Application for a United Kingdom VISA

If you are required to obtain a visa, you must make the necessary arrangements for application well in advance of your date of travel to the United Kingdom. Please also ensure that you obtain the correct visa before you travel as it is not possible to change to student status from visitor status once you are in the United Kingdom

On entering the United Kingdom, the Immigration Officer at the point of entry will stamp your passport stating the length of time you are permitted to remain in Britain.

This period can vary from six to twelve months.
If you are studying in the UK for less than 6 months, you will automatically be given an employment 'prohibition' stamp in your passport.

If you would like to work during your study period in the UK, you should specifically request the Immigration Officer to give you a 'restriction' stamp. Please note, this can only be done when you go through immigration control upon arrival in the UK, and it will not be possible to do this retrospectively.
If you are continuing your studies beyond the date on your "leave to enter" endorsement, you will need to apply to have this endorsement extended before it expires. Please ask the International Programmes Office if you have any questions about this or other UK immigration issues.

There are Immigration Offices in Croydon, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Birmingham.


The importance of keeping documents  

IIt is important to keep all documents such as bank statements, gas bills, council  tax claims while you are in the UK. Bank statements, in particular, are important to keep as they are required by the Home Office as supporting evidence when applying for extensions or changes for leave to remain in the UK.

Extension of Visa

Students who wish to remain in the UK longer than the initial time they have been granted need to apply to the Home Office for permission, before their current leave to remain expires. Completion of application form FLR(S) is compulsory and must be accompanied by all the relevant documents specified on the form (see below).
Forms are available from the international programmes office or can also be downloaded from the Home Office website. If you have an enquiry about the form you can e-mail: V. Nethi of the International Office. Please ensure that you use the current version of this form.

It is very important that you check the stamp in your passport, which will indicate when your leave to remain is due to expire. You must apply to the Home Office 4-5 weeks before the last day of your leave to enter or remain, but not earlier than that. Failure to do so could have serious consequences. Where an extension to stay is refused following an out-of-time application you will not usually have the right of appeal You can process your application by post or in person at the Glasgow Public Enquiry Office, please read details below:

 

BY POST (dispatched by recorded delivery) to:

Application Form FLR (S) should be accompanied by:

If you are unable to provide any of the documents requested it is important that you include a letter stating why they are not available and when they will be sent (you are normally allowed 28 days in which to produce any missing documents).
Always keep photocopies of what you send.

Similar documents are required for each dependent aged 16 or over who is applying for an extension of stay in the UK with you.
Holiday Abroad/Study Absence from UK

If you wish to go abroad on holiday during the University vacation or are exceptionally permitted to go abroad for a period of study, you should start planning as early as possible.

1. Find out whether you need a visa for the country you want to travel to, by telephoning the relevant embassy in the UK. Many embassies will not issue visas to students who are approaching the end of their studies;

2. Find out about a Schengen visa, which will allow you to travel around the following countries for a visit during the course of one trip (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden;

3. Make sure that your passport will not expire while you are away. If it will, you need to apply to your own embassy for a new one. Remember to carry both passports with you when you travel, as the immigration officer will need to see both of them when you return;

4. Check that your current leave to enter/remain in the UK will not expire while you are away. In addition to your passport or travel document, always carry with you a letter from the college confirming that you are a continuing student, plus evidence (e.g. bank statements, sponsor's letter) that you have sufficient funds to continue your studies.