UK tourist or student visa for US citizen on short study

You have plenty of time to make a formal written inquiry to either the British Consulate or to the British Embassy in the United States. Relying on what some of us may or may not have experienced is dangerous, in that there are probably few members of this Forum who have any real understanding of what is required by the UK for admission on these visas. You wouldn't want to be reassured by one of our number who just got back and had no problems and then find out that the experience and the advice was wrong.

These are the rules:

Visitors may carry out the following study:
(a) educational exchanges or visits with a state funded school or academy or independent school; or
(b) a maximum of 30 days study on:
(i) recreational courses (not English language training);
(ii) a short-course (which includes English language training) at an accredited institution;
provided that the main purpose of the visit is not to study and the study is not at a state funded school or academy.

If someone from the EU wanted to take a weekend non-credit course at Cambridge, would they also have to have a student visa stamp in the passport to take the class?

No, as there is freedom of movement within the EEA, that has nothing to do with the e-gates.

But, as mentioned, you need to get some official information and not the advice of some strangers on a forum. Here is a good place to start: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control/before-you-leave-for-the-uk

The UK government website has a “Do you need a visa” test that includes studying. I filled it in based on your post:
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y/usa/study/sixmonthsor_less

The bottom line seems to be: no you don’t need a visa, but yes you need a stamp in your passport, (which you can’t get in the e-passport gate) and you need to bring the documentation listed. But it also says this could change depending on Brexit.

Thank you for the quick replies. I am aware of the limitations of reliance on non-official sources, but am frustrated by the official sources. I tried by email and by telephone to the local British consulate ... no reply to the email and the telephone call referred me to the Border Forces website as the source of information. I hope that the Border Forces website may be out of date as to the requirement for a student visa stamp for purpose of attending a short-course since U.S. passport holders are permitted as of last June to enter via the e-gate (no visa stamp either as a general tourist or student). Cambridge's information on its week-end adult education short course did not state the requirement of a student visa stamp on a passport ... that information was received after my wife and I had enrolled and paid our fees.

Before I consider requesting that Cambridge re-fund its fees, I am trying to find out if Cambridge actually still requires the student visa stamp on a passport following the changes in visitor immigration requirements at the border. As an older traveler, I need to reduce the time spent standing in lines, and the opportunity to use the e-gate at Heathrow is very appealing. Also, if we enter via the e-gate, as tourism visitors, it appears that we can stay for as long as six months (we might plan for a 35-day trip following the short course at Cambridge), but if we enter the UK with a student visa on our U.S. passports, the rules appear to say we can stay only as long as 30 days following the class. This appears to be a punitive policy toward tourists who wish to take a week-end class incidental to their visit, doesn't it.

Finally, from what I understand from the Border Force website and from what Cambridge's continuing education folks have tried to explain in an email, my wife and I need a) an advance purchase of a student visa, which costs about 50% of the Cambridge course tuition; or b) a cost-free stamp on our passports from an immigration officer at the Border ... but, I can't tell which is correct.

Again, thank you to the first responders and further insights are appreciated.

--John

John, The stamp you are getting is not a student visa, it’s a 6 month entry permit, the “old school” stamp we’re all used to. Cambridge needs to see this to be sure their students are in the country legally. They won’t have a passport chip reader. You will have your return plane ticket to show you are planning to leave the country.

Regarding the line, approach one of the officials in the hall and explain your health situation and the reason why you need the stamp. I’m sure they will find a kind solution.

You are not staying for an entire semester, or studying for credit. Since you will not be a student or studying in the normal sense of those terms I wouldn’t bother with any special entry steps.

People arriving for a whole semester do present a letter upon arrival and their arrivals are recorded in a certain way, including something handwritten below the entry stamp, but this isn’t you.

The UK student visa (this is just for more than six months) is a very crappy/expensive process involving the scoundrels at a vendor called VFS Global, an Indian-owned company. Like much of Europe, UK visa services are contracted out.

Barbara and Tom and the earlier responders:

Many thanks for the help and perspective. We'll have the evidence of return air tickets, documentation of the course enrollment, blank pages on passports with expiration dates far past the dates of our trip, a detailed itinerary, and evidence of sufficient funds for our stay in the UK to satisfy an immigration officer. The issue that all of you have helped me to understand is that Cambridge probably is stuck requiring the "old-fashioned" stamped passport in a situation such as ours.

With the recent addition of the e-gates for passport holders of U.S. and six other countries, and other efficiency measures that have been promised for Heathrow's immigration process, perhaps the lines for an immigration officer will diminish a little over this next year. The wait-time data for July and August of 2019 looked better than that for the same months in 2018 (when we waited in line 2 hours). Over the next several months, we'll monitor the average monthly wait-time data that the Border Force website offers for our arrival terminal at Heathrow and consider asking for assistance in standing if needed. The opportunity for an interesting weekend class at Cambridge is not to be missed if the immigration processing is manageable.

