New international student immigration routes open early for UK Student Visa

The Student route visa and Child Student route visa will open on 5 October 2020 to the best and brightest international students from across the globe.
New routes for international students to apply for student visas will open early delivering on the UK government’s commitment to introduce a new points-based immigration system.

As detailed in the immigration rules laid in Parliament on 10 September 2020, the Student route and Child Student route will both open on 5 October 2020 earlier which was supposed to open on the 1 January 2021.

Highlights of the New Point Bases Immigration System (for UK Student Visa):
Student Route for UK Student Visa

• There will be no limit on the number of international students who can come to the UK to study.
• To retain the brightest and the best students to continue to contribute to the UK post-study, a Graduate route is going to be introduced in Summer 2021. (Post Study Work Visa)
• The assessment of the new application will be based on the following three main criteria:
1. Remain Sponsorship at a licensed provider (Education Provider i.e. University),
2. Demonstration of English language ability and
3. The ability of the student to Financially supports themselves in the UK.
• Students will require a total of 70 points to be granted a UK student visa. Points are non-tradeable and will be awarded for meeting the requirements of the route as set out in the table below.

• Extension of the period of time in which a student can apply for permission to come to the UK before the start of their course, from three to six months.
• Removing the study time limit of five years for students studying at a postgraduate level.
• Students who meet eligibility requirements will be able to make an in-country application for further leave regardless of their sponsor or level of study.
• From 1st of October 2020, the applicant needs to pay the increase charges @ £470 per year for the Immigration Health Surcharge instead of the current rate of £300 per year.

Who can apply?
Students with an unconditional offer from a sponsoring institution, who can demonstrate they genuinely intend to study and can meet all the relevant requirements of the route.

Should you need any further clarification in this regard, please get in touch with the Experts of the Guideline on UK Study visa requirements and the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System.