Student Visa & Citizenship

I would like to know if it is possible to use the time spent in the UK on a student visa toward the time requirement for UK citizenship? I will be studing at  university in England and would like to know if this is possible? Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Frank

Unfortunately not.  To attain UK citizenship, you need to be in the UK without being subject to immigration controls for a year.  This means you effectively need Indefinite Leave to Remain for one year, which you aren't able to get on a student visa.

Can I seek employment in the UK after graduation from a UK university?  What if say for example I was able to find work as an estate agent ?  Could I use the time spent as a student as time for obtaining ILR?  What about getting a work permit  after I have my degree from the university?  Does anyone have any advise for what  my they would suggest I do  in this situation?

Frank

Can I seek employment in the UK after graduation from a UK university?  What if say for example I was able to find work as an estate agent ?  Could I use the time spent as a student as time for obtaining ILR?  What about getting a work permit  after I have my degree from the university?  Does anyone have any advise for what  my they would suggest I do  in this situation?

Frank

Train in a shortage profession - social work, nursing, ultrasonography, etc.  That will give you the best chance of getting the work permit time you need to qualify for ILR - I believe the rules are changing and it's now 5 years on a work permit before applying for ILR, IIRC.

Once you graduate from a UK university, your student visa will expire and you'll have to return to the US.  Your time here in the UK studying won't give you any additional benefits when it comes to seeking employment or being eligible to work in the UK. 

You'll have to go back to the US and seek employment from there which is usually fairly difficult.  As expat said above though, your best bet is to study something that is in high demand here in the UK, go back to the US after your studying is completed, and apply for an HMSP visa.  I'm afraid once you graduate (unless you happen to be studying in Scotland?) you won't have any more rights to work here in the UK than any other American.

Unfortunately not. To attain UK citizenship, you need to be in the UK without being subject to immigration controls for a year. This means you effectively need Indefinite Leave to Remain for one year, which you aren't able to get on a student visa.

Unless you end up getting a residence visa after your student visa.... You say you're after a work permit, which Wishstar has pointed out in a couple of threads (thank you - I don't know a thing about work permits) isn't the same deal. If you ended up with a residence visa, then you could count one year of your time on a student visa toward the three year requirement for citizenship. But you HAVE to qualify for (and receive) ILR first.... And your student visa won't count toward ILR. So the only way your student visa is going to help you is if you were to get married after one year and then use two years on your spousal visa to get ILR.

(unless you happen to be studying in Scotland?) you won't have any more rights to work here in the UK than any other American.

And even then, the Fresh Talent programme only buys you 2 years time.  Then it's back to needing a work permit to stay in the country.  Or getting married to an EU or UK national.