Receiving your student visa and travelling to the UK

Issued with online digital status (eVisa)

If you used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ to apply for your visa you will normally be issued with an online digital status (eVisa) and will be notified by email when this has been issued. You should check your email inbox regularly including your junk mail as communications can often end up in there. You should be able to use the eGates to enter the UK, otherwise you can use view or prove your immigration status. You should generate your account and eVisa before travelling to make sure everything is correct. You must not travel before the start date on your visa otherwise, you will have to exit the UK and re-enter when it becomes valid. See below for when you can travel.

Read more about UKVI’s move to eVisas

Issued with entry clearance vignette and BRP

Most students applying overseas, for now, will continue to be issued with an entry clearance vignette and BRP. Your decision/grant letter or email which you received when your visa was issued, will inform you if a Biometric Residence Permit will be issued and where and when to collect it. The entry clearance vignette (visa sticker in your passport) is normally valid for 90 days and you must enter during this period.

If your course is less than 6 months the vignette will cover the duration of your course and you will not collect a BRP.

If your course is longer than 6 months then the entry clearance vignette will allow you to enter the UK and collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which will cover the duration of your course before you begin your studies.

Checking your visa or entry clearance vignette before travel

When you receive your visa it is important you check that all the details are correct and your personal details match your passport otherwise you might face a problem travelling. You should carefully check the following for yourself and any dependants travelling with you:

• Your personal details including your name, date of birth and nationality. These details should match your passport.
• If you have obtained a Student visa you should check it shows our Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) which is JTV8BV799. For eVisas this information will be in your decision/grant letter.
• That the start and end dates are correct and you will be able to travel whilst it is valid.
• The conditions attached such as work restrictions and registering with the police.
  • Degree level courses should permit 20 hours work per week during term-time
  • Police registration has now ceased and even if noted on your visa you do not have to register with the police.

How to correct an error

If you notice the error before you have arrived in the UK and your visa has been issued with an incorrect endorsement, you must contact the visa application centre which issued it immediately to correct it. If you don't do this you may face issues travelling particularly if the error relates to personal details. Please contact visas@le.ac.uk if you find an error.

If you notice an error with your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) when you collect it please see a visa expert in the Sports Hall who can help you have this corrected. You can also seek our advice on any issues with eVisas.

When you can travel to the UK

Your visa can start up to one month before the course start date given on your CAS and you must not enter the UK before this time. You must enter the UK within the validity of the vignette or eVisa, (between the start date and expiry date).

Your eVisa will cover the duration of your studies. An entry clearance vignette, which permits you to enter the UK, is normally valid for 90 days and is valid from the latest date of either:

• 1 month before your course start date (date given on your CAS Statement) or,
• 7 days before the date that you intend to travel to the UK, as stated on your visa application

Crossing the border during the validity of your entry clearance vignette or eVisa activates your Student route permission (visa). If you enter before the start date on your visa you will normally have to leave the UK (and CTA which includes Ireland) and re-enter. This can be costly and disruptive to your studies so please be sure to enter as outlined above.

Collecting your BRP

We advise students applying for their visa overseas, to request to collect the BRP from the University. There are instructions in the CAS issued to you on how to do this by using a special code. When you come to visa checkpoint you will be able to register straight away if your grant/decision letter states that you will collect your visa from us.

If you have opted to  collect it from the Post Office you must try to collect it before attending the visa checkpoint and we will only let students complete their registration without a BRP during the last few days of the main registration period. This can mean delays in opening a bank account or working as the Post Office are very busy at this time of year.

Creating a digital account

Once you have collected your BRP you will use it to create an online digital account and generate an eVisa. The decision/grant letter or email has instructions on how to create your online account and eVisa so you must keep this letter carefully, and if you used an agent to help with your visa application please make sure you obtain the letter or a copy from them. You should still continue to carry your BRP when travelling until it expires. You do not need to provide us with a Share code or prove your status to us. We will register you on your entry clearance and BRP.

FAQs