Short-term study visa (English language, 6–11 months): Chinese citizen in United States → United Kingdom
Chinese citizens living in the United States need a UK Short-term study visa (English language, 6–11 months) — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
Lets you take an English language course in the UK that lasts longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months.
- Validity
- The length of your course plus an extra 30 days, as long as your stay is no longer than 11 months.
- Entries
- Single stay for the duration of your course.
- Max stay per visit
- Length of your course plus 30 days (total stay no longer than 11 months).
When to start
Start 30 days–2 months before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in United States
- 38 centre locations nationwide plus premium centres (VFS directory, captured 2026-06-11). Ten are full-service Mon–Fri: New York, Washington DC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Seattle; the rest (Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Portland, Philadelphia and more) run limited schedules.
- With this density, comparing two or three cities usually finds a near-term slot.
- No recent public wait-time reports found for the US — the band below is general guidance.
You may be eligible if you're taking an English language course; the course must last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months.
You must apply online before you come to the UK. It costs £228 for a Short-term study visa, plus the healthcare surcharge.
Book an appointment at a visa application centre to provide your documents and prove your identity.
Take your passport with you to the visa application centre — you'll be able to collect it on the day.
Once you've applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
What you'll need
- Passport / travel document — A current passport or other valid travel document. ✓ verified
- Written proof of your course — Written proof of the course you're studying — for example, a letter of acceptance from the educational institution stating the course's name, duration and cost. ✓ verified
- Evidence you can support yourself — Evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months. ✓ verified
- Evidence of course fees — Evidence that you've paid your course fees or have enough money to pay them. ✓ verified
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results — Your tuberculosis (TB) test results, if you're from a country where you have to take the TB test. ✓ verified· you're from a country where you have to take the TB test
Where you'll apply
Because you live in the USA, you apply at a UK Visa Application Centre in the US — not in your home country. There are UK visa application centres in 30+ US cities (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle). Use the official VFS US centre directory (linked below) to find and book the one nearest you.
- UK Visa Application Centres — United States — serves 30+ locations across the US — find and book your nearest
Fees
| Short-term study visa | GBP 228 |
Gotchas to watch
- Your course must last longer than 6 months but not more than 11 months to use this visa.
- You must apply online before you come to the UK — the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.