Visa Information Sheet for students applying from China

UK Visas advice differs for each country, and this sheet will provide you with the information
relevant for China. Please note that if you are a national of China but currently living in a different
country, please refer to the information sheet for that country.

Visa Application Centres

Application fee
Visa Application
Centre
Application
Website
Visa Application
Centre
Address

298 if you are applying from outside of the UK

VFS Global
To apply, visit: http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ApplyNow.aspx
For VFS Global, visit: http://www.vfs-uk-cn.com/applicationcentre.html
Beijing: Beijing Inn, A901-919, A Zone, 9th Floor, Building A, Second group, No 5
Dongshuijing Alley, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, infopek.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Wuhan: No1502 Building A Triumphal Arch Plaza XuDong Lu, Wuhan 430063,
infopek.ukcn@vfshelpline.com
Shenyang: Room 6, Floor 23,
(No.1 Building Rich Gate),
No.7-1 Building, Tuanjie Road,
Shenhe District,
Shenyang.
Liaoning Province,
P.R.China 110013, infopek.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Jinan: Room B10-15,

Qilu International Mansion,
No 180 QuanCheng Road,
Jinan 250011
infopek.ukcn@vfshelpline.com
Chongqing: 3U-7, J.W Marriott Hotel International Trade Centre Office,
77 Qing Nian Road, Yu Zhong District,Chongqing 400010 P.R.
China 400010, infopek.ukcn@vfshelpline.com
Chengdu: C2, F16, First City Plaza, 308 Shuncheng Avenue,
Qingyang District, Chengdu, P.R.China 610017, infockg.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Shanghai: 1/F, Guangdong Development Bank Tower, 555, Xujiahui Road , Huangpu
District, Shanghai 200023, infosha.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Hangzhou: Room 503, Tongfang Fortune Building, 334#, FengQi Road, Xiacheng District,
Hangzhou P.R. China 310003, infosha.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Nanjing: Room C4, 11 Floor, Nanjing International Trade Center, No.18 East Zhongshan
Road, Nanjing, P.R .China 210005, infosha.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Guangzhou: Room 215, Cheng Jian Mansion No 189 Tiyu Rd. (West) Tian He District,

Guangzhou City 510620, infocan.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Shenzhen: Rm06-07,2nd Floor,

Tower A, International Chamber of Commerce Building,No.138,
Fuhua 1 Road,
Futian District,
Shenzhen 518048, infocan.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Fuzhou: Floor 20, Royal Park Tower, Zhengda Plaza, #18 Middle Wuyi Road, Gulou
District, Fuzhou City, 350001, infocan.ukcn@vfshelpline.com

Visa processing
times
Further information

If you do not have an appointment you will be turned away.

Data is available for the previous months processing times for the Visa Application Centre
that you applied to. Visit this link for further information:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/general-info/processing-times/
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/china/?langname=UK English

Documentation for Tier 4 visa

Please note: all documents used to support your application that are not in English or Welsh must be
accompanied by an official translation that can be verified by the UKBA. Please refer to the UKBA website for
further Policy Guidance on translations.
Essential
Please refer to the Immigration Service website for full details:
documents
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/immigration/student/applying/
required
These are the
- VAF9 PBS Migrant application form
essential documents
- PBS Appendix 8 General Student self-assessment form
for all students. If you
- Tier 4 application fee
are not a low risk
- CAS
applicant, you will also
need to supply the
- Passport
supporting documents,
- Biometric Residence Permit (if you have ever studied in the UK and have time remaining
as well as other
on your BRP)
relevant
- 2 passport photos
documentation as
detailed below
Consistency of spelling
It is very important
that your name is
always spelled the
same on formal
documents. The name
you give in your Tier 4
application form must
be written exactly as it
appears in your most
recent passport. The
same applies when
you are taking an
IELTS/TOEFL/Pearson
test.
If you are applying for
a new passport prior to
coming to the UK, it
may be advisable to
ask the passport
issuing office that your
name be spelled
exactly as it was in
your previous
passport.

Police Registration:
Nationals of China are required to register with the police where they are given leave to
enter for more than 6 months. The entry clearance vignette must state if registration is
necessary. Dependants aged 16 or over of nationals required to register with the police are
only required to register if they are also nationals or citizens of one of the countries where
registration is required. In London, police registration is made at the:
Overseas Visitors Registration Office (OVRO),
Brandon House,
180 Borough High Street,
London SE1 1LH.
Tel. 020 7230 1208.
Elsewhere the person will register at the nearest police station specified as a registration
office.
A fee is charged for the initial registration certificate which will show the conditions on which
a person has been given leave to enter or leave to remain.

