You can apply for switching into child student visa if you are a child aged between 4 and 17 in the UK and wish to study at an independent school in the UK, which is a student sponsor. You must meet the immigration status requirement to switch into child student visa from inside the UK. A child who is in the UK as a visitor cannot switch into child student visa from inside the UK. An application for switching into child student visa is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix Child Student of the Immigration Rules. You can apply for switching into child student visa through Priority or Super Priority Service for a faster decision on your application.
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As specialist student visa solicitors, we can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis concerning your application for switching into child student visa from inside the UK. Ask a question to our student visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment with our specialist student visa solicitors for a detailed immigration advice and consultation for your application for switching into child student visa from inside the UK.
Immigration Status Requirement For Switching Into Child Student Visa
To switch into child student visa from inside the UK, the applicant must meet the immigration status requirement as set out in Appendix Child Student of the Immigration Rules. An applicant who is in the UK on the date of application must not have, or have last been granted permission:
- as a Visitor; or
- as a Short-term Student; or
- outside the Immigration Rules.
An applicant who is in the UK on the date of application must not be on immigration bail.
Eligibility Requirements For Switching Into child student Visa
To qualify for switching into child student Visa from inside the UK, you should meet the following requirements of the Immigration Rules:
- You should meet the immigration status requirement and must be permitted to switch into child student visa. You are permitted to switch into child student visa if you meet the immigration status requirement as explained above.
- The applicant must be aged between 4 and 17 years at the date of application;
- The applicant should make a valid application for switching into child student visa;
- An application for switching into child student visa must be made no more than 3 months before the start date of the course on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
- An application for switching into child student visa must be for study on a course with a start date no more than 28 days after the expiry date of the applicant’s previous UK visa (leave to remain).
- The applicant must meet all the requirements related to Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS);
- The applicant must all the requirements related to course of study;
- The applicant must meet the points based criteria and score 70 points to qualify for switching into child student visa;
- An applicant aged 16 or 17 years old must be a genuine student;
- The applicant should meet the parental consent requirement;
- The applicant's application for switching into child student visa should not fall for refusal under general grounds for refusal as set out in part 9 of the Immigration Rules;
- The applicant must not be in the UK in breach of immigration laws, except that, where paragraph 39E applies, any current period of overstaying will be disregarded.
Valid Confirmation Of Acceptance For Studies (CAS)
The child student must meet the following requirements in relation to the valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS):
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must have been issued by a student sponsor which is an independent school whose licence is still valid on the date on which the application is decided;
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must not have been issued by the student sponsor more than 6 months before the date of application;
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but could have been submitted in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn).
- The student sponsor must not have withdrawn the offer since the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was issued.
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must contain the necessary information to confirm that the course requirement is met.
- The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) must state the cost of accommodation and fees (and any payment already made) so that the financial requirement can be assessed.
Course Of Study Requirements
The applicant must meet the following requirements in relation to his/her course of study:
- The application must be for a single course of study that meets the requirements in CS 8.2. unless it is for a combined pre-sessional course that meets the requirement at CS 11.1;
- The course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) has been assigned must be one of the following:
- taught in accordance with the National Curriculum; or
- taught in accordance with the Recognised Qualification Framework (RQF), and is not a foundation course intended to prepare the Child Student for entry to a course provided by a higher education provider; or
- accepted as being of equivalent academic status to (a) or (b) above by Ofsted (England), the Education and Training Inspectorate (Northern Ireland), Education Scotland (Scotland) or Estyn (Wales); or
- provided in accordance with prevailing Independent School education inspection standards.
Parental Consent Requirement
The applicant must have written consent from:
- both parents; or
- one parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the applicant; or
- the applicant’s legal guardian.
The written consent must confirm support for all the following:
- the application; and
- the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK; and
- if the application is for entry clearance, the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.
If the applicant will be living with a close relative or private foster carer, that close relative or foster carer must be:
- a British citizen; or
- settled in the UK.
