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Official United Kingdom Visa Application
Website in China
LATEST
NEWS
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30 July 2010: Delays to processing of visa applications.The UK Border Agency's target is to process 90% of non-settlement visa applications in 15 working days. Following an unprecedented increase in demand in China for UK visas, it is currently taking at least 20 days to process visa applications. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and advise all customers to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We have recruited additional temporary staff to help deal with this surge in demand and expect to return to our 15-day target in the next 4 weeks.
We cannot guarantee that an application may be processed within the guidelines given above, as all visa applications are assessed individually which may result in varied processing times. Please be advised that during our busy summer season from May to October, we receive an extremely high volume of applications and as such, all visa applications take longer to process than usual. We continue to urge applicants to submit visa applications as early as possible to ensure the best chance of meeting their intended departure date. We strongly recommend that travellers do not purchase tickets or commit to other travel costs before the visa application has been processed, as there continues to be a risk that your visa application may be delayed or possibly refused. We do not accept responsibility for any financial loss and we do not fast-track applications solely due to planned date of travel.
- 22 July 2010: Secure English language testing announced for student Tier 4 (General) applicants. The British Government announced today that it will be introducing mandatory secure English language testing for adult students studying below degree level under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system. The new requirement will come into effect on 12 August 2010. For further details of these changes please visit the UK Border Agency website.
- 19 July 2010: Corrections to the Student Tier 4 policy guidance. On 13 July 2010 we published a new version of the Tier 4 guidance setting out a number of policy changes. The document contained a number of draft paragraphs relating to the introduction of secure English language testing for Tier 4 (General) students. These paragraphs were included in error. We have not introduced secure English language testing for Tier 4 (General) students. Should we do so, we will publish full guidance at the time.
The incorrect version of the policy guidance was withdrawn and replaced with the correct document on 14 July 2010. Please ensure you are using the most recent version of the Tier 4 policy guidance.
- 19 July 2010: Important changes to Tier 1 (General) visa applications from 19 July 2010. Following an earlier announcement by the UK Government, 2 important changes have come into effect for Tier 1 (General) visa applicants today, 19 July 2010.
- An interim limit on the number of visas that will be issued to Tier 1 (General) applicants between 19 July 2010 and 31 March 2011.
- The number of points required for a Tier 1 (General) applicant has been increased from 95 to 100.
For further information please visit the UK Border Agency website.
The interim limit will also apply to some Tier 2 applications, please see the information on the UK Border Agency website.
- 13 July 2010: Changes to Tier 4 guidance on student loans and students with International Baccalaureate qualifications. On 12 July an addition to the policy guidance was introduced for students applying under the Tier 4 point-based system. This applies to students making visa applications using a loan letter and students making visa applications using an International Baccalaureate qualifications awarded on 5 July 2010. Please see the latest Tier 4 Policy Guidance found on the UK border Agency website for more information.
- 12 July 2010. Beware of bogus UK visa websites. We have recently been made aware of a number of websites who are using similar names to official websites operated by the UK Border Agency and its commercial partners, VFS Global and WorldBridge. These websites have been making inappropriate claims about processing UK visa applications. The UK Border Agency operates through the following official websites:
We would advise you to avoid all other websites claiming to be in partnership with the UK Border Agency as they may be operating on a purely commercial basis and are not authorised to provide information on behalf of the Home Office or the UK Border Agency. Please let us know if you come across such websites.
- 2 July 2010: Student Tier 4 visa applications - apply early. During our busy summer period, it is important that you submit your Tier 4 points-based system visa application in good time. This will allow us enough time to process your visa application and for you to attend the start of your course. To enable you to do this you can apply for your visa within 3 months of the start date of your intended course. For courses longer than 6 months your visa will be valid for travel from 1 month prior to the start date of the course. If your course is less than 6 months you will only be allowed to travel up to 7 days before the start of your course. To find out about our most recent visa application processing times, please see the 'Guide to Processing Times' page on this website.
- 28 June 2010: The UK Government will introduce a limit on non- European immigration. The number of workers entering the UK from outside Europe will be controlled by a new limit, the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced today. Details of how the final limit will be delivered will be agreed following a 12-week consultation with businesses and other interested parties. In the meantime an interim limit will be introduced to ensure there is no rush of visa applications being submitted and the number of work visas issued stays below levels from 2009. For further information please visit the UK Border Agency website.
