Under the new transparent system which took effect Tuesday, Jamaican students will need to prove that they have been accepted in a course run by an educational institution which is a UK Border Agency (UKBA)-licensed Tier 4 sponsor, prove that they have the means to support themselves and supply biometric details at their local visa-application centre.
If granted a visa, the new regulations allow international students to undertake part-time work of up to 20 hours per week during term time, full-time work during the holidays and undertake any course-related work placements.
a lot to gain
"Jamaican students have a lot to gain from studying in the UK and can now see whether they are eligible for a visa before they even apply - making the system much clearer and easier to understand.
The aim is to make the application process more transparent and straightforward," said UKBA manager, Lynn Ballard.
For the first time, all independent fee-paying schools, colleges and universities that want to accept international students to study with them now need a licence to do so. This, the release said, will help the UK government crack down on bogus colleges, something which will be welcome news to many Jamaican students who can now be sure the language school, college or university they intend to study at is an approved educational institution. More than 1,000 UK institutions have so far signed up to sponsor international students.
The UK student visa
Applying for a general-student visa or a child-student visa under Tier 4 is a simple process and should be done in the country of which you are a national or a legal resident. For your application to be successful, you will need:
A current passport or travel document.
A visa letter from the institution you are planning to study at.
Proof of maintenance funds.
Evidence of any qualifications the sponsoring institution took account of when deciding to accept you for the course you plan to study.
Any other supporting documents relevant to your application.
You will also need to make an appointment at your nearest visa application centre to provide your biometric details (10-digit finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.
The UK Border Agency will refuse your application and you may be banned from coming to the UK for 10 years if you use a false document, lie or withhold relevant information.
Students looking to study in the UK for six months or less, and who do not wish to take any employment while they are in the UK, or to extend their stay while they are in the country, can enter the UK on a student-visitor visa.
For more information on student-visa products, log on to http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/.