Overview of garimalaw on PostgraduateForum.com

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Signup date: 08 Nov 2015 at 8:32pm

Last login: 11 Nov 2015 at 9:31pm

Post count: 3

garimalaw 3 posts
9 years ago

I am from India, but currently a Doctoral Candidate with an Italian University. I have been selected by Oxford University, UK for the Academic Visitor Programme for a period of one month. I have to conduct my own research, I am not a part of any research project of Oxford (so cannot be business visitor) and I am to use the facilities to work on my own.

After going through various visa types I contacted the Oxford University indicating that I may need a "Short Term Student Visitor" Visa and for that I need a letter to which the University replied that I need to apply for "Academic Visitor" only as I would not be "enrolled" as a student and I should ask for a letter from my University in Italy saying that they are giving me leave for the duration of visiting programme and that I am coming for exchange of information and experience and conduct my research. Further, since my Italian University will completely fund the Visiting Period, it should not be a problem.

I read here http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-12278 that it is possible for a PhD candidate to get an academic visitor visa if I have a academic repute, strong CV , leave and funding. Is this acceptable as I am a bit confused as in the entry where the Visa application asks "student" or "working" what should be my answer if I am working on some projects along side my PhD?

I would be really thankful if someone would help me with suggestions on making the application stronger.

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garimalaw 3 posts
9 years ago

Quote From kerferd:
I wanted to share my experience with everyone as I could not find anything on the internet that confirmed whether PhD's would be considered for the Academic Visitor visa in the UK. The wording on the UKBA website seems to imply that PhD candidates do not fit the criteria for this visa.

I am a PhD student, and had an offer as a Research Visitor to one of the universities in the UK for 12 months. As I was not considered a student by the UK university, I could not get a CAS number, and hence couldn't apply for the Student Visa, After searching the internet I decided to apply for the Academic Visitor visa, as this was the only visa that would allow me to stay in the UK for a year.

I was recently granted the Academic Visitor visa, which I am very happy about. Total time to process my visa was 9 days including a weekend. I included the following documents in my application:

- A letter inviting me as a Research Visitor for 12 months from a UK university
- A letter from my home university granting me "leave" and permission to accept the offer
- An academic CV including all seminars given and publications
- Two of my publications
- Bank statements showing scholarship payments from my home university
- Bank statements showing I had sufficient funds for my 12 months in the UK

I hope this has helped clear the confusion for anyone else who has the same problem.

This is really helpful. I was wondering what you selected in the option "employed" or "student" ?

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garimalaw 3 posts
9 years ago

Hi iperera, any update on how your application went?

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