1. Can a visitor get a PV?
- UKVI continues to offer Priority Visa (PV) and Super Priority Visa (SPV) services for visitor visa applications to meet the demand for these services.
- PV appointments are released on a regular basis over the course of each week and can only be purchased from the Commercial Partners website as part of the application process.
- Priority and Super Priority services remain unavailable for work, study, and family visas.
2. Short-term student visa applications seem to be really slow these days. What is the average period to process the applications? Our student’s application took more than seven weeks.
The standard processing time for a visitor visa is now an average of seven weeks – this was previously an average of six weeks. It should be noted that the seven-week figure is only an average estimate; applications may take longer in cases where further information and checks are required.
3. I would like clarification on whether the graduate route can be applied for by undergrad students as well as postgrad.
Please read Graduate Visa: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for further information on the eligibility criteria.
4. A student applied for a student visa, but due to Covid, he decided to study online. Could you please let me know if he can request an IHS reimbursement?
Please read the further guidance on the link below to find out if the student meets the eligibility criteria to request IHS reimbursement Immigration health surcharge for EU and Swiss students in the UK – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
5. Can a student work part-time while studying a foundation programme?
A migrant studying a degree level and a below degree level course on a student visa in the UK can work for 20 and 10 hours per week during term time, respectively. So a student aged over 16 years old studying a foundation programme (child student visa) is allowed to work a maximum of 10 hours per week.
6. Also, can they work part-time while studying an English programme?
A migrant studying a degree level and a below degree level course on a student visa in the UK can work for 20 and 10 hours per week during term time, respectively. A student visitor visa does not allow working, only the student visa route.
7. Is there a mobile biometric located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, this year for a UK visa?
Yes, we will be operating the student season TEL for both cities mentioned below twice a week starting 27 July.
8. Can a student apply for the first tier 4 student visa in the UK?
It depends on what immigration status/nationality they hold. Please find out more information on the eligibility criteria here https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
9. Can a student stay in the UK as a visitor and apply for a BNO visa in the UK?
Please find details of the eligibility requirements here https://www.gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa
10. Can a student study virtual lessons in HK this year?
No, given that there are no exemptions this year.
11. Could students, especially HND Level 5 Diploma holders, get an English requirement waiver for a visa application if they pass an English test assessed by the university in the UK they are applying for? If not, are they required to sit any approved English tests as mandatory for visa application?
If you’re studying at degree level or above, your Higher Education Provider (HEP) can assess your level of English themselves. This means they may ask you to do a different test. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/student-visa/knowledge-of-english
12. A post-graduate working visa is not extendable, if the student wants to study again does he/she still need to go back to the country of origin to apply for a new visa?
You cannot extend your graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa
13. What is the average turnaround time for a visa - perhaps give a few examples from key study abroad markets.
The average turnaround time for a student visa is now three weeks. In some cases, when further information is required, the processing time may be longer