UK ACADEMIC VISIT VISA
We provide immigration advice and guidance to help your Academic Visitor visa application get the best chance of success
The Science and Academia Visit Visa is designed to enable academics, scientists and researchers from around the world to visit the UK for a period of up 6 months or, for certain academics, for a period of up to 12 months..
This visa allows individuals to undertake research, teaching or clinical practice in their field of expertise. It is also open to highly qualified senior doctors and dentists who wish to undertake clinical practice in the UK.
This visa provides an excellent opportunity for those with specialist knowledge and skills to contribute their expertise in the UK for a limited duration
Who needs to apply for UK Academic Visit visa
The Academic Visitor Visa is ideal for overseas academics who will remain paid and employed overseas and who will only be carrying out permitted activities in the UK for a limited period of time. These activities include research, teaching or clinical practice at a recognised institution in the UK.
The visa is available for those who are highly qualified in their field and have a wealth of experience in their profession. It also applies to senior doctors or dentists who are invited by a recognised institution to take part in teaching or clinical practice in the UK.
This visa provides an excellent opportunity for international professionals to contribute their expertise and knowledge to the UK’s scientific and academic research.
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academics who are highly qualified within their field of expertise (generally be people with PhDs or higher) and who already work at an overseas academic or higher education institution, who intend to take part in formal exchange arrangements with UK organisations (including doctors); and carry out research for their own purposes
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senior doctors or dentists who are renowned overseas and have a wealth of experience in their field, who want to come to the UK to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice as long as their visits remains incidental
What are Academic Visitor visa requirements
STANDARD VISITOR VISA (VALID UP TO 6 MONTHS)
The Academic Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route. You have to meet all general Visitor visa requirements such as:
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You are a visa national
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Your valid passport or other travel identification document
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An invitation letter from the host department/ college within the university
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For Academic researchers: proof that they are highly qualified in their own field of expertise and currently working in that field at an academic or higher education institution overseas, for example a letter from their employer
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You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
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You have sufficient funds to support yourself financially during your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs)
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You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
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You will make the UK your main home.
ACADEMIC VISITORS (COMING FOR OVER 6 MONTHS)
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Your valid passport or other travel identification document
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Your invitation letter from the host organisation (for example, department/ college within the university)
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Proof that they are highly qualified in their own field of expertise and currently working in that field at an academic or higher education institution overseas, for example a letter from their employer
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You have sufficient funds to support yourself financially during your visit
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Your plans for the visit such as details of where youintend to stay and your travel plans
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Tuberculosis screening certificate (TB): if applying from specified countries.
You may need to submit confirmation documents from your employer such as:
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your employer outlining the dates of your sabbatical or exchange
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your employer outlining the research to be undertaken
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the UK host organisation confirming the arrangements for your research, exchange or clinical practice
DEPENDANTS
Academic visitors coming to the UK for up to 12 months can bring dependants for the whole duration of their visa.
Each dependant can apply for their visa at the same time as the applicant, or after the main applicant's visa has been granted.
When to apply for Academic Visitor visa
Apply from outside the UK:
You need to be outside thte UK to apply for this visa.
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel to the UK.
It will take up to 3 weeks to receive the decision on your Academic Visitor Visa application.
You may be able to receive the decision faster. This depends on what country you’re in.
Fast tracked processing times for a premium fee are:
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within 5 working days (‘priority service’)
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by the end of the next working day (‘super priority service’)
To discuss your UK Academic Visitor Visa application please contact our expert immigration advisors on +44 7513621625 or schedule consultation below.
GET HELP FROM OUR TEAM OF IMMIGRATION LAWYERS
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