details).

If your dependant is a spouse/partner and is applying after your Student visa has been granted: Dependant-Partner form. You can also add dependent children to this application. For example, if you are applying as a partner with two children, you can all apply on the same application. Please see our application guide by CLICKING HERE (please be aware that the UKVI change forms quite frequently hence some pages may be in different order than the guide)

If your dependent child is a baby born in the UK and is applying after your student visa has been granted: Dependant-Child form.

There are 3 different types of services dependants can use in the UK (during pandemic the UKVI are only offering the standard service)

  • Standard - decision will be made within 8 weeks of online application submissions
  • Priority - decision made within 5 working days of appointment at the UK visa centre
  • Super priority - decision made within 1 working day of appointment at the UK visa centre

Application fees can be found on: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/family-members

More information can be found here if you are a low risk national.

Applying in the UK - Frequently asked questions

Please click on the relevant section below to expand the guidance.
  • Dependants with existing Tier 4 leave can apply to extend their visa from inside the UK. It is now also possible for students with current Tier 4 leave to switch into the student Dependant category from inside the UK and vice versa. Students with Dependants who are in the UK are advised to apply through the Application Check Service scheme offered by the Immigration Service. This is a free service whereby trained immigration advisers at Warwick will check and submit student visa and the Dependant applications on your behalf.

    If you use this service, we will be able to answer any queries the UKVI may have about your application and can follow the progress of your application. If you would like to use this service, please complete the relevant application form and gather your supporting documents before making an appointment to see an adviser.

    • Online application form - as complete as possible
    • Credit or debit card to pay appropriate fee. We suggest that you hold the visa application fee in addition to any other money needed to evidence tuition fees or living costs
    • Passport(s) for all applicants - any that contain visas for the UK
    • BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) if you have been issued one
    • Police Registration Certificate for each application (if applicable)
    • Evidence confirming you have the required maintenance funds
      • Evidence of official financial sponsorship - dependants must be mentioned by name in letter, if applicable
      • (if the dependant is making a visa application the same time as the main student visa applicant then it is possible to use the dependant's bank statements to even show maintenance for the main student visa applicant)
    • Proof of relationship:
      • Marriage certificate, if the dependant is the spouse of the main applicant, unless already provided in previous visa applications

    and

      • Evidence that the relationship is subsisting. We recommend:

    3 documents for each of the previous 2 years confirming the student and the spouse live at the same address

    For example: Bank Statement, Student Status Letter, Recent Utility Bill, NHS Registration, Tenancy Agreement etc.

    • Birth certificates (if the dependant is the child of the main applicant. Babies born in the UK need to submit a full UK Birth Certificate showing the names of both parents)
    • Official translations of marriage or birth certificates (if not in English)
    • Children of PBS Migrants aged 16 years or over - two items from the list below confirming residential address:
    1. bank statements; and/or
    2. credit card bills; and/or
    3. driving licence; and/or
    4. NHS Registration document; and/or
    5. letter from your current school, college or university confirming your address. This must be on official headed paper and bear the official stamp of that organisation. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that organisation. 
  • Where a document is not in English or Welsh, you must get the document translated by an official translator. The original document must be sent with a fully certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. The translation must include:

    • Details of the translator/translation company's credentials; and
    • confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document; and
    • the translator/translation company's contact details
    • It should be dated and include the original signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company.

    The University is unable to assist in the translation of documents. There are a couple of translation companies locally that may be able to assist you. Click here for more information.

    Please note that we are not recommending these companies but are simply providing the details. You are advised to check the charge for any translations when you make initial contact with any company.

    Alternatively, some embassies may offer a translation service for official documents in their language and there are also qualified individuals and other private companies specialising in translation services.

    You should ensure that any translations meet all four of the UKVI translation requirements listed above. The International Student Advisers in the University's Immigration Service can check this for you.

  • You can use scanned/ printed copies of the original documents; however, if the UKVI requires, they may ask for the original. In this case, the UKVI will contact you by email or letter after you have attended your appointment and ask you to provide the documents, usually within 7 working days.

  • If you are using the 'Application Checking Service' operated by the Immigration Service, we will submit your online application and then provide you with the information with regards to the next steps, such as uploading you documents to the UKVI website and going to the visa application centre, etc.. At the application centre you will need to take your documents and provide your Biometric Data (finger prints, photo and signature)

  • All family members must give their biometrics in the same way as the Student visa migrant. Children who are under six years old have to attend a biometrics appointment so that they can be photographed but they do not give their fingerprints. All children who are under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult when they give their biometrics.

Applying from overseas

Overview

To make your application overseas you will need to complete the online application form for Dependants.

The overseas application fee is equivalent to £348 in your local currency.

Please read through the Student visa policy guidance very carefully before you apply. The same document covers Dependants guidance as well.

We have produced an Student Dependant visa application guide if you are applying for dependant visa from outside of the UK.

The above document provides detailed information about acceptable forms of evidence that you will need to include with your application.

If you do not provide a mandatory document or if any of your documents do not meet the requirements set out in the guidance, your application will most likely be refused. Please be very careful when preparing your documents, and check that they meet the student visa guidance.

More information can be found here if you are a low risk national.

Applying from overseas - Frequently asked questions

Please click on the relevant section below to expand the guidance.
  • When applying from your home country, please check the Home Office website for details on how applications are processed in your country. In some countries, applications are processed by the British Embassy/Consulate and in others, applications are processed by a Visa Application Centre. Exact procedures and processing times may vary so you are advised to check this carefully with the organisation who will be processing your application.

    At peak times of the year (July-September), the British Embassies/Visa Application Centres in certain countries will not accept applications submitted earlier than one month prior to the course start date. The University has staff members based in several countries around the world who may be able to help you if you have problems with your visa application.

    • Completed online application forms for any dependants applying at the same time as you: Information
    • Appropriate fee
    • CAS (you will need the CAS number which the student used for their Student visa application if applicable )
    • Passport(s) - all that contain visas for the UK
    • A valid TB certificate (if applying for a visa to the UK for more than 6 months) - see the Home Office website for more information: www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
    • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if applicable)
    • Police Registration Certificate (if applicable)
    • Evidence confirming you have the required maintenance funds (if not on UKVI's list of low risk nationalities)
    • Evidence of official financial sponsorship or consent to complete studies (if applicable)
    • Marriage certificate (if your spouse is applying as your dependant at the same time)
    • Birth certificates (if you have children applying as your dependant at the same time)
    • A copy of the pages from the main applicant's passport showing their permission to stay, if they are already in the UK.
    • Children of PBS Migrants aged 16 years or over - two items from the list below confirming residential address:
    1. bank statements; and/or
    2. credit card bills; and/or
    3. driving licence; and/or
    4. NHS Registration document; and/or
    5. letter from your current school, college or university confirming your address. This must be on official headed paper and bearing the official stamp of that organisation. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that organisation.

    If you use an overseas account containing a foreign currency, you will also need to write on your application form the closing balance in pounds sterling. You should obtain currency conversion by going on the OANDA.com website and including a print out from the website with your visa application.

    • Where a document is not in English or Welsh, you must get the document translated by an official translator. The original document must be sent with a fully certified translation by a professional translator/translation company. The translation must include:
      Details of the translator/translation company's credentials; and
    • confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document; and
    • the translator/translation company's contact details. It should be dated and include the original signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company. More Information
  • The dependant's leave will match that of the main applicant (Student visa holder).