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Islamabad, August 07, 2013 (PPI-OT): UK Regional Manager for Visas and Immigration, Mandy Ivemy, in her briefing with a group of journalists in Karachi today, offered some ‘top tips’ to students thinking about applying for a UK student visa. She advised that:
The UK and Pakistan share a long history and have strong culture and family connections. There are over 1.4 million journeys between the UK and Pakistan each year.
The UK wants to attract the brightest and best to study in the UK but at the same time to ensure that everyone who comes to the UK is a genuine student coming to study at an approved, reputable institution.
UK Visas and Immigration considers applications for permission to enter the United Kingdom through our visa services around the world. We apply the same Immigration Rules in every country, and charge the same visa application fees, which are set in our Parliament.
The Home Secretary announced that the Home Office will considerably increase the number of interviews in the 2013/14 financial year. We aim to interview over 100,000 visa applicants globally in 2013/14 financial year.
In 2012, UK Visas and Immigration received almost 16,000 student applications from Pakistanis and whilst most were from genuine students planning to study at approved and reputable institutions, many were not.
We issued approximately 11,000 student visas (68%). A large number of rejected applicants had either submitted forged documents, did not provide enough supporting evidence or did not meet the criteria as explained on our website.
You can find information about how to apply for a UK visa on our website, including visa application fees, details about Gerry’s (our commercial partner), and the link to our online visa application: www.gov.uk/world/Pakistan.
TOP TIPS FOR APPLYING FOR A UK STUDENT VISA
Apply early
Make your application as soon as you can. Don’t leave it until the last minute. We aim to process most student applications within three weeks, but sometimes it takes longer. There is always a surge in student applications shortly after ‘A’ level results are published. So get everything else for your application ready, so once your exam results are confirmed, you can apply promptly for your student visa.
Tell the truth
Don’t submit fake documents: The most common mistakes students make in their application is that they don’t tell the truth – often on the recommendation of bad advice received from unscrupulous visa agents. If you lie or use fake documents, your visa application will be refused. You also risk being banned from visiting the UK for up to ten years.
Visit our website before applying
All the information you need to make an application is available, free of charge, on our website, including a list of approved educational institutions. Make sure you read the published visa requirements – remember that many of them are mandatory. For example, one of the requirements for a UK student visa is for a certain sum must be in your bank account for 28 days prior to the application. The rules are strictly enforced. If the funding has only been in place for 26 days, your application would be refused.
Beware of unscrupulous agents
Some applicants use visa agents to help apply for a visa. Many of these agents offer good advice and are helpful for certain individuals. But all of the information you need is also on our website, free of charge. If you think you need more advice from an agent, please choose them carefully. REMEMBER: Agents have no influence in the visa decision-making process and under no circumstances can guarantee your visa will be issued. Do not believe any agent who tells you otherwise. Please report any fraudulent visa agents to the Police.
Be prepared to be interviewed
UK Visas and Immigration have increased the number of student visa applicants interviewed around the world. Interviewing is one of the tools that we use to protect the integrity of the immigration system. All Pakistani student visa applicants will be interviewed by an officer based in the UK, through videoconference, at the visa application centre when they lodge their applications. In addition, we may invite some students for a further interview at the British High Commission to check whether they qualify for visas. Genuine students have nothing to fear from these interviews, and there is no cap on the number of students who can come to the UK.
For more information, contact:
Madiha Rizki
Communication Manager
Press and Public Affairs Section
British Deputy High Commission Karachi
Tel: +92 (0)21 35827354
Fax: +92 (0)21 35827008
FTN: 8284 7354
Email: madiha.rizki@fco.gov.uk