1

2018-2019

Do not follow these instructions

if you are not in a semester or

year-long UK program. Find visa

instructions specific to your program

in the Pre-Departure Checklist.

United Kingdom

Visa Instructions

For Semester and Year-long UK Programs

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Which Visa?

Quick Visa Reference Guide

Year Students: Follow the Tier 4 Student Visa instructions

Fall or Spring Immersion Students: Follow either the Tier 4 Student

Visa (if you want to work/volunteer/intern) or Student Visitor Visa

Students with Internship (Sotheby’s, UC Center London): Follow the

Tier 4 Student Visa instructions

Sotheby’s and UC Center London Fall without Internship: Follow the

Student Visitor Visa instructions

Non-US Citizens: See information for non-US citizens first before you

proceed with specific visa instructions.

The type of visa you will need depends on your program and nationality.

Look at the chart below to see which visa applies to you.

Continue on to the Table of Contents...

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Table of Contents

Student Visitor Visa Instructions 4

Tier 4 Student Visa Instructions 9

Visa Basics 10

CAS Information 11

Step 1: Apply Online 12

Step 2: Biometric Screening & Gather Documents 13

Step 3: Mail Documents & Receive Visa 16

Step 4: Arrive in the UK 17

Non-US Citizens Instructions 18

General FAQs 22

4

United Kingdom:

Short Term Student Visitor Visa

IMPORTANT:

If you are not a US Citizen, read

information for Non-US Citizens first.

For Semester Programs WITHOUT Internship

5

Overview

Where do I start?

Start gathering necessary documents at least a few weeks before departure.

Visit campus offices for some of the documents. Be aware of office closures for

holiday breaks and summer. Obtain documents before offices close.

When do I apply for

and get my visa?

You will get the visa stamped in your

passport upon arrival in the UK. Do not

apply for this visa before departure.

Are there any travel

restrictions?

Do Not Fly Through Ireland! You

cannot travel to (or through) Ireland on

your way to the United Kingdom or book

with Aer Lingus flights, which stop in

Dublin on the way to the UK.

Now that you know the basics, continue to the next page for

steps to apply for your Student Visitor Visa.

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Step 1 Gather Documents

US Passport

Evidence of Financial Support

Proof that you have enough

funds (“maintenance”) to cover

your expenses while in the UK. See next 2 pages for details.

Host University

Acceptance

Letter

If you receive a hard copy

Acceptance Letter, you

must bring this document.

If you receive it as an

email, you may bring a

print out of the email.

Proof you will

depart the UK

before the visa

expires

This can be a flight or other

travel itinerary ticket.

Official UC

Transcript

Does not need to be in a

sealed envelope. Request

official transcripts before

the registrar office closes.

#5

#1

#3

#4

#2

IMPORTANT: Ensure that all information on your documents is correct!

This includes, but is not limited to: your name, dates of your program, country of

citizenship/nationality, birthday, etc. Remember, the UK format for birth dates is day/month/

year. If you notice an error, contact the provider of the document immediately.

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Evidence of Financial Support

What is this?

Proof that you have enough funds to cover your expenses while in the UK, according to the UKVI standard for “maintenance” funds.

How much money do I need to show I have?

UKVI estimates a minimum of £1265/month for London and £1015/month for any cities outside London. Maintenance includes both housing fees and day-to-day living expenses.

How can I provide this proof?

Show one or more of the documents included below, as long as the total amount of the funds you show reaches the minimum. If one document provides the total amount, you do not need additional documents. (Stocks, bonds, market funds, etc. are not acceptable as the value of such accounts can fluctuate.) Include a note (either separate or directly on each document) showing the current currency conversion rate using www.oanda.com/convert/classic.

Financial Aid Award Letter *Request from your campus

Financial Aid Office*

Must be no more than one month old

Must state that you WILL receive $xx,xxxand NOT that you are eligible to receive

IMPORTANT — make sure you get thisletter before your campus Financial AidOffice closes for breaks or schoolholidays!

