LATEST NEWS

• 01 July 2009: The online visa application system, Visa4UK, will be unavailable on Friday 3 July at 08:00 to 11:00 British Summer Time. During this time you will not be able to apply online or check existing applications. The is due to essential testing of the online World-Pay system. The UK Border Agency apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.
  
  
• 01 July 2009: The UK Border Agency online points-based system tools will be unavailable on Sunday 5 July between 17:00 and 18:05 British Summer Time. The self-assessment tool, sponsorship management system and sponsor application will be offline so that essential maintenance work can be carried out. You will not be able to use the online points-based system tools during this time.
  
  
• 18 June 2009: The UK British Council will hold 12 Pre-departure Briefings in 10 cities, during 20 June - 18 July 2009. The UK British Council has organised the 2009 Pre-departure Briefing for students who will soon depart for the UK for autumn enrolment: to help them develop a better understanding of the learning environment and life in the UK. The Pre-departure Briefing will provide information on accommodation, financial arrangements, food and diet, UK transportation, telecommunication, key cultural differences and travel. We also invite returned alumni to share their experience of studying and living in the UK. To register with the Pre-departure Briefing, please visit: www.educationuk.cn/pdb.
  
  
• 12 June 2009: Online application system survey. We would like to hear your views about our online visa application system, Visa4UK, so that we can look at ways to improve the service we offer you. The survey will not take more than 3 minutes to complete. The responses are anonymous and they will not affect the outcome of your application. Follow this link to complete the survey. Thank you for taking part.
  
  
• 03 June 2009: Customer satisfaction survey. We would like to hear your views on the visa application process. This online survey will give us valuable information on how you found the visa application process and areas for improvement. The survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete and your answers and comments are confidential. It will not affect the outcome of your visa application in any way. Thank you for taking part.
  
  
• 02 June 2009: Problems accessing the online visa application system Visa4UK.
  Some applicants may be experiencing problems in accessing the online application system following maintenance on 27-29 May. If users are still experiencing problems then they should either:
  • Press 'Ctrl' and F5 to refresh the page
  • Or access the online application system using the following web address - www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ApplyNow.aspx
  
  
• 26 May 2009: From 25 May 2009 some visa applications made in the visa application centres in Chongqing and Chengdu will be processed by UK Border Agency visa officers in Beijing. This will apply to all visa categories except business visits, general visits and ADS (group tourism) visits, which will continue to be decided by UK Border Agency visa officers in Chongqing. There will be no difference in the procedures for applications, which will still be lodged and processed at the UK Border Agency at the British Consulate-General, Chongqing. Applicants should notice no difference to the application process. They will still submit and collect applications from Chongqing and Chengdu visa application centres as they do now and will have the option of a courier return service. We will continue to aim to process all applications within the current target times, which are:
  
  - To complete 90% of straightforward, non-settlement applications in not more than a week, 98% in not more than 2 weeks, and 100% in not more 12 weeks.
  
  - To complete 90% of non-straightforward, non-settlement applications in not more than 3 weeks, 98% in not more than 6 weeks and 100% in not more than 12 weeks.
  
  - To complete 95% of applications for settlement visas in not more than 12 weeks and 100% in not more 24 weeks.
  
  We aim wherever possible to deal with applications on the basis of the documentation submitted, but there may be occasions when an applicant is invited to interview in Beijing. We aim to keep such occasions to a minimum. We are committed to continuing to provide an effective and efficient service to our customers in South-West China.
  
  
• 25 May 2009: Visa letters - Important information for students
  The UK Border Agency has issued a reminder to foreign nationals who are applying to study in the United Kingdom under tier 4 of the points-based system. If you are applying under tier 4, please make sure that the visa letter issued to you by your approved education provider contains all of the required information as described in the tier 4 guidance. If you submit an application with a visa letter that does not contain all the required information, your application will be refused. It is your responsibility to make sure that the information you submit with your application is correct and complete. If your visa letter does not contain the required information, please contact your approved education provider.
  
