Apply for a Standard Visitor visa
If you are a student studying in the UK for six months or less, you may need to apply for a Standard visitor visa before you enter the UK.
A visit visa may also be required for attending graduation (if your student visa has expired before the ceremony date), or if you have friends or family who wish to attend the ceremony. Find out if you need a visa.
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You must apply online for a Standard visitor visa and pay the fee.
After you complete the online application, you will be required to make an appointment to have your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) taken at a visa application centre.
After your biometrics have been recorded, you will be required to submit your biometric receipt (obtained at your biometric appointment) along with your supporting documents.
You can apply up to three months before your date of travel to the UK. You should get a decision within three weeks.
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Your supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded either before or during your biometric appointment, or mailed in, whichever option is appropriate for the country you are applying in. You should also provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English.
You also need to make sure that your passport or travel document has at least one page, blank on both sides. This is where your visa vignette will be attached.
As part of your application, you will need to provide the following:
- your University offer letter stating the course name, duration and cost (including accommodation)
- your passport or other valid travel identification
- evidence that you can support yourself during your studies (for example, bank statements or payslips for the last six months)
- details of where you intend to stay (for example, your University hall of residence or private residence) and your travel plans; you shouldn’t pay for travel until you get your visa
- your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
- ATAS certificate, if applicable
- If you are under the age of 18 at the time of your application, you must supply a letter from your parent or guardian confirming their relationship with you, that they give consent to the visa application, and that they consent to you living in and travelling to the UK independently. You must also provide their contact details.
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Applying for a Visa to attend Graduation
If your Student visa has expired or you wish to invite your parents, family or friends to your graduation, you/they may need to apply for a Standard visitor visa before entering the UK. Find out if you need a visa.
You will have to prove that you will be attending graduation. You can use one of the following to do this (once you have registered to graduate):
- email from the Graduation Office inviting you to apply to graduate and confirming the date of your ceremony
- student status letter (request from transcripts@st-andrews.ac.uk)
- eligible to graduate letter (request from transcripts@st-andrews.ac.uk
Invite guests
If you are inviting guests to your graduation ceremony you need to write a letter formally inviting them to attend. This letter should confirm your student details, their names, where they will stay, dates of the ceremony and length of stay in the UK.
This invitation letter should be submitted with their visa application along with a copy of the letter you have received from the University confirming your graduation attendance. Other documents that will be required are all listed on UKVI’s webpage.
Standard visitor visa applications can take a minimum of 15 working days to be processed. Currently there are global visa delays so do apply as soon as you have all the relevant documents required.