Personal Bank Statement *Request from your bank*

Must show your name and accountnumber (the account can be a jointaccount, but you must be listed as a jointaccount holder)

The amount needed must have been inthe account for the full month, and thestatement must be no more than onemonth old

Must be an original statement (not aprintout of your online account)

Parental Bank Statement Same requirements as Personal

Bank Statement, plus:

Letter from parent/account-holderconfirming that they will provide the fundsto support your stay

Documentation confirming the relationship(i.e. original birth certificate, adoptioncertificate, court document stating they areyour legal guardians)

Bank Letter *Request from your bank*

Must be on official bank letterheadincluding bank’s logo

Includes: your name, account number,date of the letter, amount of money in theaccount, confirmation that the money hasbeen in the account for a minimum of 28

days

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Step 2

Arrive & Present Documents

What happens when I arrive in the UK and go through customs?

Upon arrival, you will go through Immigration and present the

documents to the immigration officer so that they may

determine your eligibility for a Student Visitor Visa.

When the Immigration officer asks you the purpose of your

stay, tell them you are a student visitor. Be sure to mention

that you are a short-term (less than 6 months) student.

Remember —

keep your

documents with you

in your carry-on

luggage so they are

easily accessible!

Good luck and happy travels!

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United Kingdom:

Tier 4 Student Visa

IMPORTANT:

If you are NOT a US Citizen read the instructions in this document for

Non-US Citizens FIRST.

For all Year; Semester Programs with Internship/work/volunteer

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Visa Basics Read first to learn basic facts on Tier 4 Student Visa

When can I apply?

You cannot apply more than 3 months before the start of your program.

Allow at least 4-6 weeks for application processing.

How much does it cost?

£328* (about $480 US). This fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the visa

application. *fees are subject to change.

There may be additional costs such as the immigration health surcharge, transcripts, etc.

If you do not allow at least 4-6 weeks for application processing, you will need to pay

additional charges for expedited visa processing.

How long is my visa valid?

If your program is longer than 6 months, you may enter up to 1 month before your

program start date.

If your program is less than 6 months, you may enter up to 1 week before your program

start date and stay up to 1 week after the end of your program.

Your program or “course” start date is the date provided by your host university on your

CAS (Find more information regarding CAS on the next page).

Am I Eligible for the Tier 4 Student Visa? Who should apply? ALL students studying for the year Semester students interested in interning, working, or volunteering while abroad

Who should NOT apply? Summer students cannot obtain a CAS number, and are therefore ineligible for the Tier 4 Student

Visa. You MUST apply for the Student Visitor Visa if you are participating in a summer program. Semester students that are NOT interested in interning, working, or volunteering while abroad Students with EU citizenship

So you determined you will need a Tier 4 Student Visa… Read on!

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All About the CAS Detailed information regarding CAS

How do I receive a CAS number? All year-long students automatically

receive a CAS number as they MUST

apply for the Tier 4 Student Visa

Semester programs do not require a Tier 4

Student Visa. Semester students who wish to

intern, work, or volunteer must request a CAS

number (it is not automatically issued).

Now that you know all about the Visa Basics, continue to the next page for

step by step instructions on how to apply for your Tier 4 Student Visa!

What is a CAS number? A CAS, or Certificate of Acceptance for

Studies, is a digital certificate and a unique

reference number that is given to each

student. A CAS number is required for all Tier

4 Student Visa applicants as the UK

Consulate uses this CAS number to verify

your student status.

Step 1: Your host university enters your student information and your program information into a UKVI database. This confirms that they are your official Tier 4 Student Visa sponsor and also includes the dates of your program.

Step 2: You will receive an offer letter from your host university. In most cases, there is a

reply section where you must confirm the type of visa for which you will apply. If this is not included

in the reply section, contact your host university’s international office to make sure they are aware of

what visa you plan to obtain.

