Applying for a visa can be extremely confusing in addition to the usual stress that comes with obtaining legal documents. No matter how long you plan on studying in the UK there’s a good chance you will need a Student (Tier 4) Visa.
Before you can even start applying for the visa you need to get your CAS number from your sponsor, also known as the school or program you are enrolled in. Your CAS number won’t be available until 90 days before the start of your course. But you can a least provide your sponsor with your passport information and then verify it. Once you have done that and the 90 days has been reached, you will be notified of your CAS number.
Now is when your will finally be able to start your visa application. Just advance warning, it is EXPENSIVE. Or at least it can be. You start your application at the gov.uk website. The whole process has a few stages, I call them. the first stage is the online application. the second is the biometrics appointment and document gathering. The third stage is mailing in your application, documents, and passport. I call the fourth stage the silent wait. then finally stage 5 is receiving your passport and then picking up your biometric residence permit (BRP) once arriving in the UK.
Some people are able to get through this whole process in as little as a month or so by starting early. Unless you’re stupid like me. Then it could take almost all 3 months.
Stage One
I might suggest reading the guide posted on the gov.uk website before starting just to get some insight and maybe find out what you need ready. After that start your online application. There is a series of questions asking about your nationality, family, passport information, travel history, finances, sponsor, and other important information. Answer everything truthfully, of course And don’t forget to look at the information about your course given with your CAS number. After completing the online form it will ask you about how long you are staying which is then used to calculate how long you will be using their health insurance, National Health Service (NHS). This is where it gets expensive. Each calendar year is about £300 plus £150 for less than 6 months of a new year. Or at least that’s how I broke it down. So for my 3-year visa, I paid £300 for 2019, because my course begins in September, as well as for 2020 and 2021, plus £150 for the remainder of the course which ends in June 2022, So in total, I paid £1050. If you’d like to calculate how much you will need to pay, their website has an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) calculator here. But don’t forget the visa fee which is another 40.
Finally after paying an arm and a limb, you will need to make an appointment for your biometrics. Here is where I was stupid. They give you a calendar of available dates for the application center you choose and then you pick a time. I had read somewhere that it takes two weeks for them to process your application. I thought they were referencing the online application when in reality it was about the application you mail in. So I picked a date 2 weeks after I submitted my online application. That was two weeks wasted. Precious time especially if you started early enough that not everyone has begun to flood their office with applications.
After booking your appointment, preferably as soon as you are available, you will need to print a few things out. The first and most important is your appointment confirmation letter. I was also stupid here but we’ll talk about that in the next stage. Next you will print out the documents checklist. This will tell you what documents you will need to mail in with your passport. Usually, it’s just your passport, any financial information, such as student loan letters, bank statements and your birth certificate if using your parents’ accounts, as well as your tuberculosis test results if requested.
You will also be asked to register your application with VFSglobal which is a stupid service that likes to take your money. You first make an account then register your application with the GWF number on your completed online application. Then they will ask you to purchase a courier service to have your passport mailed back after being processed. Here’s where they like to take your money. They offer a number of premium and rushed services but I would not rely too much on them because it won’t really affect their decision making go any faster. I would recommend at least buying the return courier service if only because it takes a little bit of stress away. If you want you can instead purchase the delivery and return service to make it even easier but the return service is already $40 so its up to you. Once you purchase a service they will email you a receipt and instructions. And if you decide not to purchase something at first but change your mind you can still buy a service later, just login to your account and view your applications.
Stage Two
Now its time for the biometrics appointment. They suggest arriving 15 minutes before your appointment which is a good idea in case you’re stupid like me. Also, make sure you double-check everything the night before. Make sure you have all your documents, everything printed out, and know where you’re going. You also might want to plan your outfit because they will be taking a photo that will be on your BRP. So maybe try to like nice but don’t go over the top.
So the day comes and you head out for your appointment. planning on arriving 15 minutes early. You get there and they ask to see your passport and then for your appointment confirmation letter which you have because you’re not stupid like me. My stupidity cost me an extra five bucks to go to the nearby UPS store, print it out and then return for my appointment. Luckily it wasn’t a bust day for them so I didn’t have to worry about losing my appointment time.
You will be told to silence all devices and then after being let in you are waved over to another desk where someone will give you a paper with more visa information and stamp your appointment confirmation letter. You will need this when mailing in your application. After getting the papers you will be sent back with a number to get your biometrics taken. They will ask for your passport and confirmation letter again then do some typing. Once they’re finished they will take your photo. The woman doing my biometrics was nice and let me review the photo before sending it in but I am not certain this is normal procedure. Then they will scan your fingerprints, first all four then each one individually on each hand. Finally, they will ask for your signature. I had to do it a couple of times because I wasn’t pressing the pen hard enough on the pad and then I did it messily and asked to do it again. As I said, the woman was very nice to me. The person will type a few more things in and then sign the paper and that’s it. You’re done and can leave. They don’t sign anything else only the confirmation letter. Unless you paid to go to a premium service center, but that’s another story I am not familiar with.
Stage Three
You have five days after your biometrics appointment to mail in your application. Here’s where you will be using the VFSglobal courier service you purchased. If you did not purchase a service from them, you will need to send in your application on your own and include your own electronic return label which must be from UPS, at least in the USA. I only purchased a return courier so I went to UPS and paid to have all my documents shipped at the store. You will need to include the documents checklist, your passport, the stamped and signed biometrics appointment confirmation letter, your TB test is needed, and any other documents listed or that you wish to include to help them make the decision. So my packet included my passport, student loan letter, birth certificate, parents’ bank statement, the stamped letter, the checklist signed by only me, and finally the return label and receipt. The return label is very important as it will tell them where to return your passport. If you forget to include it you can email them with your GWF number in the subject and attach the electronic return label. Mail the package and go home to wait.
Stage Four
Here’s probably the hardest most stressful part of the entire application process. After mailing your application there is nothing you can do but wait. You won’t be able to track your application’s process or see how soon it will be processed. All you will know is it arrived by the tracking number on the package and that’s it. It can take at least a couple of weeks if not longer. This is why it is recommended to start sooner than later. June through September are their busiest months. The silence is stressful and painful but there isn’t much else to do. They have services you can call or email with a question but they are expensive and don’t tell you much as they are not connected to the reviewing process. They can’t track your application either. No one can. Just wait. It’s horrible, I know. But eventually, your package will arrive in the mail, unannounced telling you your application has been successful. Now you can finally begin to relax.
I sent my application off in the middle of July. I received no notice of arrival, processing, or even acceptance. After exactly two weeks, there was a knock on my door and someone with a package that needed signing. It was my application with a letter saying I have 30 days to enter the UK under my visa with the vignette they put on my passport. As well as pick up my BRP within 10 days.
Stage Five
The final stage. Once your passport has been sent back to you, all that’s left to do is go to the UK. You will need to fly into the UK first and not Dublin. You cannot fly into Ireland because then you may have trouble getting in to the UK on your visa. You can fly in from a connection flight from anywhere except Ireland. I flew in to Amsterdam then went on to Edinburgh. Once you arrive at your school you will need to move in to you accommodations. Picking up your BRP is a part of this process. Usually, your school will be able to give you your permit but if not you will have to pick it up at the nearest post office. You will have specified your pick up location back when you were completing your online application. Once you have your permit and are moved in you’re all ready for an amazing study abroad experience!
Hopefully this guide helped you. I’d be more than happy to answer any more questions if someone has them. Studying abroad is a wonderful experience but just getting there can sometimes be the hardest part.
If you would like more information about entering the UK, specifically information about entering during COVID-19, check out my post about that here.
Cypher 