Academic Visitors

If an individual wishes to come to the UK as an Academic visitor they can do so provided they are either:

a person on sabbatical leave from an overseas academic institution who wishes to make use of their leave to carry out research here. (NB. Those who are on sabbatical leave from private research companies are not eligible for leave under the academic visitor provisions.)

or

an academic (including doctors) taking part in formal exchange arrangements with United Kingdom counterparts.
an eminent senior doctor or dentist coming to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice.

In addition they must:

not receive funding for their work from any United Kingdom source (payments of expenses or reasonable honoraria may be disregarded, as may payments on an exchange basis);
not engage in any work other than the academic activity for which they are being admitted;
not be filling a normal post or a genuine vacancy;
not stay in the UK for more than 12 months;
not intend to take employment in the UK;
intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit;
be able to maintain themselves and any dependants without having recourse to public funds (or be adequately maintained and accommodated by relatives or friends);
be able to meet the cost of their return or onward journey from the UK.

Further information is available on the UK Border Agency website

If the individual you have in mind meets with the above criteria, then the action required is:

A letter is sent from the Department to the individual who is coming to the UK, detailing the following points:

Nature of work/collaboration
Duration of stay
Funding arrangements - from whom and how much?
Arrangements made for his/her arrival e.g. travel and accommodation

The academic visitor will need to make their application online, or fill in the appropriate visitor visa application form which can be found on the UK Border Agency website.

They will also need the following.

Passport or travel document.
A recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm), colour photograph. This should be:
- taken against a light-coloured background
- clear and of good quality, and not framed or backed
- printed on normal photographic paper, and
- full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but the face must not be covered).
The visa application fee. This cannot be refunded, and it must normally be paid in the local currency of the country where the academic visitor is applying.
Any supporting documents relevant to the application, as a guide, they should include bank statements, payslips, or some other evidence to show that they can pay for the trip and that they have enough money to support themselves and any dependants without working or getting any help from public funds and evidence that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit (for example, the above letter from the department).

To enable the Academic Visitor to receive a living allowance you should write to Finance and advise them of the details including amount of payment, length of stay, weekly or monthly payment and cheque or bank account etc.