2017 has been our busiest year for enquiries in relation to UK Student Visas and Passports!
Please note all consular enquiries dealing with Visas, Passports or access to the UK and length of stay should be directed to Denison Miller at the Cayman Islands Government Office (CIGO) in London: info.cigo@gov.ky / denison.miller@gov.ky. PHONE: +44 207 491 7772.
If CCUK receives a request for information or advise on consular matters we will refer you to the Cayman Islands Government Office.
Please see below standard information in relation to these issues for Cayman Islands Citizens.
Our advise first and foremost is to APPLY FOR A BRITISH PASSPORT from Cayman as soon as you are applying for a UK university to give you time for the passport application process from Cayman.
British Passports – Information from CAYMAN RESIDENT
Application forms for British passports (renewals or new passports) can be downloaded from www.gov.uk/overseas-passports along with a list of what needs to be submitted. Applications must be couriered to Her Majesty’s Passport Office, OVS-D, Millburngate House, Millburngate, Durham DH97 1PA, England.
Payment must be made by credit card online during the application process. The cost of a standard adult’s passport (as of July 2016) is £102.86 and a child’s passport costs £72.86. This includes the courier fee to send the new passport back to you. Processing time takes at least 6-12 weeks.
For more information about ELIGIBILITY – see BRITISH NATIONALITY AS AN OVERSEES TERRITORIES CITIZEN
ENTRY TO THE UK WITH A CAYMAN ISLANDS (BOTC) PASSPORT
Entry to the UK is permitted for up to 6 months on a BOTC passport. If a student is staying on a course longer than 6 months (s)he must obtain a TEIR 4 STUDENT VISA.
Study in the UK LONGER THAN SIX MONTHS: You’ll need a visa to study
The visa you apply for depends on your circumstances.
- Apply for a study visa (tier 4 general visa) – gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa if you’re coming to the UK to study a university or college course for more than 6 months, or more than 11 months if it’s an English language course.
- You can apply for a Short-term Study visa – gov.uk/study-visit-visa if you’re 18 or over and studying an English language course for 11 months or less.
- You can also apply for a child study visa if you are under 18 – gov.uk/child-study-visa if you’re under 18.
UK BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMITS
You’ll get a biometric residence permit (BRP) if you:
- apply to come to the UK for longer than 6 months
- extend your visa to longer than 6 months
- apply to settle in the UK
- transfer your visa to a new passport
- apply for certain Home Office travel documents
You don’t have to apply separately for a BRP. You’ll get one automatically if your visa or immigration application is approved, or you’re replacing an older document.
HOME FEES (UNIVERSITY):
The visa requirement does not have any bearing on their eligibility for Home Student Status and fees. CAYMAN ISLANDS STUDENTS are entitled to HOME STUDENT STATUS FEES as long as the student is a BOTC and has been resident in Cayman for the preceding three years.
If you have any questions about moving to the UK please feel free to contact hello@caymanconnection.org and we will happily direct your enquiry.