  If you want to know what the visa letter must contain, you can find checklists at the following links:
  • adult students (postgraduate students and others)
  • child students
  
  
• 11 May 2009: Children applying for summer or winter Schools as child visitors. From 31 March 2009 children going on short courses such as winter or summer schools should be aware that the school must be:
  
  (i) the holder of a Sponsor Licence for Tier 4 of the points-based system, or
  (ii) accredited by a United Kingdom Border Agency approved accreditation body, or
  (iii) an independent fee paying school registered with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and which is outside the maintained sector.
  
  Please see the following helpful links:
  • UK Border Agency approved bodies
  • British Council accreditation service for English language schools
  • The British Accreditation Council - a general accreditation service to cover a wider range of education establishments and their courses
  • Accreditation Service for International Colleges - general accreditation to cover a wide range of different education establishments and their courses
  • Accreditation Body for Language Services - provides accreditation service to a diverse range of English language providers
  
  
• 11 May 2009: Applicants applying as student visitors. From 31 March 2009 children going on short courses such as winter or summer schools should be aware that the school must be:
  
  (i) the holder of a Sponsor Licence for Tier 4 of the points- based system, or
  (ii) accredited by a UK Border Agency approved accreditation body, or
  (iii) an overseas Higher Education Institution offering only part of their programmes in the United Kingdom, holding their own national accreditation and offering programmes that are of an equivalent level to a United Kingdom degree.
  
  Please see the following helpful links:
  • UK Border Agency approved bodies
  • British Council accreditation service for English language schools
  • The British Accreditation Council - a general accreditation service to cover a wider range of educational establishments and their courses
  • Accreditation Service for International Colleges - general accreditation to cover a wide range of different education establishments and their courses
  • Accreditation Body for Language Services - provides accreditation service to a diverse range of English language providers
  
  
• 08 May 2009: Due to an IT problem, the UK Border Agency is experiencing delays processing some visa applications. We process around 200,000 visa applications per month and most applications have not been affected by the current problem. The UK Border Agency apologises for any inconvenience and is working hard to fix the problem. We continue to monitor the situation very closely. Should anyone require urgent travel to the UK they should contact their local visa application centre/ call centre/ UK Border Agency at a British mission.
  
  
• 28 April 2009: Premium Service introduced in Guangzhou & Shanghai Visa Application Centres, effective 11 May 2009. This Premium Service offers the following benefits:
  
  i. Express check in and checkout
  ii. Dedicated premium lounge
  iii. Dedicated premium service officer
  iv. Free courier pass-back
  v. Free photocopying
  vi. VIP treatment
  
  Applicants can use this service by prior appointment. Please see the 'value added service' page on this website.
  
  
• 06 April 2009: If you want to study in the UK from 31 March 2009 you must make your application using the Points Based System Tier 4 (General) student or Tier 4 (Child) student. Please make sure that you complete the correct application form and points scoring appendix. If you are making an on-line application you must select the correct visa category and pay the correct fee. You are advised to carefully read the Tier 4 points based system guidance. Failure to provide the correct information may lead to your application being refused.
  
  
• 01 April 2009: Dates for implementation of visa regimes in Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland and Venezuela announced. Please visit the UK Border Agency Visa Services website for more information.
  
  
• 31 March 2009: New student immigration system launches in the UK on 31 March 2009. The points-based system aims to simplify the application processes. To find out more visit the UK Border Agency Visa Services website.
  
  
• 25 March 2009: Important changes to Tier 1 (general) academic qualifications. From 31 March 2009, people wanting to make an application under Tier 1 (general) will need to hold a minimum level of academic qualification that is equivalent to a UK Masters degree, which is confirmed by UK NARIC. Further information on new rules for skilled and highly skilled migrant workers can be found on the UK Border Agency website.
  
  
• From 3 March 2009 there will be important changes to the visa requirements for holders of Taiwanese, South African and Jamaican passports. Please visit the UK Border Agency Visa Services website for more information