visa application process 

The first step is to receive an offer of admission from Langley School. You can find out more about the admissions process in the Admissions section on this site. We will provide an offer letter and a document that you will need in order to complete the visa application. This document in the UK is called the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) letter.

The visa requirement usually depends on the length of the stay and the age of the student. We run short immersion-type courses (stays of a week or two), longer stays of a term or more, and full annual stays.

Student visas in the UK depend on the age of the child. The Child Student Visa is for ages 4-17, and the Student Visa is for ages 16 and older. Although boarding at Langley starts at age 10, we do have some younger children who live with a family member in the UK while attending school. If you’d like more information on this, please contact Admissions at admissions@langleyschool.co.uk

The visa application process comprises several stages. Usually, you will need to be in possession of the following documents:

– A valid passport: To be valid, the passport has to be valid for the duration of the intended stay, plus an additional period, which is currently 6 months beyond the end of the intended stay

– A completed visa application form (online or on paper)

– Visa Application fee payment receipt: Evidence of payment for the visa processing fee. The fee for the UK is currently £490

– Proof of financial support: Bank statements, financial sponsorship letters, or proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition, living expenses and return transportation.

– Medical examination and health insurance: International health insurance should be considered if there are any complex health conditions as there is a waiting period before NHS services can be used. There is a fee as part of the visa process that allows school pupils to pay for healthcare access. The costs of this vary.

– Photographs: Recent passport-sized photographs that meet the UK Passport Office guidelines.

– Proof of accommodation: Confirmation from the boarding school regarding living arrangements. If the applicant is going to live in multiple addresses (e.g. term time and holidays, but both in the UK), evidence should be provided for both cases.

The UK may not require an in-person interview for all applicants, but it is always possible depending on individual cases.

Visa applicants may be required to submit biometric data (fingerprints and photographs). In some cases, a health examination is also required to prove that the student is in good health and free from certain diseases, such as tuberculosis.

Visa processing times vary. The earliest you can apply for a visa is 6 months before starting at Langley. The government target for a decision is around 3 weeks, but it is best not to rely on this as there are seasonal peaks for visa applications.

The time has come! Once visa approval has been received, you can start making travel arrangements for your child. Upon arrival, expect that there will be inspection of the relevant documents at the border. At a minimum, the passport and visa will both be examined for validity.