Student Visa (Formerly Tier 4)
The Student visa is for those who wish to study a course at a UK educational institution that is a licensed Student sponsor. Applicants must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from their university or college, demonstrate English language ability at the required level, show sufficient maintenance funds, and consent to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance if required for certain subjects.
ZAM Law Associates advises on the full application process, including maintenance requirements and the rules around working during studies — usually up to 20 hours per week during term time.
Maintenance Requirement
You must show you have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs. The amount depends on whether you are studying in or outside London and how long your course lasts. Funds must have been held for 28 consecutive days. We advise on the precise amount required and how to evidence it correctly to satisfy Home Office requirements.
Graduate Visa
After completing a qualifying course at a UK higher education institution, international students can apply for the Graduate visa. This gives you two years (three years for PhD graduates) to work or look for work in the UK without restrictions. The Graduate visa is a route to switching to the Skilled Worker or other work visa categories.
We advise on eligibility for the Graduate visa and handle the application process, ensuring you are well-placed for the next step in your UK immigration journey.
Switching from Student to Work Visas
Many of our clients arrive as students, complete their degree, move to the Graduate visa, and then switch to the Skilled Worker route once they have secured employment. We plan this journey from the outset and handle each stage of the transition, ensuring continuity of leave and correct timing of applications.
Standard Visitor Visa
The Standard Visitor visa is for those visiting the UK for tourism, to see family, or for short-term permitted business activities. It does not permit work. The application requires evidence of your ties to your home country, your financial means, and the genuine purpose of your visit.
Refusals are common when the application does not adequately evidence intention to return home. We help applicants present a persuasive application addressing the key concerns that entry clearance officers look for.
Common Reasons for Visitor Visa Refusals
Previous immigration breaches, lack of financial evidence, unclear purpose of visit, overstaying concerns, or weak ties to the home country are the most common refusal reasons. We advise on how to address these concerns proactively in a fresh application, rather than simply resubmitting the same paperwork.
Family Visits
Many clients visit us specifically because they want a family member — a parent, sibling, or other relative — to visit the UK for a special occasion such as a graduation, wedding, or birth of a child. Visitor visa applications for family members require careful preparation, especially if the sponsor is in the UK and the applicant is from a high-refusal-rate country. We advise on the full evidence package required to maximise the chances of a successful outcome.