ÃÛÌÒTV

New programme of study - If your current visa will expire soon and there is more than 28 days between your visa expiry date and the start of your new course, you will not be eligible toÌýapply inside the UK and will have to return to your home country to make the application.

If you are eligible to apply in the UK, the earliest date you can apply to extend your visa is 3 months before the start date of your new course, as stated on your CAS.

If you have completed a course at another institution, you must apply for your new visa before you can start your course here at the ÃÛÌÒTV, even if your existing visa is still valid.

Current ÃÛÌÒTV students that are starting a new programme of study with us must apply for their new Student visa no later than 6 weeks after the new programme start date and before their visa expires (whichever is sooner).

To complete your current programme of study - you must apply before your current visa expires.

Please note that you must have a visa that is still valid at the time that you make your visa application. If you are not able to apply before your current visa expires, you must leave the UK before the expiry date of your current visa and apply for a Student visa from your country of residence or country of nationality.

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Before you apply, ensure that you have:

• Prepared all supporting documents
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number

You need to have a bank/credit card to pay for the visa application and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

When you have everything ready, apply online by going to , or if you are switching from another visa type go to .

Before you can start the online application form, you will be asked to download the 'UK Immigration: ID Check app' and take a photo of either your expired BRP card (if you have one) or your passport - it will ask you for the document that is required. This will be submission of your biometrics and if you are able to complete this process, it will mean that it is not necessary for you to attend an in-person biometric appointment.

However, if you cannot download the app or you experience problems, please see the guidance on the .ÌýIf you are unable to use the app, then after you have started the Student visa extension application you will need to click on 'I do not have a phone that can use the app'. You will then be directed to a different version of the online application form. This will mean that your biometrics cannot be re-used andÌýyou will have to book an appointment at a TLS Contact Centre (there are locations available nationally and also in Southampton). You will be re-directed to the TLS Contact website following submission and payment of your online application, where you will need to create a TLS account, before you can upload any required documents and book your biometric appointment.

At certain times of the year, the VISAS Team can support you with making your application inside the UK and we can check your application and documents in a visa submission workshop. Please see if you are able to book a visa submission workshop appointment. Before your workshop appointment please complete sections 1 & 2 of the application form and save your application before you complete the 'Declaration' section. A Visa Advisor can then check your answers on the application form and advise you of any necessary changes before you submit and pay for your application.

If you choose to apply for your visa without assistance from the Visas Team, you must provide proof of your in-time visa application, please contact the Visas TeamÌýto clarify what you need to provide.

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Although you will be able to keep your passport whilst you are waiting for the decision on your visa application, you must not leave the UK, as this will automatically withdraw your visa application.Ìý You should receive a visa decision to the email account you entered on your application, within 8 weeks of providing your biometric information (Standard Service). If you want to apply using either the 'Priority Service' or 'Super Priority Service', please see the Ìýfor information on costs and timescales.

All Student visas are now in the form of an 'eVisa' (digital immigration status). To access your eVisa, you will need a UKVI account. If you do not have a UKVI account, then you can Ìýon the UKVI website. Once you have an account, you should be able to link your eVisa to your account. If you experience any difficulties with this process you can . When you have linked your eVisa, you will then be able to share your status by . You must choose the reason as 'To Prove My Immigration Status For Anything Else' and do not select 'Right to Work' or any other available option, so that we have the correct type of share code for the 'Right to ÃÛÌÒTV check'.

Applications from outside the UK can be made up toÌýsix months before the start date of your programme of study in the UK.

You should allow plenty of time for your visa application to be processed. You can find information about on the UKVI website.

You may be able to on your Student visa application when you select your biometric appointment online on the , if these services are available at theÌýVisa Application CentreÌý(VAC) you have chosen.

Faster services offer a decision:

• Within 5 working days ('PV - Priority Visa Service'); Or
• By the end of the next working day ('SPV - Super Priority Visa')

To find out if a Visa Application Centre offers faster services, look for the country and VAC location you’ll be applying from on the Ìýand check if states 'PV' or 'SPV'. You'll also be able to see other VAC locations, opening days and the VAC type.Ìý

If you are a continuing student and you are not eligible to apply in the UK for your Student Visa, you can find out when to apply by contacting the University VISAS team.

You must apply for your visa in your country of residence or your country of nationality. If there is not a VAC which offers the visa type you require in your country of residence or nationality, you will be asked during the online application to confirm you can attend an appointment at a VAC in an alternative location.

Before you apply, ensure that you have:

• Prepared all supporting documents
• Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number

You need to have a bank/credit card to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and visa application fee.Ìý

When you have everything prepared, apply online by going to Ìýon the UKVI website. Once you have completed your online application, you will then pay for the IHS and the visa application fee. Following confirmation of payment, you will be directed to the VFS Global website to book your biometric appointment.

Please note that you cannot create a VFS Global account or book your biometric appointment until after you have submitted and paid for your visa application.

You may be eligible to either apply in advance for a Standard Visitor visa, or enter the UK as a Standard Visitor, if you will be studying:

• as a visiting student on a short course or a period of study which will be completed in less than six months (for example a ÃÛÌÒTV Abroad/Exchange programme or a short research visit)
• for exams only (such as repeatsÌýor a Viva)
• a distance learning programme (for example if you need to come to the UK to visitÌýyour Supervisor)

Please note that you cannot study for any part of a ÃÛÌÒTV degree programme or any part of a collaborative degree programme, as a Standard Visitor. If you need further information about this, please contact us.

