UK Visa Information

UK Visa Information

General Information

All applications should be submitted at the UK Visa Application Centres in Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chittagong run by VFS Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd. UK Visa Application Centres are located at: DHAKA SYLHET CHITTAGONG VFS, Saimon Centre, 1st floor Gulshan Commercial Area Road # 22, House # 4A Dhaka 1212 Applications accepted: Sunday-Wednesday : 0800-1300, 1400-1600 Thursday 0800-1430 With the exception of public holidays Telephone enquiries: 885 1988 E-mail enquiries: info@vfs.com.bd VFS Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd. UK Visa Application Centre Garden Towers ; 1st Floor Shahjalal Bridgelink Road Sylhet - 3100 Office timings: Sunday-Thursday: 08:00 AM to 01:00 PM (Submission) 01:00 PM to 02:00 PM (Closed for Lunch Break) 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM (Passport collection) With the exception of public holidays Telephone enquiries: Customer Helpline : 0088-0821-810117 (08:00 AM to 01:00 PM) Fax : 0088-0821-810117 For all Inter-office calls : 0088-0821-810118 E-mail enquiries: info@vfs.com.bd (All non-settlement applications) VFS, Chamber House 4th Floor, Agrabad C/A Chittagong Applications accepted: Sunday-Thursday 0800 - 1430 With the exception of public holidays Telephone enquiries: (02) 885 1988 E-mail enquiries: info@vfs.com.bd There is no change in UK Immigration rules and the decision making process for the granting of UK visas will remain with the British High Commission. The UK Visa Application Centres will process all applicants and, unless you qualify for Visa Express, inform you of your appointment date and time. If you must travel a long distance to the visa office, contact VFS Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd addressed above before you start your journey for any important information that may affect you.

Requirements for Student Visa Application (Bold items are essential)

Application form VAF1, fully completed and signed by the applicant. Passport valid for at least six months, with available ‘visa’ pages. If available, your old passports. Evidence of current studies, or current employment. If neither, evidence of current status. Valid acceptance letter form schools/colleges in the UK stating: i) Cost of the course fees and receipt for any fees paid ii) Details of accommodation and how much it costs iii) How many hours a week you will study iv) The start and end date of proposed course. Evidence of ability to pay for course. Evidence of maintenance and accommodation. If self employed: company documentation Evidence of qualifications held. .Evidence of English qualifications. From sponsors: a letter of sponsorship, photocopies of their passport showing their immigration status in the UK, evidence of their financial status and available accommodation in the UK.

Photo Specification

One recent, passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), color photograph. The photograph should be: taken against a light colored (white, off-white etc.) background. clear and of good quality and not framed or backed printed on normal photographic paper and full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for cultural or religious reasons. Please note that VFS Bangladesh Pvt. Ltd may not accept photographs which do not meet these specifications.

Visa Fee

Visa Fee Tk. 11,050/= [GBP 85] is payable on application, for each applicant. For each application, the visa fee plus a VFS handling charge of Taka 500 will be payable. The VFS handling charge is paid separately by cash. The visa payment is by bank draft only, in favour of "British High Commission". Only bank drafts from Standard Chartered, HSBC, Sonali Bank, South East Bank, or Brac Bank are acceptable. In addition to the above, there is an option to obtain bank drafts/pay orders from Brac Bank booths located within the VFS offices. The optional cost for this service is 185 Taka per draft/PO. You will receive separate receipts for the fee and handling charge payments.

FAQ: Health Screening for TB

Do I have to be tested for tuberculosis (TB)? If you are planning to go to the UK for more than six months, you will need to be tested to show that you are free from TB before the VFS will accept your visa application. I made my application before this requirement started. Do need to take a test? No. If your application was accepted before the start date, you do not need to show a certificate before the High Commission makes a decision on your application. But you may have to be tested on arrival in the UK. Why do I have to be tested for TB? TB is common in Bangladesh and is an infectious disease which can be spread by close contact with other people. The UK wants to encourage greater awareness and treatment of TB in Bangladesh, as well as protecting people in the UK. Being tested before you travel also means that the arrival procedures in the UK will usually be much quicker. How much will the test cost? In Bangladesh the cost is $56 per person. About Tk. 4000/= How you will test for TB? Before VFS will accept you visa application they will ask you to contact the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), who will arrange for you to have a chest x-ray at an accredited clinic or hospital. If the x-ray shows signs of infections, the clinic will do other tests to find out whether you have infectious TB. This can take several days. Where will I have to go for the test? Clinic details: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) will operate the following 3 clinics. Telephone bookings for all three clinics can be made at the call center from 08:30 to 16:00 hours, Sunday through Thursday, on these three numbers only: +880-2-9676071, 0173 047471, 0173 066230. Dhaka MEDINOVA Medical services Limited House # 71/A, Road # 5/A, Dhanmondi Residential Area, Dhaka-1207. Sylhet MEDI-AID Diagnostic & Consultation Centre New Medical Road, (Near Modhu Sohid Majar) Sylhet-3100 Chittagong SENSIV 14, Jamalkhan Road, Chittagong-4000 What will happen if I do not have TB? The IOM office will give you a certificate which you must submit with your visa application form and other documents so that the High Commission knows that you are free from infectious TB. What will happen if I do have TB? The IOM will not give you a certificate and you will not be able to apply for a visa until you have been cured. The IOM will give you advice and tell you how to get treatment for infectious TB. A full course of treatment usually takes six months. After you have been cured you must be tested again. If the test shows that you are free of infectious TB, the IOM will give you a certificate so that you can apply for your visa. Will I have to pay for treatment? The IOM office will advise you about this. Will I have to pay for the second test after I am cured? Yes What about pregnant women? Pregnant women will be offered a chest x-ray with abdominal shielding to protect the unborn child. If they decline, other tests may be carried out or delays may occur. I have TB and I have an urgent need to travel to the UK and cannot wait for six months. What can I do? If you have an urgent and compassionate need to travel, you will need to give us full details of the reasons why. We will take these into consideration when we make a decision about giving you a visa. Urgent and compassionate reasons are likely to be when there is a close family member in the UK who is a seriously ill, or when your travel to the UK cannot be delayed for exceptional reasons. If we do allow you to travel you will be expected to begin treatment for TB when you arrive in the UK. What will happen if I refuse to take a TB test? You can still make your visa application, but we will refuse your visa. Is anyone exempt from this requirement? Only children under 11 years old, holders of diplomatic passports and returning residents do not need to give us a TB certificate. Will I need to take my certificate with me to the UK? Yes. You should carry it in your hand luggage. If you do not, you may be delayed on arrival in the UK. We also advise that you take your chest X-ray with you in case you need to see a doctor in the UK. Will I need to take any more TB tests while I am in the UK? If you have been in contact with someone who has TB, or you become ill, you may be asked to take a test.