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16 June 2010: New English language requirement for partners. The UK Border Agency has produced further guidance on the English language testing for:
- nationals of a country outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland; and
- nationals in a relationship with a British citizen or a person settled here; and
- nationals who want to apply to enter or remain in the UK as their husband, wife, civil partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner.
Please see the UK Border Agency website for the latest up-to-date information and the latest news dated 9 June 2010 on this website.
- 09 June 2010: Migrants marrying UK citizens must now learn English. Compulsory English language tests will be introduced for non-European migrants applying to come to the UK to join or marry their settled partner. The new rules will apply from autumn 2010 to anyone applying as the husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner, same-sex partner, fiance(e) or prospective civil partner of a UK citizen or a person settled in this country. The compulsory English language test will be with a UK Border Agency approved test provider and will apply to visa applications from overseas as well as people applying from within UK. The full news report can be found on the UK Border Agency website.
- 21 May 2010: UK Border Agency website changes. The UK government has changed following the UK general elections held in May. Some of the strategies, aims and objectives have changed since the previous government. This may mean that certain links on this website may be broken. Information on how to apply for a UK visa will still be available on this website.
- 14 May 2010: The British Council China will hold 10 pre departure briefings in 8 cities, from 12 June to 11 July 2010.
The British Council China has organised the 2010 pre departure briefings for students who will soon leave for the autumn enrolment to help them develop a better understanding of the learning environment and life in the UK. The pre departure briefings will provide information on accommodation, financial arrangements, food and diet, UK transportation, telecommunication, key culture differences and travel. They also invite returned students to share their experience of studying and living in the UK. For further information and to register with the pre departure briefings, please visit the educationuk website.
- 31 March 2010: Important visa application fees changes on
6 April 2010. The visa application fees given on this website
will be updated on 6 April 2010 as part of the annual visa fee
review. Some visa application fees will change and you should
bear this in mind if you want to submit your visa application
on or after 6 April. Payments made after 00:01 GMT on 6 April,
either online or by using any other acceptable payment method,
should be paid according to the fees given on this website.
- 31 March 2010: New visa customer service standards.
From 1 April 2010 the UK Border Agency is changing the customer
service standards for processing visa applications. The changes
are to complete 90 per cent of visa applications (except settlement
categories), in not more than 3 weeks, 98 per cent in 6 weeks,
and 100 per cent in 12 weeks. There are also new standards for
biometric appointments and processing appeals that have been allowed
by an immigration judge. Please see the UK
Border Agency website for more information about the customer
service standards.
- 23 March 2010: UK Immigration Rule changes effecting Tier
1 and 2 and other changes. On the 6 and 7 April 2010 the UK
Government will make significant changes to Immigration Rules.
The changes to Tiers 1 and 2 of the points-based system include
new points criteria for both tiers, a simpler route for very highly
skilled workers without a Master’s degree, greater flexibility
for short-term transfers by multinational companies, and more
protection against transfers to fill long-term vacancies that
should go to resident workers. Other changes to the Rules cover
asylum seekers, English language qualifications and marriage visas
for members of the armed forces. Please see the UK
Border Agency website for more information on the Immigration
Rule changes.
- 23 March 2010: Launch of new Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme
for Tier 4 sponsors. The UK Border Agency has launched the
'Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme' for education providers under
Tier 4 of the points-based system. Tier 4 sponsors can now apply
for a Highly Trusted Sponsor licence, and the register of highly
trusted sponsors will go live on Tuesday 6 April 2010. Please
see the UK
Border Agency website for more information on the Highly Trusted
Sponsor Scheme.
- Reminder - 20 November 2009: Following an assessment of outstanding Tier 4 (student) visa applications from China, we will begin accepting new applications at the Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen Visa Application Centres from students to attend fee paying Independent Schools.
We will also accept applications to selected preparatory courses directly linked to university courses. Institutions that fall within this category have been informed directly. We also accept applications for any course studied at a British University.
The UK Border Agency will maintain the existing restriction for long term English courses and all other courses at or below NQF level 3 at the Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen Visa Application Centres until further notice. All other courses and visa application centres remain unaffected.
Applications for long term English courses and courses at or below NQF level 3 received prior to 17 September 2009 are being processed in line with revised procedures. This includes interviews in person with some applicants, either in Guangzhou or Beijing. We expect to have interviewed and assessed the bulk of outstanding applications by the end of January 2010.
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