The close relative or private foster carer (the intended carer) must provide a letter of undertaking which contains the following information:
- the name, current address and contact details of the intended carer; and
- the address where the intended carer and the applicant will be living in the UK if different from the intended carer’s current address; and
- confirmation that the accommodation offered to the applicant is a private address, and not operated as a commercial enterprise, such as a hotel or a youth hostel; and
- the nature of the relationship between the applicant’s parent(s) or legal guardian and the intended carer; and
- that the intended carer agrees to the care arrangements for the applicant; and
- that the intended carer has at least £570 per month available to look after and accommodate the applicant for each month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months; and
- a list of any other people that the intended carer has offered support to; and
- the intended carer’s signature and date of the letter of undertaking.
If the applicant is staying in a private foster care arrangement and is under 16 years old, they must also provide:
- a copy of the letter of notification from their parent, legal guardian or intended carer to the UK local authority, confirming that the applicant will be in the care of a private foster carer while in the UK; and
- the UK local authority’s confirmation of receipt, confirming that the local authority has received notification of the private foster care arrangement and have given permission to the arrangement.
Financial Requirement
If the applicant is applying for switching into child student visa and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
Where the applicant is applying for switching into child student visa where they have been in the UK for less than 12 months, the applicant must have the following funds:
| Living arrangements | Funds required |
|---|---|
| Boarding at a residential independent school | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees and boarding fees for one academic year |
| Living during term-time with a private foster carer or close relative who is a British Citizen or settled in the UK | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year. The private foster carer or close relative must have funds of at least £570 per month for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months |
| Living with a parent or legal guardian who holds permission as a Parent of a Child Student | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year and: (a) if no other children are accompanying the parent, £1,560 per month for each month of the course up to maximum of 9 months; and (b) if any other children are accompanying the parent, £625 per month of the course for each additional child, up to maximum of 9 months |
| Aged 16 or 17 and living independently | The applicant must have sufficient funds to pay the outstanding course fees for one academic year and either: (a) 1,334 for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying in London; or (b) £1,023 for each month of the course up to the maximum of 9 months where studying outside London |
- If the length of the applicant’s course includes a part of a month, the period of time will be rounded up to the next full month.
- Unless the applicant is relying on a student loan or an award from a Government or international sponsorship agency, they must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period as calculated in Appendix Finance, FIN 7.1 to FIN 7.3.
- Unless CS 13.1. applies, the applicant must show they meet the financial requirement as specified in Appendix Finance.
- The applicant must not be financially responsible for anyone else.
Combined Pre-sessional Course Requirement
A single Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) can be assigned by an independent school for a combined pre-sessional course and a main course if:
- the applicant has an unconditional offer of a place at the independent school; and
- the duration of the pre-sessional course and period of study at the independent school does not exceed the maximum period of permission granted as set out at CS 15.2.
Evidence Of Qualification Requirement
Unless CS 13.1 applies, the applicant must provide evidence of the qualifications they used to obtain the offer of a place on the course from the student sponsor.
The evidence of each qualification must be one of the following:
- the certificate(s) of qualification; or
- the transcript of results; or
- a print out of the qualification or transcript results from the awarding body’s online checking service.
Where the applicant has provided a print out of qualifications or transcript results from the awarding body’s online checking service, the decision maker may require the applicant to provide the certificate of qualification or transcript of results.
Differential Evidence Requirement
Evidence to show that the applicant meets the financial requirement and the requirement to provide documents used to obtain an offer does not need to be provided with the application (but may be required by the decision maker) if the applicant is applying from the country or territory where they are living, or from in the UK, and the applicant either:
- holds a valid passport which shows they are registered as a British National (Overseas), or which was issued by the competent authorities of Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR or Taiwan (which includes the number of the identification card issued by the competent authority in Taiwan); or
- is a national of any of the following:
Australia | Austria | Bahrain | Barbados | Belgium | Botswana | Brazil | Brunei | Bulgaria | Cambodia | Canada | Chile | China | Croatia | Republic of Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | The Dominican Republic | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Indonesia | Ireland | Italy | Japan | Kazakhstan | Kuwait | Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malaysia | Malta | Mauritius | Mexico | Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway | Oman | Peru | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Romania | Serbia | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Korea | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland | Thailand | Tunisia | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | United States of America (USA).
