Student Visa

I am living in London on a six month.  I would like to try to find a course in order to, after the six months are up, get a year long student visa.  I hear it's something you can just get from the home office.  This I am hearing mainly from New Zealanders.  Has anyone here done this befoe?  How does it work?

Home Office laws have recently changed regarding student visas so many of the people on here who are students will have dealt with a differenct scenario. You need to check with the Home Office web site first. I don't know for certain, but I'd suspect you may have to go back to the US to get the student visa sorted. Most visas must be applied for outside the UK but don't hold me to this. There are some sites specifically for US students in the UK. I'll try and have a look and post them later.

By the way, you also need to remember that a student visa is only for full time courses. Just a class or two won't cut it.

Here's the link for the student section of IND:

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/ind/en/home/applying/general_caseworking/students.html

It does say that if you are a non visa national, you CAN apply to stay on to study in the UK if you're already here, but the link defining non visa nationals doesnt' seem to be working. I have no idea what the definition of a visa national is.

Hope this gets you on the right track.

I have no idea what the definition of a visa national is.

Visa nationals are the people who can't even visit the UK without a prior entry clearance.  China, Iran, Ukraine, and so on.

Up until the end of 2003, Americans were non-visa nationals.  They did not need an entry clearance to visit the UK.  In the latest ruling, Americans are now 'designated nationals'.  It's a new category.  It means they do not need a prior entry clearance to visit (just like a non-visa national), but they do need a prior entry clearance to stay longer than 1 year.

I'm currently waiting for my student visa to come back from the LA Consulate.  Their processing time is running about 10 days right now, or so I was told on Friday.  I'm hoping to have my stuff back by the end of the week.  I was nervous about it but I have absolutely no reason to be. 

The britainusa.com website has the best descriptions of the types of documentation you need to send in.  Passport, pictures, letter of acceptance from university, proof of financial stability (bank statements or student loan paperwork), proof of US Immigration status.. all original documents.  I sent in a thick packet.  Good luck! 

Oh I forgot to add.. as of April 2004, if you are enrolled for less than 6 month course, no need for a visa.  Anything longer than that requires a visa.  Techincally, you will apply for a 6 month visitor visa and a 6 month student visa.  At least that was how mine was and it was done automatically because I applied with fastrack.

That's nice to know b/c I am actually from LA.  And I could fly back and do it that way, but my big question is, Do I have to return there or can i get my student visa from the home office?

Do I have to return there or can i get my student visa from the home office?

Just call them!

By the way, you also need to remember that a student visa is only for full time courses. Just a class or two won't cut it.

The other thing to keep in mind about being here on a student visa is it ain't cheap. I've been here a year on one and am in debt to the tune of about $30K thanks to the crummy exchange rate affecting my student loans, paying international student fees (more than double the home student price), and having to prove that I had $10K to live on for the year - you can only work 20 hrs. a week and planning on having a part-time job doesn't actually count toward the $10K.