Visa advice for students arriving late

If you are an offer holder or a returning student and you will be arriving late, you must know that you cannot:

• travel to the UK unless you have a valid student visa
• switch from a visitor visa to a student visa
• study remotely or engage with any online materials before you arrive

Please email visas@st-andrews.ac.uk to ask for guidance if you think you may be arriving late to start your course.

Latest arrival date

If you are unable to arrive in time for matriculation, you must arrive in St Andrews by the latest start date on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which is the end of the second week of teaching. 

If you are unable to arrive by the end of the second week of teaching, you will need to defer your entry to the following academic year, and should email visas@st-andrews.ac.uk for advice.

Visa delays

A standard visa decision typically takes 15 working days after biometrics have been submitted. Please allow up to 4 weeks to apply and receive your visa. 

Sometimes applications require further checks. In this situation, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will email you to explain that additional checks are needed, and their decision will take more than 15 working days.

The University understands that this can be a worrying experience for students, unfortunately, the UKVI will not provide any more updates on the decision or the timescale. Awaiting the outcome is the only option. 

If you paid for a 1 or 5 working day priority service and your application requires further checks, you will not qualify for a refund of the additional service, and the priority timescale will not be met.

If you have questions about visa decision delays, please email advint@st-andrews.ac.uk.

When your visa does not arrive in time for matriculation

You cannot attend matriculation on a visitor visa and then switch to a student visa. Do not travel to the UK to study unless you have a valid student visa. 

If you arrive as a visitor, you will not be able to matriculate or access teaching and University systems. You will be advised to leave the UK immediately. 

If you arrive in the UK as a visitor and your student visa is granted later, you will have to exit the UK and the Common Travel Area, and then re-enter to activate your student permission. The University will need to see proof of your arrival date before you can start your studies.

The University understands that delays in your student visa can be stressful, however, attempting to travel to the UK as a visitor will not help your situation. 

If you think you may be delayed in arriving to the UK, or you have any concerns about how this may affect your course start date, please inform the University by emailing visas@st-andrews.ac.uk as soon as possible.

Arriving after Orientation week, but before the end of the second week of teaching

If you will be arriving after Orientation week, but before the latest arrival date - the end of the second week of teaching, please email your details to visas@st-andrews.ac.uk:

• name
• ID number
• programme and year of study
• expected arrival date

This will allow the University to notify your Advisor of Studies that you will be arriving late. If required, the University will update UKVI regarding the latest date you will be allowed to arrive.

After receiving your visa, you must organise your travel to the UK immediately and you must not engage with any online materials.

Biometric appointments

Unfortunately, it is not possible for the University to speed up the process of getting your visa or biometric appointment. The University cannot influence UKVI or VFS Global service times.

Please continue to check the biometric appointment booking page. Appointments are usually released daily. 

If you are unable to get a visa appointment and cannot secure a visa to arrive by the latest start date, you will have to defer your studies to the next academic year. 

For guidance or questions, please email visas@st-andrews.ac.uk.

After completing your International Foundation programme

If you cannot leave the UK to get a new visa for your next programme of study, you should email advint@st-andrews.ac.uk to discuss your options with the University’s International Advisers.

If you are still in your home country and waiting for a visa appointment, after completing your foundation programme, you should email visas@st-andrews.ac.uk to ask for advice as you may be unable to start your course on time and may need to defer your entry to the following academic year.