We recommend that students who will study on a Pre-Sessional English language programme apply for aÌýStudent visa. This is because it is not possible to switch from a Standard Visitor visa to a Student visa inside the UK. If you have a Standard Visitor visa, you will have to leave the UK after your Pre-sessional course has finished and apply for a Student visa from your country of residence or country of nationality, in order to start your degree programme here.

If you are classed as a '' by UK Visas & Immigration, this will mean that you must apply for and receive a Standard Visitor visa before you travel to the UK.Ìý

If you are not on the , then you can enter the UK as a Standard Visitor without applying for a visa in advance.

However, if you have a criminal record or you have previously been refused a visa, then UKVI recommend you apply for a Standard Visitor visa in advance of travel to the UK.Ìý

IMPORTANT - Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA):ÌýStudents entering the UK as a Standard VisitorÌý(and not applying for a Standard Visitor visa in advance of travel) may need to first apply for an . This is a mandatory security clearance that will allow you to travel to the UK, but it is not a visa.ÌýSee the for further information.

You can find more information about the Standard Visitor visa / Standard Visitor entry on our Short visit webpage.

You may need to book an appointment to attend the in order to submit your biometrics. Or you may be able to use the '' instead to submit your biometrics (this will depend on your nationality) and in this case you will not need to attend an appointment at the VAC.

If you are required to attend an appointment at the VAC you will need to:

• Take your original passport with you
• Take all your original documents with you (even if you have already uploaded them)
• Take a printed copy of your visa application form
• Give your fingerprints and have a photo taken of your face (biometrics)

You may also have an interview.

The application decision

Decisions on visa applications made outside the UK typically take 15 days to be processed under the 'Standard Service'. If you have paid for the 'Priority Visa Service' it usually takes 5 working days to receive the visa decision, and if you have paid for the 'Super Priority Visa' then you should receive a visa decsion within 1-2 working days. Please see the for further information.Ìý

After your application has been decided

If you attended a VAC to give your biometrics and your application was successful, you will collect your passport from the VAC in your home country and you may receive a visa vignette (visa sticker) in your passport - this is a one-time entry clearance that will allow you to travel to the UK.ÌýIf your programme is longer than six months, your Student visa vignette (entry clearance) will be valid for 90 days to allow you to enter the UK. If your programme is six months or less, your Student visa vignette will be valid for the length of your course.

It is very important that you do not travel before the start date of this entry clearance. You must also ensure you arrive before the end date of the visa vignette. However, it is important to note that there will be a separate deadline for you to arrive in time for your course. If you do not arrive in time before the latest course acceptance date, you may not be permitted to start your course.

Digital immigration status - eVisa

If you used the 'UK Immigration: ID Check App' for your visa application, you will receive the visa decision to the email address you entered on your online application form. The email will contain important information about the conditions attached to your visa. You will not need to have a physical visa to travel to the UK, you will only need your passport. However, you must ensure that you do not enter the UK before the start date of your eVisa, otherwise you could be prevented from entering the UK, or you may be permitted to enter as a 'Standard Visitor' but you will not be able to start your course with a Visitor status and would have to leave the UK. You should have the option to download a copy of your eVisa and if you prefer you can print this and carry it with you. You can also '.

IMPORTANT: If your course is longer than six months, you attended a VAC and received a Student visa vignette in your passport, then you will need to create a UKVI account to be able to access your eVisa. You will need to follow these steps:

• Link your eVisa to your UKVI account - you shouldÌýreceive instructions on how to do this after creating your account

If your course is less than six months in duration, then you will not be able to create a UKVI account or obtain an eVisa. The visa vignette in your passport is your Student visa.

Arriving in the UK

There is useful information on the UKVI website concerning .

After arriving in Southampton or Winchester you will need to complete the Right to ÃÛÌÒTV check before you can enrol or start studying here. Please see the University's Welcome website for instructions on what you will need to do. If you are required to generate aÌý for the Right to ÃÛÌÒTV check,Ìý choose the reason as 'To Prove My Immigration Status For Anything Else' and do not select 'Right to Work' or any other available option.Ìý

We hope your experience at the ÃÛÌÒTV and your time in the UK is both happy and rewarding. You can find helpfulÌýinformation for international students on the following University webpage.

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When you receive your visa decision it is very important you check that all the details are correct.

Please check that the information on the Student visa vignette and/or your eVisa matches your accompanying decision letter/email and is correct. You should check the following details:

• your name
• date of birth
• your nationality
• that your immigration status is Student
• the start and end dates are correct

If you have a Student visa vignette in your passport and you find an error before travelling to the UK, please report the error to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) that you attended as soon as possible.Ìý

If your course is longer than six months and you have a Student visa vignette in your passport, it is recommended by UKVI for you to and link your eVisa before you travel to the UK. You can then and download a copy of your eVisa if required by your airline or carrier.

If you have an eVisa, then please see the . It is also very important to if some of your personal or contact details have changed, or if you have received a new passport.

If you find an error after you travel and have already arrived in the UK, please Contact Us for further advice.

If your application was refused, please Contact Us for further advice.