Please note that effective December 3, 2007 all UK visa applicants, including those applying for entry clearance to study, will be required to provide their biometric data (10 finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of their application. Learn how to apply for your UK visa and submit your biometric information.

The British government is introducing biometric data collection as part of a worldwide biometric identification process, designed to protect an individual’s identity, facilitate future entry to the UK, and combat visa fraud and abuse of the UK’s immigration and asylum systems.
Entry Clearance, which is similar to a student visa, is mandatory for US citizens who:
will enter the UK as students on courses of more than six months, or
wishes to work in the UK, including unpaid and volunteer work, regardless of the length of their course
Students who are not US citizens but who are ordinarily resident in the United States can find out about Entry Clearance requirements and application details by visiting UK Visas.

In the United States, Entry Clearance Applications are processed at the British Consulates-General in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles. You can apply online and provide supporting documents either by mail or in person. Most Entry Clearance applications are straightforward and will be dealt with quickly.

What is Entry Clearance?

Entry Clearance is a document issued to travelers who have been granted leave to enter the UK. It is like a student visa.

It is issued in the form of a vignette or sticker placed in a passport at a visa-issuing post overseas. In the United States, the visa-issuing posts are located at the British Consulates-General in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The UK introduced Entry Clearance to align with the practice of other European member states as part of the effort to prevent travelers from entering and remaining in the country using forged documents.

Who needs Entry Clearance?

All US citizens entering the UK as students must apply for Entry Clearance if they:

- are on courses of more than six months
- wish to work while in the UK (including unpaid and volunteer work) regardless of the length of their course

How do I apply for Entry Clearance?

Visit the British Consulate website to apply online. You may then either mail in or submit in person your application and supporting documents to one of the three visa-issuing Consular posts in New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles.

Will visitors need Entry Clearance?

US citizens who will be studying in the UK for programs of six months or less may be stamped as "Student Visitors" on arrival and do not need Entry Clearance. Please note that Student Visitors are prohibited from working, including unpaid and volunteer work; are not eligible to apply for an extension of their stay; and may not switch into another immigration category.

I am going on a Study Abroad program for a semester. Do I need Entry Clearance?

If your program is less than six months, and you do not wish to work (including unpaid and volunteer work), or apply for an extension of your stay, you do not need to apply for Entry Clearance.

My course began before November 13, 2003. Do I need to apply for Entry Clearance?

No. If you entered the UK before the Entry Clearance regulations went into effect, met the existing criteria and were granted permission to remain for the duration of your course, you will be able to leave and re-enter the UK on this authorization.

What will happen if I need Entry Clearance but I arrive without it?

Travelers who arrive without the necessary Entry Clearance are refused entry.

What will Entry Clearance cost?

There is a fee and handling charge to apply for Entry Clearance. The fee is payable per person and non-refundable regardless of outcome. Find out current fees here.

I am a US resident but not a US citizen. What should I do?

You can find out if you need to obtain Entry Clearance. The fee is payable per person and non-refundable regardless of the outcome. Find out current fees.

Can I enter and leave the US for the duration of my Entry Clearance?

Yes.

How far in advance should/can I apply?

It is advisable to apply at least three or four weeks before traveling but not prior to 90 days before your course starts. Visa-issuing Consulates are only able to post-date visas by 90 days. Therefore, if your course starts on September 1, the earliest you can apply for Entry Clearance is June 1.

What will my spouse/civil partner/dependants need to do?

If you are granted Entry Clearance to study in the UK, your spouse/civil partner/dependants can join you provided you can support them without needing help from public funds. He/she/they will need to apply for separate Entry Clearance.

What information will I need to complete the online application?

The online application requires personal information, incluidng passport, financial, and UK residency details. You will also need to provide information regarding your course of study in the UK. You may save an incomplete application and return to it within a specified time if you do not have all of your details to hand.

Please note you will be required to send in original documents to support your application. An Entry Clearance Officer will base the decision to issue or refuse Entry Clearance on the documents you provide. You should also note that the application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome. You should print and retain copy of your online application for your records.

What documents do I need to submit with my application?

For a comprehensive list of supporting documents, please visit UK Visas. Be prepared to send in the following:

- your current passport;
- your old passport or a copy of it;
- evidence of funds available to you in the form of bank statements covering at least the last three months;
- letter of enrollment from a recognized UK university, college, or school giving details about the proposed course, including length of the course, number of hours of study each week, and an estimation of the cost of your study;
- your educational qualifications;
- evidence of Government sponsorship if applicable

Please note that your educational institution must be registered on the Department for Education and Skills Register of Education Providers.

Does Entry Clearance entitle me to work?

Entry Clearance permits employment under certain conditions. You may work up to 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during vacations or holidays. Please note that ALL work, including unpaid and volunteer work, will be counted against your 20 or 40 hour weekly allotment.

Will Entry Clearance be granted for the full duration of my course? (e.g. three years for undergraduate study)?

Entry Clearance will be issued to reflect the length of the course of study in the UK.

What happens if I want to travel within Europe?

Entry Clearance is only valid in the UK. US students wishing to travel to other European countries will be subject to those countries' immigration rules. Re-entering the UK following a visit abroad will not be affected.

If I want to stay in the UK after my program ends, what do I need to do?

The UK Government recently announced the launch of the International Graduate Scheme, effective May 1, 2007. The scheme allows students who have graduated with full degrees from UK universities to stay in the UK to work for 12 months after the completion of their course, with the option of switching into another immigration category provided they meet the relevant criteria.

Full degree graduates from Scottish universities are eligible to apply to work for two years in Scotland following the completion of their course under the Fresh Talent Scotland Scheme.

For all other work permit inquiries, please visit Working in the UK. Please note you cannot apply for a work permit on your own. A UK-based employer must apply for one on your behalf.

Can I use my Entry Clearance to travel before my course begins?

Your Entry Clearance sticker will have a "start date" which will generally be two weeks before the beginning of your course. This two week time period is meant to give you time to settle in. You will not be able to ask for a start date earlier than this, and will not be permitted to enter the UK under your Entry Clearance prior to this start date.

If you would like to travel before your course starts, you can enter the UK as a tourist, leave the UK before your course starts (not necessarily to the United States; you may go to Europe, etc.) and re-enter the UK to "activate" your Entry Clearance.

Please remember that you are not able to apply for Entry Clearance prior to 90 days before your course begins. Thus if you are planning extensive travels (months rather than weeks) before your studies, you will have to return to the US after your travels but before your course starts in order to apply for and obtain Entry Clearance. US citizens and students cannot apply for Entry Clearance from outside the United States.



Source: http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa-educationuk-immigration-and-work-visas-faqs.htm