ELTC Students Visa Information for September 2012

Why you need to extend your visa before it expires

If you let your visa expire, the University has to deem you withdrawn
If you submit a visa application out of time, you do not have the right of appeal if the application is refused
Overstaying your visa is a serious offence and you will have to declare this in the future
Overstaying your visa might lead to deportation and automatic visa refusals in the future

Why it is so important to make a perfect application

If your application has only one little mistake (e.g. the photographs are not acceptable, a compulsory box not being ticked, a question on the form not answered), it will be rejected as invalid
If your application is rejected as invalid, UKBA will return it to you and by that time your visa might have already expired and you will have to make an out of time application as an overstayer.
If you make an out of time application, you will have to show the higher maintenance amount (£7200 for 28 days plus outstanding tuition fees, even if you previously qualified for the lower maintenance amount) and you will have no right to appeal if the application is refused (even if UKBA refused in error)
Overstaying can have serious consequences such as not being able to make a visa application for one year or even 10 years

How the University of Sheffield is going to help you

If your visa expires after the 1st October or if you already have an unconditional offer before the end of your ELTC course, contact SSID to book an appointment for the University's visa extension scheme.

If your visa expires on or before the 1st October and your offer is subject to achieving the necessary English language score, please follow the following steps:

Step 1: Watch the presentations on documents and visa extension forms (see downloads on the right hand side) to prepare for the document checking session and the final checking session
Step 2: Book a place on the document checking session and the final visa checking sessions (see below).
Step 3: Attend the document checking session from wc 28th August 2012)
Step 4: Attend your final visa application checking session from wc 10th September. At this session we will check all your documents and your visa application form. We have limited spaces for these sessions so please book as soon as possible.
Step 5: We will submit your visa application form to UKBA via the University's visa extension scheme.

The document checking session

Why you should attend the document checking session as well as the final visa application checking session

It is important that you attend this so we can check your financial documents, photographs, academic qualifications and translations. Then you will have enough time to make any necessary changes for the final session.
If you only attend the final checking session and we are telling you at the final checking session that there is something wrong with your documents, there might not be enough time to make the necessary changes before you have to submit your visa application.
We have limited places for those sessions, therefore you must book early and if you cannot attend your session, please cancel well in advance so somebody else can book your place.

What you need to bring to the document checking session:

You must bring 2 recent photographs, your financial evidence, your academic qualifications (which you used to obtain the offer for your degree course) and the translations of any documents which are not in English. Even if you haven't got the money in your account yet (although we hope that you do by the time you attend the session) or haven't had it for 28 days yet, please bring your bank statements anyway, so we can check that the format is acceptable.

If you are self funding: bank statements
If you are self funding and you are using your parents' bank statements: your parent's permission letter and your birth certificate
If you are sponsored by an official financial sponsor (either the University or your home University, the British Government or your home government, an international scholarship organisation or an international company): your sponsor letter
Watch the presentations on documents (see downloads on the right hand side) so you know the details on the formal requirements of those documents, including the photographs, the financial evidence and the translations

What we are going to check:

That your photographs meet UKBA requirements (see presentation slides 3 and 4)
That your financial documents meet UKBA's formal criteria (self funding students see presentation slides 7-9, officially financially sponsored students see presentation slides 10-11)
That you have sufficient amount of money (see presentation slides 5-6). If you are self funding, we recommend that you have this amount transferred into your account by the 30th July, even if you don't know at this point if you get an unconditional offer. But even if you haven't got the money in your account by then or not for 28 days, you should attend the session anyway so we can check the format of your bank statements and can advise you on the amount of money you need, if you are still unsure.

How do I book the document checking session and where does it take place?

Document checking sessions will take place from 28th August. The location depends on the date of your appointment - please see the dates and locations below. To book your session online at a date and time convenient for you, click here to register: http://grace.group.shef.ac.uk/visa/documents/

The final visa application checking sessions

Why you should attend the final visa application checking session

We will check all your documents and your visa application form and make sure the application meets UKBA requirements. Whilst we cannot guarantee that your application will be granted, attending this session and submitting the application through the University minimises the risk that your application is rejected or refused.

We have limited places for those sessions so it is important that you book your place as soon as possible and that you let us know if you cannot attend so someone else can take your place.

What you need to bring to the final visa application checking session

You must bring all your documents and the completed visa application form.
You must fill in your marked up visa application form in BLACK pen (not pencil, not blue pen) before coming to the session - if necessary we can still make changes, even if you completed it with pen
You must make sure that you have sufficient amount of money - if you don't have the money by then, it will probably be too late to accumulate the money for 28 days. Therefore we recommend that you transfer the money into your account by 30th July and attend the document checking session to avoid coming to the final checking session and being told that your money is not enough
Watch the presentations on documents and the visa application beforehand to ensure you have done everything right before coming to the session. This might be your final chance to submit your application.

How do I book the final visa application checking session

Final visa application checking sessions will take place from 10th September onwards in Student Support and Guidance, Edgar Allen House, Floor 2, 241 Glossop Road. You will book a 20 minute appointment. To register and book your session, click here: http://grace.group.shef.ac.uk/visa/applications/

What if I have dependants?

If you have dependants, email international.students@shef.ac.uk so we can advise you further.

What if all the sessions are fully booked?

We strongly recommend booking the session well in advance but as we have limited number of places, it might be that some students cannot book a place. Once all places are fully booked we will not be able to assist you with the application. In this case you will have to submit your application yourself to UKBA. The step by step guidance helps you to complete the application form.