Step 3: Your host university will confirm (likely by email) your information before they enter

it into the UKVI database in order to produce your CAS number. It is extremely important to ensure

all the following information is correct or they may deny your visa application. The UK formats dates

as DAY/MONTH/YEAR

Step 4: Once your host produces your CAS number, you will receive an automatic email with

that CAS number and other information. SAVE this e-mail and carry a hard copy with you when

travelling. Please contact your host university immediately if you notice any errors.

When will I receive my CAS number? The above process occurs once you are formally accepted by your host university. UCEAP has no

control over this process. Please be sure to complete all requirements from the host university as

soon as possible to avoid delays.

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Step 1 Apply Online: Complete & submit your online visa

1. Pay a health insurance surcharge for the National Health Service (NHS) -

Semester students may not be required to pay this.

2. Choose two locations, one for your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) that

you collect in the UK, and one for your biometrics appointment at an

appointment center near your home address. If you are a semester student,

you may not need to obtain a BRP. Follow whatever prompts the application

gives you.

Make sure you have been given a confirmation of acceptance for

studies (CAS) number.

Go Here to start your online application on the UK Visa and

Immigration website.

Refer to the sample application for help getting started:

UC London Fall with Internship

All Other programs

Read and answer the questions as they pertain to you.

If you decide not to do the Tier 4 Student Visa, let your host university know

you will not apply for it and will not use your assigned CAS number.

If you are applying 1 month or less before your program starts, then you need

to expedite, and you must pay for priority service online BEFORE you

submit your application. See here for information on the priority service.

Once you finish and submit your application, you will be prompted to:

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Step 2 Biometric Screening & Gather Documents

What is a Biometric Screening?

All UK visa applicants are required to provide biometric data as part of the application

process. This includes a 10-digit electronic finger scan and a digital photograph.

Scheduling Your Biometric Screening

At the end of your online visa application, you will be

prompted to schedule a biometric screening appointment.

First, you will choose a location in the UK to pick up

your Biometric Residence Permit.

Second, you will choose the location, date, and time for

your biometrics appointment in the US. The online

application will suggest a location nearest the address that

you provided earlier in the application, but you may choose

any location that works for you.

IMPORTANT Before you schedule: Once your biometrics have been taken, you

will receive a deadline to submit your application and all required supporting

documents to the UK consulate in New York. This is typically a deadline of 5 to 10

days. Your biometrics confirmation letter will note your exact time frame.

If you wait longer than the indicated time, you will have to begin the application

process again (including fee payment). Read through the following instructions

carefully and ensure you will have all required documents prepared by the time of

your biometrics appointment to avoid repeating this process.

Be sure to have

your biometrics

appointment

confirmation

stamped to show

that you attended

the appointment.

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Two passport style

photographs

Print-out of your signed online application form If you made any errors on the form, you can correct them by hand on the print out.

Stamped confirmation

of your Biometrics

appointment #5

#3

IMPORTANT: Ensure that all information on your documents is correct!

This includes, but is not limited to, your name, dates of your program, country of citizenship/

nationality, birthday, etc. Remember, the UK format for birth dates is day/month/year. If you notice

an error, contact the provider of the document immediately.

Step 2 continued Biometric Screening & Gather Documents

Required Documents: You must submit these with your visa application

US Passport Signed and valid for your entire

program length. Do not send a

photocopy of your passport as your

visa will be affixed to a page in your

actual passport.

#1 Self-addressed VFS

Global Envelope VFS will use this envelope to

return your passport and any

relevant documents to you.

You may choose the level of

service you need, depending

on how quickly you need

your visa returned.

#2

#4

Print-out of the CAS number

email from your host university

Official UC transcript (does not

need to be in a sealed envelope)

Evidence of Financial Support

(see next page)

Not Required Unless Requested:

DO NOT submit these items unless

specifically requested (via email) by

the UKVI. However, be prepared to

submit them in case they are

requested. Submitting them without a

request may delay processing time.

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Step 2 continued Biometric Screening & Gather Documents

Evidence of Financial Support

Remember: Evidence of Financial Support is NOT required unless requested.

If requested, submit one or more of the documents below, as long as the total amount of the funds reaches the minimum you must show. If one document provides the total, you do not need additional documents. Include a note showing the current currency conversion rate using www.oanda.com/convert/classic.

