How to Apply for UK Student Visa in Nigeria 2013- Requirements and How to Apply

How to apply and process your UK Student Visa in Nigeria risk free from the Official UK Visa Application Website and officer in Nigeria.

VFS Global is a commercial company, working in partnership with UK Border Agency in Nigeria to provide services to help people apply for visa to enter the UK.
VFS also manages visa application centres for the UK Border Agency here in Nigeria, where you should submit your visa application, supporting documents and biometric data.

From 2 November all student, first time visitor and points-based applications will be processed by the UK Border Agency in Abuja. Your documents and passport will be forwarded by commercial courier from the visa application centre where you made your application to the UK Border Agency at the British High Commission in Abuja, where your visa application will be processed and a decision taken. There will be no extra cost for these internal courier services.

When to Apply for Visa
You can apply 3 months in advance of your intended date of travel to the UK to commence study. Applicants are strongly advised not to make their travel arrangements to enter the UK until they have received their visa.

Fees for Study Visa -Points Based System Tier 4

Watch this video on YouTube – Tier 4 Guide to UK student visas

Student applicant – main applicant and dependants
(visa duration for main applicants and their dependants is subject to length of study. Study below degree level is limited to three years maximum duration)
N55,000
Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship
Free of charge
British Marshall Scholarship
Free of charge
Fulbright Scholarship
Free of charge
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan
Free of charge

How to Pay Visa Application Fees
You can pay your visa application fee in one of two ways:
* At a Sterling Bank. Sterling Bank is contracted to collect UK visa application fees. Payment can be made at one of 50 bank branches nationwide.
* At the visa application centre. If you are paying at one of the visa application centres a service charge of 500 Naira will be made. Any other request for payment should be refused and reported to the UK Border Agency at the British High Commission in Abuja or the British Deputy High Commission in Lagos.

Once you have paid the visa fee, there is nothing else to pay, either before or after the decision has been made on your application. If anyone contacts you and asks for more money in connection with your application, it is a scam suspect. If anyone tells you that they can get you a visa if you pay a bribe, it is also a scam suspect. Report scam at Lagos.VisaFraud@fco.gov.uk

Refunds: Your visa application fee will be refunded only if the application is withdrawn in writing prior to any processing taking place or if your biometric information has not been taken.
Refunds will not be given if your application is refused or if a long term visit visa is granted for less than the period applied for.
These fees are effective for all visa applications made from 22 November 2010.

How to apply
There are 8 steps to complete the visa application process
Step 1 – Check if you need a visa
Obviously, you will need a student visa to study in UK as a Nigerian student.
Step 2 – Read the information on your visa category
Before you decide to apply for a visa please make sure you familiarize yourself with the information on the visa category you are applying for; in this case you are applying for a study visa. Quick links to information on visa categories and other helpful information can be found on the ‘Visa Information’ page on the official website.
Step 3 – Complete your visa application form
Complete a visa application form for the study visa. Visa application forms and guidance are available on the UK Border Agency website. Ensure that you complete all the sections correctly. Sections 1 and 2 are vital to considering your application. If you make a mistake in filling in any of the sections you will need to make the change on the form and sign against it.
Step 4 – Prepare your supporting documents
Please refer to the ‘required documents’ page on the website, as well as the guidance and the supporting documents listed on the back of your visa application form.
You must submit original documents or attested copies, with a photocopy of each of these documents. Ensure to provide translations of any supporting documents that are not in English.
Step 5 – Pay your visa application fee
See above for information about how to pay your visa application fee.
Step 6. Visit the visa application centre
You must submit your visa application and all your supporting documents in person at a visa application centre. You cannot submit your visa application through an agent, friend or family member because you will need to submit your biometric data. The contact details of the visa application centres can be found below this page. A visa application can only be processed after your biometrics have been taken.

Required Documents
You will need to bring along the following documents:
* Completed and signed visa application form.
* Supporting documents relevant to the study visa category you are applying for with copy of each original document.
* The visa application fee or proof of payment from the Sterling Bank.
* Your signed and valid passport or refugee travel document with at least 1 blank page (both sides) so the visa can be inserted.
* A photocopy of your passport and data page (the page which has your photograph and personal details)
* 1 recent passport-sized (45mm high x 35mm wide) colour photograph of yourself. The photograph should be:
– Taken against a light grey or cream background. It should be in sharp focus, clear and of good quality, free from shadows.
– Printed on normal photographic paper.
– Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or tinted spectacles, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons. The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows) and the applicant should be facing forwarding, looking straight ahead.
– The photograph should be a recent true likeness and taken within the last 6 months.
Please note: Photographs which do not meet these specifications will not be accepted.
Step 7. Wait for a decision
Please wait for a decision on your visa application. You can refer to the ‘Processing Times’ page on the website for information on processing times.

Interviews
Issue or refusal of a visa is based on the assessment of your application by a UK Border Agency visa officer. The visa officer may decide to interview you if they need more information before making a decision on your application. All interviews will be conducted by UK Border Agency staff. Should an interview be required then you will be offered the first available interview date.
Step 8. Collect the decision on your visa
VFS will inform you when your documents are ready for collection. You can collect the decision on your visa and documents from the visa application centre where you submitted your visa application.

If you are issued a visa, please check it. You should make sure that:
* your personal details are correct
* it correctly states the purpose for which you want to travel to the UK, and
* it is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately).
If you think there is anything wrong with your visa, please contact the visa application centre immediately.

Using Visa/Travel Agents
You may decide to submit your visa application using an independent travel agent, immi
gration agent or consultant. These agents will charge for their services.
You should be careful when dealing with agents who make unrealistic claims. Agents cannot guarantee that they will be able to obtain a work or study visa for you. They cannot guarantee that your application will be resolved without an interview. They cannot guarantee the outcome of your visa application. Some agents charge exorbitant fees for their services – often many times the actual cost of the visa. If an agent charges you anything more than a small and reasonable service charge, they may be overcharging you or they may be supplying you with false documents and statements. Visa officers will detect false documents and statements, and your visa application will be refused. If you provide false information, documents or passports in support of your visa application, you will be refused a visa and all future applications will be refused for up to 10 years. Remember the visa application is your application. You are the owner of the information and any supporting documentation. A genuine agent will only be able to help you to complete the form and advise you what supporting documents you need to include. If you consider that you have been misled or cheated by an agent, then you should report the matter to the police.

Visa Application Centres in Nigeria
Abuja – Nigeria
VF Global Services Nigeria Ltd.
No 38, Lobito Crescent, Wuse II
Abuja – Nigeria
Lagos – (Lekki)
Block – 94, Plot No. 23,
Providence Street,
Lekki EPE Express Way,
Lekki Schemen 1, Lagos
Lagos – (Ikeja)
Ground and 1 Floor, 16, Billingsway
Oregun Industrial Area, Ikeja
Operating hours
Application submission
Monday – Friday: 08.00 – 15:00
Passport collection
Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 16.00
Visa enquiries
VFS call centre
Landline: 07042848040
Operating hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00-15:00.
info.ukng@vfshelpline.com.

UK Border Agency addresses
UK Border Agency
British High Commission
Dangote House
Aguyi Ironsi Street
Maitama District
Abuja
UK Border Agency
British Deputy High Commission
11 Walter Carrington Crescent
Victoria Island
Lagos