UK student visa: a practical checklist for Pakistani students

The UK Student visa is points-based: you need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed university, enough money, and English at the required level. When those are in order and your story is credible, most files go through. Most refusals come from small mistakes in the funds evidence or from weak answers about why the student chose the course.

Your CAS is an electronic reference number issued by the university once you accept an unconditional offer and pay any deposit it asks for. The university will usually ask for your passport, final transcripts, English results and sometimes a short interview before issuing it.

• Check every detail: your name exactly as in your passport, passport number, course title, start and end dates, and fees.
• Check how much tuition the CAS says you have already paid; this changes how much money you must show.
• Note how your English was assessed; your visa application must match it.

Counsellor’s tip: Ask the university to correct any mistake before you apply. A mismatch between your CAS and your documents is an easy reason to refuse.

You must show the tuition still owed for your first year plus a set monthly amount for living costs, for up to nine months. The monthly amount is higher for study in London. The money must be held for 28 consecutive days, and the closing balance date must be within 31 days of your application.

Watch out: Funds in an uncle’s, sibling’s or friend’s name are not accepted for this route. Large unexplained deposits shortly before the 28-day period also invite questions.

Translations are needed for any document not in English. Keep originals ready for your biometrics appointment.

Applicants who are residents of Pakistan need a tuberculosis test certificate for stays longer than six months. Only clinics approved by the Home Office can issue it. Book early: slots fill up before the September intake.

Universities and the Home Office may interview you to check that you are a genuine student. They want specific, honest answers, not memorised speeches.

• Why this course, and how it builds on what you have done?
• Why this university over others you could attend?
• How will you pay for your studies and living costs?
• What will you do after you graduate?

1. 1Complete the online application on the UK government site.
2. 2Pay the visa fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of your visa.
3. 3Book and attend your biometrics appointment at the visa application centre.
4. 4Wait for a decision: usually about three weeks for standard applications, with faster paid options sometimes available.

You can apply up to six months before your course starts and travel up to a week or a month before it begins, depending on its length.

• Funds held for fewer than 28 days, or a balance that dipped below the requirement.
• A bank statement dated more than 31 days before the application.
• Parent’s funds without a birth certificate or consent letter.
• Details on the CAS that do not match the passport or documents.
• Vague or rehearsed answers in the credibility interview.

If you have been refused before, read the refusal letter line by line. Each reason must be fixed and evidenced in the new application.