UKVI lists the minimum amount for maintenance to be £1265/month if studying in London and £1015/month if studying outside London. (To see if you are in London, see FAQ.)

Financial Aid Award Letter *Request from your financial aid office*

Must be no more than one month old

Must state that you WILL receive $xx,xxxand NOT that you are eligible to receive

IMPORTANT—make sure you get thisletter before your campus Financial AidOffice closes for breaks or schoolholidays!

Personal Bank Statement *Request from your bank*

Must show your name and accountnumber (the account can be a jointaccount, but you must be listed as a jointaccount holder)

The amount needed must have beenin the account for 28 days, and thestatement must be no more than onemonth old

Must be an original statement (nota printout of your online account)

Parental Bank Statement Same requirements as

Personal Bank Statement, plus:

Letter from parent/account-holderconfirming that they will provide the fundsto support your stay

Documentation confirming the relationship(i.e. original birth certificate, adoptioncertificate, court document stating theyare your legal guardians)

Bank Letter *Request from your bank*

Must be on official bank letterheadincluding bank logo

Includes: your name, account number,date of the letter, amount of moneyin the account, confirmation that themoney has been in the account fora minimum of 28 days

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Step 3 Mail Documents & Receive Visa

Mail your passport, application, and

other documents to VFS Services USA

Inc. in New York with VFS Global.

Do NOT use FedEx or USPS! The

consulate will not accept these and it will

delay visa processing.

VFS Waybill Options Price

Return courier $41

Round trip courier

(recommended if applying 4 weeks

or less before departure date)

$70

When the consulate opens your

documents, they will email you

confirming receipt.

When the consulate makes a decision

about your visa application, they will

email you the decision.

Check that all the information on your visa is correct, especially your name and

birthday (the UK uses a Day/Month/Year format). If there are any errors, contact the

consulate immediately.

How do I mail my documents to VFS in New York?

How do I know when the consulate has received my documents and made

a decision?

What do I do once I receive my passport with the visa back in the mail?

If you have been given permission to be in the UK for over 6 months, your visa will be

issued as a sticker in your passport, valid for 30 days only. You must travel to the UK

within this 30-day period. When you arrive in the UK, you will need to pick up your

Biometrics Residence Permit within 10 days. This is explained in the next step.

Help! The visa in my passport is only valid for 30 days! What does this mean?

Note that in August and September the

consulate often does not open documents

until a few weeks after they arrive. They are

extremely busy that time of year, so give

extra time if applying after late July.

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Step 4 Arrive in the United Kingdom

If your program is longer than 6 months you may enter up to 1 month before your program

start date. f your program is less than 6 months you may enter up to 1 week before your

program start date and stay up to 1 week after the end of your program.

Your program or “course” start date is the date provided by your host university on your CAS.

The Biometrics Residence Permit (BRP) is a

credit card-size card that will serve as your

course visa for the rest of your program. Not all

applicants may be required to obtain one. You

will be prompted on the online application if it is

necessary for your program.

Once you arrive in the UK, you must then collect

your BRP within 10 days from the Post Office

you selected during the online visa application

form, or from the University if you selected this.

Take your passport containing your visa with

When can I enter the UK with my Tier 4 Student Visa?

What is a Biometrics Residence Permit and how do I get one?

Sample Biometrics Residence Permit:

What if I want to travel?

Your BRP will be valid for the entire duration of your course, with some additional time at the

end:

When does the Biometrics Residence Permit expire?

Course duration Visa expiration date

More than 6 months, but less than

12 months 2 months after the end of the course

You are not required to carry your BRP at all times, but must show it at the border, together

with your passport, when travelling outside of, and returning to, the UK.

For questions regarding these instructions, please contact your UCEAP program advisor. These instructions

are written by UCEAP staff and are not offered in place of information provided by the UKVI. UCEAP is not

able to advise beyond these instructions.

