Travelling to the UK

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In this section you can find useful information about preparing to travel to the UK and what to expect on arrival.

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Accommodation

We recommend that you think carefully about where you plan to live in the UK during your studies. The most convenient place to stay during your studies will be on campus at our University Halls of Residence.

If you are considering living off-campus, you should read our guide for international students living-off campus to ensure you think about all the important factors when deciding how far away from the University is appropriate to live.

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Pre-Arrival Information

The university has some useful information on pre-arrival and orientation which you will be able to access once you have completed your online enrolment.
The Pre-Arrival intranet page includes useful information on:

  • Course induction dates, times and locations
  • Course contacts information
  • Pre-arrival tasks
  • Advice and guidance on how to get started
  • International orientation programme
     

Can I travel whilst my visa application is pending?

You should not plan to travel to the UK, this includes booking your flight, whilst your visa application is pending. If you do leave your home country whilst your application is pending, this can cause significant implications to your application, and a high chance your student visa application will become invalid.

If you are a national that does not require to apply for entry clearance (visa) before you travel to the UK to enter as a visitor (for example, if you are from the EU or USA), you must not attempt to travel to the UK whilst your student visa application is pending. This could cause both visa and financial implications for you, as you will be required to return to the country where you submitted your student visa application and re-enter the UK once your student visa has been granted.
 

Checking your Visa vignette

If you have been issued with a 90-day entry visa vignette (visa sticker in your passport) you should check the information on this visa along with the UKVI decision letter is correct, as these details usually match the information that will be printed on your BRP card that you will collect when you arrive in the UK:

  • Name and date of birth
  • You have been granted the correct visa route that you applied for
  • UEL's sponsor licence number
  • The start and end dates are correct. More information about this can be found on our Student visa webpage, under 'Length of Visa'.
  • Work conditions are correct

If you notice any errors on your vignette or decision letter, you will need to request these errors are amended before you travel, in line with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requirements. 

We would advise that you contact the International Student Advice (ISA) service, through the CAS Shield Portal, so we can provide support and guidance to you on reporting the errors to UKVI.

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What to expect at Border Control

When you arrive in the UK, you will go through immigration and customs control, also known as Border control. 

You will need to show:

  • Your identity document, such as your passport (and your visa if applicable). 

The Border officials may ask why you are travelling to the UK. You should explain that you are coming to the UK to study and it would be advisable to carry a copy of your offer letter and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) with you in your hand luggage to confirm this.

You must travel to the UK within the validity of the 90-day entry visa (if applicable) and before the last date of enrolment unless special permission has been given.

It is important when you arrive to the UK to ensure that you see an immigration official/officer and request a date stamp on your 90-day entry visa vignette, as this is your evidence of when you entered the UK. You will need to provide evidence of this to complete your Right to Study check.
 

Entering the UK using the eGates

It is important to be aware of the eGates when arriving in the UK. They are automated self-service barriers located at immigration areas in UK airports. You can enter the UK via the eGates if you are a national from an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA for quicker entry.

If you enter the UK using the eGates, you will not be given a stamp in your passport and will need to keep evidence of the date that you entered the UK (such as flight tickets and/or boarding pass) and provide these in addition to your other documents when you enrol. You will also need to keep these documents safe for the duration of your stay in the UK to prove the date that you entered the UK.

It is important that you enter the UK during the validity of your student visa. If you enter the UK before the start date of your student visa permission (for some of you before the start date of your 90-day entry visa vignette) using the eGates, you will enter the UK as a visitor. You will not be able to enrol onto your course as a visitor and will be required to leave the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) and re-enter the UK after your student visa is valid in order to 'activate' your student visa.

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Collecting your BRP card

If you require a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), this is your visa. It will show the full length of your visa and contains your biometric details (fingerprints and photograph of your face) in conjunction with the details of your visa. This includes:

  • Your name
  • Your date of birth
  • The start date of your student visa
  • The end date of your student visa
  • Working conditions attached to your visa

You will have to collect your BRP from a named Post Office within ten days of arriving in the UK. This Post Office address will be confirmed on your visa decision letter or in some cases your visa application. You will need to show your 90-day entry visa vignette and your UKVI BRP decision letter to collect your BRP card.
As soon as you receive your BRP, you should take copies of both the front and the back of the card. We would recommend emailing these to yourself to keep them safe.
When you collect your BRP, please check to make sure that all the details are correct.

Under 18?

If you are under the age of 18, you will need to be accompanied by a responsible adult when you collect your BRP. You cannot collect it yourself.
To do this at the Post Office, you must nominate someone you trust who can go with you. They will need to provide evidence of their identity. Please allow enough time for the nomination to be approved.

Checking your BRP card for errors

You should ensure to check your BRP carefully when you receive it. If there is a problem with your BRP when it arrives, you must report it within ten days otherwise you may have to apply and pay for a replacement.

If you notice errors on your BRP card, you can find information on our internal website for students on how to check your BRP for errors and contacting the International Student Advice (ISA) service for support with reporting your error to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), as you will need to get the errors corrected.
 

If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024

If your BRP expires on 31 December 2024 but you know your immigration permission should be valid for longer, this is due to a change in UKVI processes rather than being an error. UKVI have confirmed that they will publish details about how to update your BRP in early 2024. In the meantime, you do not need to take any action and your immigration status will not be affected.
You will be able to check the that your leave has been granted correctly in the following ways:

  • You may find this information in your decision letter; or
  • You will be able to access this information on the UK Government website.
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Applied for a Student visa using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app

If you applied using the 'UK Immigration: ID Check' app as part of your student visa application, you will receive an electronic visa. You will not receive a 90-day entry visa vignette in your passport or a BRP card and must not travel to the UK until you have confirmation that your student visa permission has been granted. You must not travel to the UK before the start date of your student visa permission. You can only travel within the validity of your student visa to activate your student visa.
If you have been told you can view your immigration status online, you can use the view and prove your immigration status service to get a ‘share’ code to prove your status in the UK, for example right to study, rent or work.
You must ensure you retain a copy of your boarding pass to prove you entered the UK within the validity of your student visa. You will be required to provide a copy of your boarding pass as part of the Right to Study check, further details mentioned in the 'Enrolment and Right to Study Check' section below.

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Enrolment and Right to Study Check

Online Enrolment is our registration process and is a critical step to complete in order to become a student at the University of East London. You will receive an email with instructions on how to complete your enrolment. 
As an international student, you will also be required to complete the Right to Study check task. You can find information on our internal website on how to complete the Right to Study task.