Study Conditions For Child Student
A Child Student must study on the course or courses for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned, unless:
- they have yet to complete the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned; and
- they begin study on a new course at the student sponsor institution and the new course is at a higher or the same level as the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned and is not a foundation course intended to prepare the student for entry to a higher education provider.
A Child Student must study with the student sponsor which issued their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, unless:
- they are studying at an institution which is a partner institution of their student sponsor; or
- they have made an application for permission to stay while they have permission as a Child Student which is supported by a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies assigned by a student sponsor, the application has not yet been decided, or any administrative review against refusal of that decision has not been determined, and the Child Student will be studying at the student sponsor that assigned the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies.
Supplementary study is permitted.
A Child Student must not study at a State School or Academy except for:
- a voluntary grammar school with boarding in Northern Ireland: or
- if the Child Student has been granted permission to study at a student sponsor which becomes a State School or Academy during that period of permission, in which case the Child Student may complete the course for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned.
Conditions and Period Of Grant
The grant of permission will subject to the following conditions:
- no access to public funds; and
- no work until the Child Student is over 16 years, then work allowed as specified in CS 16.1. and
- no study except as specified in CS 17; and
- if Part 10 applies the person will be required to register with the police.
The applicant will be granted permission for the duration of the course as specified on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and the relevant additional periods dependant on their age as specified in the table below:
| Age | Period of granted before course start date | Period granted for study | Period granted after course end date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 16 years | 1 month | The shortest of: · the period requested by the applicant; or · the duration of the course of study; or · 6 years |
4 months | |
| 16 or 17 years | 1 month | The shortest of: · the period requested by the applicant; or · the duration of the course of study; or · 3 years |
4 months |
Super Priority Service (Decision Within 24 Hours)
Our specialist team of fast track immigration solicitors can provide fast track visa service for a faster decision on your application under the Priority Service or Super Priority service. This way you will get decision on your application faster and will not to wait for a decision on your application for months (some time years).
Our fast track immigration solicitors can prepare your application faster and submit your application under the Priority Service or Super Priority Service to get you faster decision on your application.
As specialist immigration solicitors in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Priority Service or Super Priority Service for your application whereby decision on your application will be made by the Home Office UKVI faster. An application submitted through Priority Service is normally decided within 5 working days and an application submitted through Super Priority Service is normally decided within 24 hours (usually by end of next working day).
How Can We Help For Switching Into Child Student Visa?
Our specialist team of child student visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable and fixed fee legal services for your application for switching into child student visa from inside the UK. As your appointed legal representatives for child student visa application from inside the UK, our work can include the following:
- assessing your eligibility for switching into child student visa from inside the UK by considering all the relevant eligibility requirements;
- advising on relevant documents to be submitted in support of the application;
- assessing the documentary evidence including the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to ensure that the documents are in line with the Home Office UKVI requirements for switching into child student visa from inside the UK;
- completing online application form for switching into child student visa from inside the UK;
- preparing a detailed cover letter in support of your application to explain in detail how all the relevant requirements for switching into child student visa have been satisfied by the applicant;
- submitting the application online, paying the Home Office UKVI fees for child student visa application and booking applicant's appointment with the UKVCAS application centre;
- uploading all the supporting documents online in support of the application;
- doing all the follow up work including responding to any queries raised by the Home Office UKVI until decision is reached on your application.
Our Fee For Student Visa Applications
Our fixed fees for student visa applications are as given in the fee table below:
| Our Service | Our Fixed Fees Range |
| Full service for student visa Entry Clearance to cover all the work until decision by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) | From £800 To £1,500 (no VAT) |
| Full service for switching to a student visa from inside the UK through Super Priority Service to cover our work until a decision on your application | From £800 + VAT To £1,500 + VAT |
| Full service for extension of student visa from inside the UK through Super Priority Service to cover our work until decision on your application | From £800 + VAT To £1,500 + VAT |
The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of casework involved. In addition to our fixed fee, the applicant also has to pay the Home Office UKVI fees for the application.