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United Kingdom:

Non-US Citizens

For all UK programs

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Non-US Citizens

Visa information for non-US citizens

The UKVI Visa Tool will put you into one of these categories:

You DO need a Visa

This means you are a “Visa National” and

you will need a visa prior to departure.

For those of you in this category, keep

reading….

You DO NOT need a Visa

This is misleading. You do need entry

clearance (visa), but you are considered a

“Non-Visa National” - so as long as you are

only going for 6 months or less, you can

follow the Student Visitor Visa instructions for

US Citizens.

Quick Visa Reference Guide

Year Students: Follow the Tier 4 Student Visa instructions

Fall or Spring Immersion students: Follow either the Tier 4 Student Visa (if you want to work/

volunteer/intern) or Student Visitor Visa

Students with an internship (Sotheby’s, UC Center London): Follow the Tier 4 Student Visa

instructions

Sotheby’s and UC Center London Fall WITHOUT internship: Follow the Student Visitor Visa

instructions

2: If you need a Tier 4 Student Visa, go to the Tier 4 instructions NOW, and note that

depending on your nationality, you may need to submit additional items. If you do not

need the Tier 4 Student Visa, then keep reading….

1: Understand which visa goes with your program:

3: Your program is less than 6 months and you are not planning to intern, work, or volunteer,

so the next step is finding out if you need to apply before departure - or - upon arrival

with the immigration officer. Check out this UKVI tool for non-US citizens to see if there are

any restrictions or additional requirements for your country of citizenship.

NOTE: Please DO NOT contact UCEAP to ask if there are additional requirements or

restrictions for your country of citizenship; UKVI policies can change frequently and

UCEAP can monitor only the requirements for US citizens.

If you do need a visa, then continue reading...

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Non-US Citizens

Visa information for non-US citizens

If you are applying 1 month or less before your program starts, you need to

EXPEDITE your visa. You must pay for priority service online BEFORE you

submit your application. See here for information on the priority service.

1. Click only on the Visa4UK link to start the application process. Register an account.

2. Complete the registration process, referencing the sample screenshot below.

Continued on next page...

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Non-US Citizens

Visa information for non-US citizens

Instructions for Non-US citizen that must apply for a UK Student Visitor Visa prior to departure.

3. Click Go To Application and complete the sections as directed

You will be taken to a new page that shows your application status (incomplete).

4. Generally, you are going to be following instructions similar to those following the Tier 4 Student

Visa (click here for Tier 4 Student Visa instructions). You will have to schedule a biometrics

appointment and you will have to submit supporting documents along with your passport.

Depending on your nationality, you may need to submit additional items.

5. For frequently asked questions, visit the UKVI FAQ

For questions regarding these instructions, please contact your UCEAP program advisor. These instructions

are written by UCEAP staff and are not offered in place of information provided by the UKVI. UCEAP is not

able to advise beyond these instructions.

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General FAQs

For Tier 4 Student Visa and Student Visitor Visa

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General FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions

How do I get a visa for two back-to-back UCEAP

programs in the UK?

UC Center London Fall/without Internship Plus UK Spring Immersion: Before you submit the two online UCEAP applications for these two programs, check

the calendars for each program for overlaps. (Continued on next page.)

Because it is impossible to extend, renew, or receive two consecutive Student Visitor

Table of Contents (Click on a title to go to that section.)

Back to Back Programs

PBS, BRP, UKVI, CAS

Am I Exchange or Study Abroad?

Why can’t I fly through Ireland?

General vs Sponsored

How do I extend my visa?

When should I apply?

How long will it all take?

Is my host university in London?

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General FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions

Visas, you will need to obtain the Tier 4 Student Visa for the spring. You must return

to the US during winter break to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa.

The Tier 4 Student Visa application is time consuming. It requires a Biometrics

appointment, mail to and from the British Consulate in New York, and expedited

service. Without expediting, you will not receive the visa in time.

When you apply to the UK Spring program, you must specify on your host university

application that you require a CAS number (necessary for the Tier 4 Student Visa).