Again, thanks to all for your comments,

John

Perhaps you've already seen this or been sent the link in an email, but it looks like you can even request the letter you would show at the same time as your passport. Here's the link I found.

I'll admit, it seems fairly extreme to require special documentation for a weekend course, but the various sections of the Cambridge ICE website do reference it. It does seem clear that you absolutely do not need to apply for a visa in advance, though you would want to be sure to have the appropriate letter.

Again, you've probably already seen what I'm about to copy below, but just in case, or for folks in the future who might search the forum with a similar question, here's what it says for short-term classes:

you may obtain entry under the short-term study route by getting a passport stamp from a Border Force Officer at immigration control on arrival in the UK rather than applying for a short-term study visa in advance.
You will need to ensure you do the following to enter the UK as a short-term student:

• see a Border Force Officer and confirm that you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of study;
• show your short-term study letter, which you should carry in your hand luggage;
• obtain the correct short-term study passport stamp in your passport. You should not enter as a visitor if study is the main reason you are coming to the UK.

Please note that although the passport stamp may reflect permission for up to 6 months, this expires when you leave the UK and therefore this status needs to be requested every time you enter the UK during your studies.

eGates:

Short term students are not eligible to use the eGates. Nationals from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the USA may in certain circumstances be able to use the eGates. However it is not possible to enter the UK as a short term student via the eGates unless you have obtained entry clearance (a six-month visa) in advance of arriving to the UK. At the port of entry, rather than following the eGates signs, you should join a queue to see a Border Force Officer. As a short term student you must see an officer in order to get a stamp in your passport. This stamp gives you the permission needed for your studies and you will need to obtain this from a Border Force official every time you enter the UK during your course. If you enter via the eGates you will enter as a tourist. Without the correct stamp in your passport you may be unable to do the activities for which you are visiting the UK.

Looks like you are going to have to use the present letter upon arrival method if that’s what the university is asking for, although it seems a ridiculously strict reading of the law.

You could get a visa that covers short term study and use the egates but that requires using VFS Global, either going yourself to one of their locations or using a visa service. Expect them to tack on an undisclosed processing fee of about $90 to the visa costs. Access to VFS Global requires that you have obtained a reservation and access code in advance to unlock the door that only works for a narrow time band. If you are late you are out of luck. If you forget something or can’t produce the $90 you must make another online reservation to re-enter the facility and that might be days away, inconvenient if you have flown in just got this purpose. They process so many different countries and types of visas that they mix up the requirements, and sometimes the person who specializes in the specific country you want is out and the staff on hand are clueless, so the onus is on you to bring documentation to prove what do and don’t need for the visa you want.

It sure LOOKS like the University will REQUIRE a stamp to prove you entered legally.

That being said if you are unable to stand in the long line then you may want to consider having a wheelchair meet you. That way you don’t have to stand in a long line you are unable to.
I flew into Heathrow a couple years ago with my elderly father and he got a wheelchair. As a result we were walked right through immigration.

If you CAN stand but prefer not to then you will probably need to cancel your class.

But obviously this is up to the University the British government and yourself.

The website clearly specifies that OP does not need to apply for a visa in advance, just have the short term study letter in their hand luggage and go through the traditional passport control versus egates. The bank statements OP mentioned can't hurt, and I did see mention of them during my searches for their situation. If I had to guess, I bet that the passport officer will hear "weekend course," see the letter, and not care about seeing more, but it never hurts to have them in case they are requested.

Bottom line, no need to complicate things with a lengthy visa application in advance, no need to worry too much about the process - the "visa" sounds more like a special passport stamp issued upon arrival. Seconding everyone recommending being open upon arrival about perhaps needing assistance during the wait, if it turns out to be a long one.

OP, perhaps you'll get a chance to report back on your experience - I could see many forum members being interested in doing something like this!

Jumping in to add one more thing - if you search Oxford summer adult classes, there is another user named Pat whose daughter has done classes that likely fall under the same entry rules. Perhaps she could be a resource of how it has actually worked, versus us armchair adult-continuing-educationers!

Don't be confused and consider the 'stamp' you need in your passport on arrival to be a 'visa'. It isn't a visa at all. You do not need one as a USA citizen for study of this kind, nor should you attempt to apply for one. However, this stamp is confirmation that your immigration status for the course has been officially checked and acknowledged and the accredited institution is required by law to see this.

