Sponsoring My Girlfriend on a Student Visa

Hi,

My girlfriend (US Citizen) is planning to enrol at Leeds Uni for Sept
2005.  She plans to fund the course through a strudent loan which she
will obtain from the US, however I will sponsor her other expences
(housing, books, food, etc) once she is in the UK.  Our plan is that
she will live with me.

I was wondering is anybody had any experiance of this and if they have
could advise of any potential pitfalls with UK Imigration due to her
being my girlfriend.

It would also help if somebody could give me some idea of what the
sonsorship letter should look like and what it should contain (a sample
would be great).

Many thanks for your help

Steve

Hello Steve - bit confused - do you mean she will be applying for a student visa?

It would also help if somebody could give me some idea of what the sonsorship letter should look like and what it should contain (a sample would be great).

There's no set layout for a sponsorship letter, but in this case, they would probably be looking for something that indicated your relationship is stable enough to last the term of her studies.  And you'll be needing to add that the accomodation you're providing is yours to provide - or that you have permission to share your accomodation with her.

You can always upload your draft letter right into this forum and get some decent feedback - that's probably the best idea.

Having said all that, let's have a look at the Entry Clearance Manual for another potential issue:  "...The passenger intends to leave the United Kingdom on completion of his studies.  (For further details of intention to leave- see Chapter 3 Section 3 paragraph 3.18.2 for degree students who are eligible to switch into work permit status under the rules)..."

So unless she's in one of the switchable categories, they might get antsy about a student visa for someone who is planning to live with her bf.  Addressing this issue would *NOT* be in your letter because it's about her intent.  She'll need to cover it in her application and the pitfall would be for you to try and cover it as well...

Hello Steve - bit confused - do you mean she will be applying for a student visa?

Sorry I didn't make it clear - YES she will be applying for a student visa

There's no set layout for a sponsorship letter, but in this case, they would probably be looking for something that indicated your relationship is stable enough to last the term of her studies.  And you'll be needing to add that the accomodation you're providing is yours to provide - or that you have permission to share your accomodation with her.

You can always upload your draft letter right into this forum and get some decent feedback - that's probably the best idea.

Having said all that, let's have a look at the Entry Clearance Manual for another potential issue:  "...The passenger intends to leave the United Kingdom on completion of his studies.  (For further details of intention to leave- see Chapter 3 Section 3 paragraph 3.18.2 for degree students who are eligible to switch into work permit status under the rules)..."

So unless she's in one of the switchable categories, they might get antsy about a student visa for someone who is planning to live with her bf.  Addressing this issue would *NOT* be in your letter because it's about her intent.  She'll need to cover it in her application and the pitfall would be for you to try and cover it as well...

For info she will take a years leave from her current job.  Currently she is working for the US Goverment and they will leave her job open for one year.  She will have proof of this fact in that she intends to return to the US and work.  Our overall plan is once she has finished her studies here, she will move back to the US and apply for a spouse visa for myself to move out to the US or live and work.

I'll knock up a sample letter and let you all see it - I assume it needs to contain things like.

1) Explination that I will support her financially while studying in the UK.
2) My current employer and the time I have worked there.
3) My salary - to show that I can support her.

Can anybody think of anything else.

Thanks agin for your help.

Steve

Can anybody think of anything else.

Sounds good!   Include a brief on how you met, your own status in the UK, and the strategy you outlined above.  Also, try to avoid the ridiculously stilted, quasi-legalese style that you might see elsewhere - it's not a legal document.

Looking forward to seeing your letter!

Hi,

I've knocked up a sample of what I will be writing for the Student Visa application.  PLEASE make any comments you can think of, it still needs tidying up but gives you all an idea of where I'm goning with the letter

ADDRESS
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
ADDRESS

E-mail : scousins@gotadsl.co.uk
Tel Home : NUMBER
Tel Mod : NUMBER

LETTER OF SPONSORSHIP

Dear Sir/Madam

I write this letter to confirm that I will be a sponsor to Andrea J Ashcraft during the period from August 2005 to August 2006 while she completed her studies at Leeds University.  Miss Ashcraft will reside in my rented property (address above) which is currently on a one year rolling lease; I have permission from the landlord for her to reside at the above address.  Apart from the fee for the university Miss Ashcraft will not be expected to fund any aspect of her stay within the United Kingdom, this will be the responsibility of myself.