The host university will not automatically issue a CAS number for a Spring student, so

you must request it specifically.

Sotheby’s Institute of Art/with Internship or UC Center London Fall/

with Internship Plus UK Spring Immersion: You will already have a Tier 4

Student Visa for the Internship so you can (1) extend the Tier 4 Student Visa from

within the UK; (2) return to the US during winter break to obtain a second Tier 4

Student Visa; or (3) depart the UK, then re-enter the UK, and obtain the Student

Visitor Visa upon arrival.

Program Extension of Fall Immersion to Year Immersion:

(1) If you receive a Student Visitor Visa upon arrival, you must return to the US during

winter break to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa. The British Home Office does not

allow for a second Student Visitor Visa upon or after arrival.

(2) If you have a Tier 4 Student Visa, you can apply for a second Tier 4 Student Visa

in the US or with the British Home Office in London. In Scotland, you can apply to the

Home Office in Glasgow. This method will cost at least $570 to apply by mail and at

least $1,000 to apply in person. In addition to the high cost, applying by mail requires

you to submit your passport to the Home Office for several weeks, which means you

cannot travel out of the country.

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General FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions

PBS, BRP, UKVI, CAS?

PBS: Points Based System. This refers to a certain type of UK visa that requires

you to claim a certain amount of “points.” For the Tier 4 Student Visa, you must claim

40 points.

BRP: Biometric Residence Permit. Once you enter the UK, this is the ID card

you will pick up at the location you specify in the online application. You will have 10

days to obtain it.

UKVI: United Kingdom Visa and Immigration, the authority on all visa matters.

CAS: Certification of Acceptance of Studies. This is a number that is given to all

year students, and provided on request to semester students that want to pursue a

Tier 4 Student Visa.

Am I Exchange or Study Abroad?

You are an exchange student. This means that you do not pay tuition/course fees to

your host university. For any part of the visa application that asks the amount of

“tuition/course fees” you should fill in 0 (zero). If you write any other amount, it will

conflict with your supporting documents and will result in your visa being denied or

delayed.

Why can’t I fly through Ireland? If you fly through the Republic of Ireland, your visa can not be activated properly. UK

immigration will consider your status illegal and deport you.

The entry rules come from the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement between the

UK and Ireland. You can learn more about the CTA and entry requirements in the

England or Scotland program guides.

26

General FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions

General versus Sponsored You will apply for the Tier 4 (General) Student Visa. This is for students funding

themselves, receiving scholarships, and/or loans. Do not choose the sponsored

option. This is to indicate that the government is sponsoring and funding you, which is

not the case.

How do I extend my visa?

Program Extension of Fall Immersion to Year Immersion:

1. If you receive a Student Visitor Visa upon arrival, you must return to the US during

winter break to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa. The British Home Office does not

allow for a second Student Visitor Visa upon or after arrival.

2. If you have a Tier 4 Student Visa, you can apply for a second Tier 4 Student Visa

in the US or with the British Home Office in London. In Scotland, you can apply to

the Home Office in Glasgow. This method will cost at least $570 to apply by mail

and at least $1,000 to apply in person. In addition to the high cost, applying by mail

requires you to submit your passport to the Home Office for several weeks, which

means you cannot travel out of the country.

When should I apply?

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before the start date of your program. Use the

start date listed in your host university acceptance letter. If you apply during the

summer, do not delay! The consulate is busier in summer. If you apply 1 month or

less before the start of your program, you will need to expedite.

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How long will it all take?

Once you apply online and submit your documents, it could take anywhere from 2 to 6

weeks or longer for the UK consulate in New York to open your documents, process

them and return your passport by mail.

Am I inside or outside the London Burroughs?

General FAQ

Answers to frequently asked questions

Inside the London Burroughs

includes:

Brunel, KCL, UCL, QMUL, Imperial, RHUL,

UAL, Sotheby’s

Outside the London Burroughs

includes:

Bristol, East Anglia, Kent, Leeds, Manchester, Sussex, Warwick,

Edinburgh, Glasgow, St Andrews