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Standard visitor visa validity

Last activity 21 March 2022 by Cynic

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gladpingvin

A friend's daughter is planning to come to the UK for two months in the summer to study an English language course. She is going to apply for a UK standard visitor visa. My friend thinks that the visa will only be valid for the two months of her course. However I thought that a standard visitor visa was valid for six months from date of entry to the UK. Can anyone enlighten us? Many thanks.

Cynic

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

A visitor's visa can only be used to attend a course of up to 30 days duration - you can read this here (link).  There is nothing stopping her from coming as a visitor/tourist providing she meets all the other requirements; these visas are generally for up to 6 months duration.

A student visa can be used to attend a course of longer duration, but a 2-month language course would not qualify - you can read this here (link).

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

gladpingvin

Thanks for the information Cynic, I am a little confused as I thought English language students could study longer than 30 days? Anyway, however long the course if I understand correctly the visa would be valid for 6 months from date of entry?

Cynic

gladpingvin wrote:

Thanks for the information Cynic, I am a little confused as I thought English language students could study longer than 30 days? Anyway, however long the course if I understand correctly the visa would be valid for 6 months from date of entry?


Hi again.

A standard visitor visa is valid for 6 months.  You should be aware that UK Immigration is very suspicious of people claiming to come to the UK for "language courses"; in every case, they will check that the course is valid and check with the Department of Education that the school/college does in fact exist and the course is as per what the student tells them.  There have been many in the past who have used this as a backdoor into the UK and never leave.

Cynic
Expat Team

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