Question on splitting the six months

[250gto]

I am an Australian citizen looking at doing two training courses in England at the end of this year and the start of next year, neither of which will require me to obtain a student visa. The courses themselves are one month long and four months long respectively, thus under the six month limit however there will be a gap of one or two months between them which would take me over the six months.

Is it possible to get a one and a half month visa/stamp on entry then go to Europe during the gap then return and get a five and a half month visa/stamp thus giving me less than six months in the U.K

I will of course be able to provide the Entry Officer with the documentation for the courses and all four flights, evidence of ability to support myself and intention to return home etc to show that I am not trying to do anything dodgy.

[republique]

It might be better to just get a student visa.

[Mr Rusty]

What you propose is perfectly reasonable and possible, and I can't see the point of getting a visa. You apply on arrival on each occasion to the Immigration Officer as a Student Visitor. For your info, the relevant paragraph of the Immigration Rules is as follows:

"56K. The requirements to be met by a person seeking leave to enter the United Kingdom as a student visitor are that he:

(i) is genuinely seeking entry as a student visitor for a limited period as stated by him, not exceeding six months; and

(ii) has been accepted on a course of study which is to be provided by an organisation which is included on the Register of Education and Training Providers; and

(iii) intends to leave the United Kingdom at the end of his visit as stated by him; and

(iv) does not intend to take employment in the United Kingdom; and

(v) does not intend to engage in business, to produce goods or provide services within the United Kingdom, including the selling of goods or services direct to members of the public; and

(vi) does not intend to study at a maintained school; and

(vii) will maintain and accommodate himself and any dependants adequately out of resources available to him without recourse to public funds or taking employment; or will, with any dependants, be maintained and accommodated adequately by relatives or friends; and

(viii) can meet the cost of the return or onward journey; and

(ix) is not a child under the age of 18. "

The IO can grant entry for up to 6 months on each occasion. If it's "in-house" training by a company rather than by a college on the Register, and it's funded by the company and you're being paid to take the training, then maybe you should present yourself as a business visitor.

Either way, as long as it's clear to the IO that your visits are in pursuit of betterment of your career back in Oz, and you're going back when you've finished the second course there shouldn't be a problem. It's perfectly reasonable to want to take the opportunity to look round Europe in between.