Thank you to Marco, Amy, Douglas and Tom ... your perspectives have helped clarify the UK short term study requirements and are much appreciated. --John

Relax....the good news is that not all passports work at the egates. Mine doesn't--computer chip issues--so I go to a desk manned on the side of the egates.. There will be other people in this line including British passport holders who are also having trouble at the egates.. This line is to verify who you are. You might get an overzealous border officer who will ask you questions but I have never waited more than five minutes. Go straight to this desk. Explain you need a stamp--have all the documentation you need-- and it will only take a few minutes.

Hope its not too late to add my two cents (or two pence) with actual experience

I did the Cambridge summer program in August 2019. It was a week long course and I did it as part of a 10 week visit to England, Scotland (where we did a RS scotland tour) and Greece.

If Cambridge says you need a student visa stamp, then you need one. When I got to the college to check in, that was the first thing they asked to see-- my passport with the student visa stamp.So, You cannot use the E-gate.

Since I was traveling with my wife, who was not a student, she used the e-gate and it took less than 10 minutes.
I had to use the regular line and on the day I was there, it took less than ½ hour. The passport control officer asked me why I didn't use the e-gate and I told him I needed the student visa stamp. He asked to see my admission letter and gave me the official stamp in my passport.

Oh.... to get off topic.... My week long course at Cambridge will always be one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. I rented a bicycle and rode to class every morning at 8:00am through the empty streets of Cambridge and it was marvelous.
I could write a long review on study abroad week.. and maybe I just might.... Enjoy your class

To Frank and Derek,

Many thanks to both of you for the information. Derek ... both my wife and I are enrolled in the same weekend course at Madingley Hall, Cambridge, with an extra day ahead and after the course for exploring Cambridge. While we'll spend about three more weeks touring in England, the course at Cambridge may be the highlight. I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed your course. The encouragement from so many of the correspondents to my initial post is convincing me to pull up my socks and stand in the regular immigration line at Heathrow.

-John

Madingley Hall is a beautiful place. As it is somewhat remote from the city it is set in gorgeous gardens and land. The approach is impressive and the gardens, open from time to time to the public, surround and envelope the property - there's even water.

I've enjoyed it for a couple of hours at a time - you're lucky to be residential there.

Between Madingley Hall and the city there is the American Cemetary.

Will you be having a car, or is it buses and trains for you?

Nigel - thank you for the comment on Madingley Hall. We're undecided on transportation in and around Cambridge. On four prior trips to the UK, we've had good experience by rail and by rented car. We note that Madingley Hall is 4 miles outside Cambridge and probably will rely on a taxi to get into and out of town, rather than by rented car, since much of our four days will consist of class time with just a few hours for anything else. It looks like rail connections into Cambridge from the north of England and from London offer lots of scheduling options.

For those with an interest in a semi-scholarly experience (a day or two of lectures in classes without exams or papers to write ... non-credit course), the year-around Cambridge continuing education program appears very promising, although costly. For the weekend course, Madingley Hall offers lodging and meals and, if you take their offer of visiting a day early and staying a day longer, it also functions as a B&B (but, breakfast only). When we return, I'll put a note in this forum after our Cambridge course about our own experience as a thank-you for the encouraging comments to my initial question.

--John

You don't need a special visa. Those "short courses" are not really proper courses for credit. You are paying for an experience not for actual university credit. It's basically the same as paying for a tour...you are just getting a tour of information.

My son, however, was in London for this past year as a student and had to jump through beaucoup hoops and fork over many, many USD to make the visa process happen.

Thanks, Anita. We have finally concluded that the student visa that Cambridge emailed us to get is simply a stamp on our passports at immigration. It's not a Border Force requirement to enter the country, but a Cambridge requirement for admission to their weekend class. That was the distinction that I didn't understand from Cambridge's explanation in their original email to me. Cambridge gave me the impression that because my wife and I were taking a class, we needed formal student visas to enter the UK, when we knew that that as tourists we could enter through Heathrow's swift eGate process without even an interview with an immigration officer. I couidn't understand the necessity of getting a student visa for a weekend course and then standing in the regular non-EU/non-UK resident line for immigration. A follow-up message from Cambridge didn't resolve my confusion.

What I now understand is that the student visa is just a stamp on a passport page after showing the Border Force officer the emailed letter of admission to Cambridge's short course. My wife and I need to stand in the immigration line to see a Border Force officer to get the passports stamped, but won't need to present a formal visa document. Then, we can show the stamped page on the passports upon arrival for our short course to meet Cambridge's requirements.

You are right, Anita, the weekend short course is just semi-scholarly tourism. The stamped passport seems a bit of an over-reach, but it is Cambridge's requirement for whatever reason. The idea of once again, standing in a long line at Heathrow is not appealing (injured leg muscle), but we've decided that the course may be worth it. I'll post my impression upon our return.

--John