A1.56 Visa Q&A (Updated Regularly)
Answer: The International Travel Health Certificate is issued by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. International students are required to undergo a health check-up at an international travel healthcare centre in a provincial capital, obtain the International Travel Health Certificate and International Travel Vaccination Certificate, and carry them with them for random checks by Chinese customs when leaving and re-entering China.
When entering the UK, you are required to provide a tuberculosis (TB) test certificate issued within 6 months; there is no requirement for other medical examination certificates or vaccination records (including COVID-19 vaccines). Records of COVID-19 vaccines administered in China can be conveniently obtained as an official English electronic version issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via the "International Version of the Epidemic Prevention Health Code" mini-programme. However, we still recommend that students travelling to the UK complete the required health checks in accordance with national regulations and keep the yellow and red booklets handy in case of inspection when leaving the country.
Answer: Students entering the UK on a Student visa on or after 4 August are no longer required to register with the police, even if the requirement is stated on their BRP confirmation letter. There is no need to contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to amend the confirmation letter, and a registration letter will no longer be required when extending your visa.
Answer: You may bring a small quantity (a 1-2 month supply) of TCM products (such as granules or capsules) for personal use, provided that the products have a complete list of ingredients. If you are unsure whether your TCM contains ingredients controlled by UK regulations, it is advisable to consult a doctor or avoid bringing them altogether. Traditional TCM containing large amounts of plant roots, stems, leaves, or seeds is generally not allowed to be brought into other countries’ territories without authorisation.
If you need to bring medicine containing controlled substances or a large quantity of medicine for personal use, you must declare it in advance. We recommend that students with long-term medication needs bring a 1-2 month supply to the UK for transitional use, and then use NHS services to follow up on their condition and medication after registering with a GP. For more advice on bringing personal medication to the UK, please refer to previous articles.
Answer: If there is an error in key information on your visa application, we recommend withdrawing and re-submitting the application before attending your visa application centre appointment to submit documents. Visa fees and healthcare surcharges may take some time to be refunded, but students can submit a new online application in the meantime.
Answer: You can use your original CAS as long as it is valid and has not been used to apply for a Student visa before. However, CAS is generally valid for 6 months. You can contact your university to request an amendment, or the university may need to apply for a new CAS number. Always follow the final CAS information confirmed by your university.
Answer: As of early August, Student visa applications submitted in China are still being processed within 15 working days on average. This is the average processing time for a large volume of applications, and some may be approved faster or delayed beyond 15 working days due to issues with submitted documents.
UKVI has increased staffing to handle Student visa applications during the summer peak period but is still unable to guarantee the service time requirements for priority visas, so the priority service was temporarily unavailable. Students should prepare their visa documents as early as possible and submit their applications in good time (note: the Student visa priority service was reinstated on the 12th).
Answer: To apply for a Student visa, you must enter the CAS number provided by your university, which confirms that the university has submitted your passport details and course information to the UKVI system. This means you can only apply for a visa after receiving your CAS confirmation letter.
However, this does not mean you cannot prepare your visa documents in advance. You can deposit the required funds in your bank account at least 28 days before submitting your application, and then obtain a bank deposit certificate or statement if requested by UKVI during the application process.
Additionally, Student visa applications can now be submitted up to 6 months before the start of your course, so applicants should prepare and submit their applications early to avoid delays during peak periods.
Answer: The Graduate visa can only be applied for once, and time spent on this visa does not count towards the residency requirement for ILR. If you use your Graduate visa to bridge the gap between your undergraduate and master’s Student visas, while this may allow you to extend your stay in the UK to renew both Student visas without returning to your home country, it will waste your remaining Graduate visa entitlement. You will not be able to apply for a Graduate visa again after completing your master’s degree, and any unused time on your original Graduate visa will be forfeited.
Can I extend my visa in the UK for a second master’s degree?You can only extend your visa in the UK if both of the following conditions are met: (1) you meet the academic progression requirement; (2) the gap between the expiry date of your current visa and the start date of your new course is less than 28 days. Both conditions must be satisfied.
Can I switch from a Short-term Study Visa to a Student visa in the UK?No, you cannot switch from a Short-term Study Visa to a Student visa while in the UK.
For students extending their stay in the UK who meet the requirement of a gap of less than 28 days between their current visa expiry date and new course start date, how far in advance can they submit their visa application? 3 months or 6 months?Student visa applications can be submitted up to 3 months before the start of the course.
If a student cannot meet the 28-day gap requirement for extending their visa in the UK and faces difficulties returning to their home country due to the pandemic, are there any other interim visas or methods to extend their stay in the UK?Please contact your university to discuss your situation.
When will the visa priority service be reintroduced?No further updates have been received at this time. Please follow our official WeChat account and the UKVI website for announcements.
What is the current processing time for UK visas?The processing time for Student visas is approximately 15 working days (around 3 weeks), excluding Chinese and UK public holidays. The processing time for Visitor visas is around 7 weeks.
After rescheduling my visa application centre appointment to submit documents, how can I get a refund for the initial postal fee paid? (I was unable to find the refund request form as instructed on the official website)Please contact the visa application centre directly.
In addition to a TB screening certificate, will UK border authorities randomly check other medical examination certificates upon entry?No, you are not required to provide any medical certificates that are not specified on the official UKVI website.
Is there an age limit for undergraduate Student visas?This depends on whether your university imposes an age limit.
Are conditional offer letters accepted when applying for a CAS? Can they be submitted as unconditional offer letters?No, conditional offer letters are not accepted for CAS applications and cannot be substituted for unconditional offer letters.
Will obtaining a bank deposit certificate immediately after depositing the required funds affect my visa application?As long as the deposit certificate shows that the required amount has been held in the bank for at least 28 days and is still in the account at the time of application, it will not affect your application.
Is the 28-day fund requirement calculated based on the date of online fee payment or the date of attending the visa application centre to submit documents?It is calculated based on the date of submitting your online application.
If I return to China and apply for a UK visa within 3 months, do I still need to provide a TB certificate?If you previously stayed in the UK for more than 6 months, you do not need to submit a TB certificate for your new application.
Is it mandatory for applicants under 18 applying via the Student Route to provide details of a UK-based guardian?A guardian based in China is acceptable.
If my financial proof is held in a current account, do I need a deposit certificate, or is a bank statement sufficient?Any document that demonstrates the required funds have been held in the account for at least 28 days before the application submission date is acceptable.
My language course ends on 1 September, and my university will only issue my CAS after that date, leaving me with very little time to process my visa. Are there any alternative ways to proceed in advance?Please communicate with your university in advance to explain your situation and request early issuance of your CAS.
How can a student apply for a UK visa from Canada?To apply for a Student visa from a third country, you must hold a valid residence permit for that country. The application process is completed online, and full details can be found on the official UKVI website:
https://www.gov.uk/student-visa What is the duration of the latest entry visa vignette for UK Tier 4 visas?90 days