I Stephen Cousins am currently employed by communisis PLC and have been continuously employed by this company for the past 5 ½ years.  My current basic salary is £XX,000 p.a.  Before my current employment I have been continuously employed since 1989.

Miss Ashcraft is expecting to return to the United States as soon as her studies are complete to return to a government job in which she has obtained 1 year’s leave from.

If you have any queries regarding this letter of sponsorship, please do not hesitate in contacting me on any of the above numbers.

Your Sincerely



Stephen Cousins

I would be greatful for any feedback + Is it worth me contacting a Imigration Solisitor for more advise.  PLEASE NOTE - I have not declared that she is my girlfriend - Should I

Thanks in advance

Steve

Well done.  A few nitpicks listed below...

'Letter of sponsorship' change to 'Andrea J Ashcroft, U. S. Citizen, DOB 2 Feb 1970'

'Dear Sir/Madam' should be 'To the Entry Clearance Manager, British Consulate, New York'

optional:  list of attachments, copy of lease, copy of landlord's permission etc etc

'Miss Ashcraft will not be expected to fund any aspect': too broad.  'Andrea's transportation, living and accomodation expenses will be undertaken entirely by me/(myself), and I have used the BUNAC tables to estimate an all-in incremental cost of £475 per month.  According to her course of study at Leeds, my sponsorship will run for 12 months.'

'I Stephen Cousins am currently employed' becomes 'I am a British citizen employed by xxxx, where I have worked for the last 5 1/2 years.  I have attached my most recent P60, and 3 consecutive bank statements demonstrating my capacity for sponsorship.  (optional):  Of course you have my permission to access my tax history if further evidence is needed.' 

It's a rather daunting commitment, and they will probably need a liitle background on your motivation for this undertaking.  A short paragraph along the lines of how you met and what sort of relationship you have.  But it's optional. 

'Miss Ashcraft is expecting to return to the United States' becomes 'I hope you find these arrangements in order and can proceed with successfully processing the financial and accomodation aspects of Andrea's application.  She expects to submit her application on 2 Feb 2005, and if there is further information I can provide before then, please let me know.  I prefer to be contacted via email at ----- and blah blah blah.'

It's up to her to say what she's expecting to do, not you.  Your job is to establish both [1] credibility as a sponsor and [2] a plausible motivation for sponsorship.  Best not to muddy the waters with commentary about what she intends or expects.  They are very one-dimensional about these things, so stick to your role. 

That's my take on it.  You certainly don't need to hire a lawyer based on what I can see. 

I would be interested in other comments!!!!

Just out of curiousity... I came over in Sept 2000 and student visas were a bit easier then... but I'm surprised one would need a personal sponsor. Is that the case now? 

Just out of curiousity... I came over in Sept 2000 and student visas were a bit easier then... but I'm surprised one would need a personal sponsor. Is that the case now? 

YOu don't need a sponsor but you do need to can afford to support yourself (including the cost of the course).  In our case Andrea can pay for the course and I am trying to prove to the immigration people that I can support Andrea for the period she is in the UK.  After the course its off to the US we go.

Steve

'Miss Ashcraft is expecting to return to the United States' becomes 'I hope you find these arrangements in order and can proceed with successfully processing the financial and accomodation aspects of Andrea's application.  She expects to submit her application on 2 Feb 2005, and if there is further information I can provide before then, please let me know.  I prefer to be contacted via email at ----- and blah blah blah.'

Garry,

Thanks for all your help with this - its appreciated, one thing however I'm a bit confused by the bit above, we thought before she could apply for the visa Andrea had to have acceptance at the Uni, or is this now not the case.   Apparently I also have to send the Sponsorship application into the Uni as well, so I guess I will have 2 - 1 for the Immigration people and 1 for the uni - or have I got this totally wrong.

Thanks Agin

Steve

It's a rather daunting commitment, and they will probably need a liitle background on your motivation for this undertaking.  A short paragraph along the lines of how you met and what sort of relationship you have.  But it's optional. 

Sorry to be a pain but do you think it would be wise to say that I intend to move to the US after her studies and live together, marriage, etc, etc.

Steve

I'm a bit confused by the bit above, we thought before she could apply for the visa Andrea had to have acceptance at the Uni, or is this now not the case.

The date I gave was simply prototypical, of course she needs to be accepted and show the acceptance letter with her application..