Supporting
documents
required
If you are considered
'low risk', you
will not normally need
to provide all the
supporting documents.
These documents may
however, be requested
to support your
application and you
should have these
available if required.

TB Certificate

- Evidence confirming you have the required maintenance funds *

- Certificate of transcript of previous studies **
- Certificate of English Language **
* If you are using a parent or guardians bank statement as evidence of your finances, you will need to get a letter
from them confirming their relationship to you and that they agree for you to use the funds for your studies and
your birth certificate confirming your relationship to them.
** Any document that is listed within the CAS must be supplied.

not required

Certain nationals are

required to have TB
screenings before
applying for their visas.

Sponsored
students
Bringing
dependants
If you are applying for
visas for your family at
the same time, these
documents will be
relevant.

Evidence of official financial sponsorship or consent to complete studies

- VAF 10 PBS Dependant application forms and fees for each dependant
- CAS number of the main applicant
- Passport (s)
- 2 passport photos
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificates
- TB certificate if required
- Evidence of official financial sponsorship or consent for main applicant to complete
studies (if applicable)

ATAS Certificate
Visa Processing
Time

This is dependent upon your course. It will be stated within your offer email if applicable.
Figures given below were taken on 7/06/13: Beijing: 97% in 15 days, Wuhan: 98% in 15
days, Shenyang: 97% in 15 days, Jinan: 100% in 15 days, Chongqing: 100% in 15 days,,
Chengdu: 96% in 15 days, Shanghai: 95% in 15 days, Hangzhou: 96% in 15 days, Nanjing:
97% in 15 days, Guangzhou: 97% in 15 days, Shenzhen: 95% in 15 days, Fuzhou: 85% in
15 days. For more up-to-date information, please refer to the Home Office web page:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/general-info/processing-times/

Credibility
Interview

From May 7, if you apply for a Tier 4 student visa you may have to sit a short interview
when you attend the visa application centre to submit your application and biometric
information. The interview will focus on your reasons for coming to the UK; this is known as
a credibility interview. A report of the interview will be sent to the visa officer who will
consider it alongside your visa application and supporting documents. You may be called
for a further interview if the visa officer needs more information. For more guidance please
refer to the University's website: www.warwick.ac.uk/go/immigration/student/credibility/.

How to give
Biometric Data

You must enrol your biometric information as part of the visa application process, unless
you are exempt from this requirement. Applicants under 16 years old must be accompanied
by an adult when enrolling their biometric information. This adult cannot be a member of
staff. There is no extra fee for enrolling your biometric information. - Fingerprints: To scan
your fingerprints, they use a machine which complies with all relevant UK and international
safety standards. - Facial photograph: They will photograph your full face. You must not be
wearing sunglasses, tinted spectacles, hair across the eyes or anything that obscures your
face, but you can wear a head covering for religious or medical reasons.

Low risk applicants

If you are considered 'low risk', you will not normally need to provide all the supporting documents. These documents
may however, be requested to support your application and you should have these available if required. To be
considered 'low risk', you must be sponsored by a Highly Trusted Sponsor, such as Warwick, and you must be already in
the UK or applying for a Tier 4 visa in your country of nationality.
Students considered low risk currently are any UK National overseas or national of one of these countries: Argentina;
Australia; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Croatia; Hong Kong; Japan; New Zealand; Singapore; South Korea; Taiwan *; Trinidad
and Tobago; USA
* if you hold a passport issued by Taiwan that includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent
authority in Taiwan
Academic fees and accommodation charges
Any money which you have paid to the University will be shown on your CAS. The Student Finance team will update your
electronic CAS record to show how much money you have paid towards your fees for the 2012/13 academic year. You
will receive email notification that this information been added to your CAS; we suggest that you print out and retain a
copy of this email for your records. You should not assume that your CAS has been updated until you receive email
notification from the University.
From 6 April 2012 you may only deduct a maximum of 1000 from any monies paid towards University accommodation
from the amount you must evidence for maintenance. Please check that the funds you demonstrate in your application
are correct and still available at the day of your application.
Visa Refusal
If your Tier 4 application is refused and you applied from outside the UK, you should:
1)
2)

Read the refusal notice you are given which sets out the reasons for the refusal. This way you can avoid
making the same mistake again.
Complete our online Refusals Form, ensuring that you attach a copy of the Refusal Notice
www.warwick.ac.uk/go/immigration/student/refusals/notification .

The Immigration Advice Team will be in contact with you as soon as possible to determine the best course of action.
This information has been taken from the UK Border Agency website as of 23.5.2012 and should be used for
guidance only. Please refer to the UKBA website for all immigration matters.