Child visitor visa for UK

[Jwana]

Hi there - I am an Aust national and am planning to spend some time next year living/working in the UK as I have right of abode there. The father of my 2 children (from whom I am divorced) is prepared to complete all the necessary paperwork so that our older child can accompany me there on a settlement visa but he is not prepared to do this for our younger child.

I am not sure how I will resolve this long term, but in the short term I would like my younger child to come to the UK for at least 6 months with me & her father is prepared for her to come over for that time on a child visitor's visa.

The problem is that when I read the immigration info it seems that she can study there during her stay (she is a high school student) but not in a govt school which is Ok but when I spoke to the British embassy here (in Oz) they maintain that she cannot study at all - even in an international fee paying type school which seems ludicrous!

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks

Jwana

[JAJ]

Hi there - I am an Aust national and am planning to spend some time next year living/working in the UK as I have right of abode there. The father of my 2 children (from whom I am divorced) is prepared to complete all the necessary paperwork so that our older child can accompany me there on a settlement visa but he is not prepared to do this for our younger child.

What are you trying to do here? I doubt bringing the child as a tourist and then hoping to sort things out after arriving will work - she might have to go back to Australia.

Why is father not willing to sign paperwork and have you taken legal advice about whether a court would give you sole custody of child. And how old is child?

[Jwana]

Hi JAJ - At the moment I am trying to find a way for my younger child to visit me in the UK even temporarily. I do not want to go to court as it's a lengthy & costly process; my child is nearly 14 years old.

Anyway, if anyone knows if children on visitor's visas can study in private /international schools while in the UK please let me know as this is my main concern at present.

Jwana

[JAJ]

Hi JAJ - At the moment I am trying to find a way for my younger child to visit me in the UK even temporarily. I do not want to go to court as it's a lengthy & costly process; my child is nearly 14 years old.

Are you seriously thinking of moving to the UK without your child? If the child is 14, I would have thought most Australian courts would listen to his or her wishes.

[asj]

Hi JAJ - At the moment I am trying to find a way for my younger child to visit me in the UK even temporarily. I do not want to go to court as it's a lengthy & costly process; my child is nearly 14 years old.

Anyway, if anyone knows if children on visitor's visas can study in private /international schools while in the UK please let me know as this is my main concern at present.

Jwana

I am not an expert but as far as I know, a visitor's visa does not allow for one to take up study referring to para 41 HC 395 - for visitors and para 57 HC 395 for students. And it will not be possible to swich the childs status from that of a visitor to that of a student whilst in the UK.
Leave to enter as a student will have to be obtained.

[stedman]

ASJ's right - she'll need a student visa.

[Jwana]

Hi there - thanks for all your advice...but sorry I still think she can come in and study on a visitor's visa!

The reason I believe this to be the case is that the UKVisas website advises that Aust nationals who wish to study in the UK for 6 months or less do not need a student visa.

Also, the home office website advises that children entering as visitors cannot study at maintained schools - i.e. govt funded schools but does not rule out independent / international fee paying schools.

Ah well...I guess this means another costly phone call to the British Embassy here!!!

Thanks again anyway.

Jwana

[Dawie]

The reason I believe this to be the case is that the UKVisas website advises that Aust nationals who wish to study in the UK for 6 months or less do not need a student visa.

If you knew the answer already then why ask this board?

[Jwana]

[quote]If you knew the answer already then why ask this board?[quote]

Hi Dawie

If you had read my original post you would have seen that I am getting 2 conflicting pieces of information on this matter- one from the official immigration websites & another from the British Embassy here in Aust.

I did not come on here to waste people's time...I came here to try to clarify the contradictory information I have received and to be frank I'm not sure why you feel the need to be rude!

Jwana