From 22 February, Tier 4 Student Visa applications can now be completed online, without the need to wait for a letter from the accepting university.
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05 February 2010
Hong Kong students to benefit from new Tier 4 processes
Hong Kong students will see increased processing times for Tier 4 Students Visas, a UK border Agency official has said.
The new online system for the Tier 4 visa process will be introduced from February 22, said UK Border Agency international group director Barbara Woodward.
"The new system is an electronic process that only requires students to provide a confirmation of acceptance for studies reference number on their application," Woodward told The Standard.
"Students will no longer have to wait for an original visa letter from their sponsor education institution before they apply."
While the new arrangement will lead to greater convenience in handling applications, charges and processing times will remain unchanged.
UK immigration issued more than 5,400 student visas from April to September last year to Hong Kong nationals, an increase of 7 per cent over the same period in 2008.
The inclusion of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education in the UCAS tariff point system for admission to higher education in Britain should also make it easier for Hong Kong students to study in the UK.
The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge UK immigration applications with the British High Commission.
