Last updated 17 September 2020

The current UKVI guidance was updated on the 16 September 2020:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

Sponsor specific guidance can be found at:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors

You can also find detailed guidance on the UKCISA web pages:

UKCISA 

Last updated 23 September 2020

Visa decision letters will still state that you must collect your BRP within 10 days of arriving in the UK because their letters have not been updated. However, the UKVI have confirmed that Tier 4 visa holders required to collect their BRP from the Post Office, will be able to do this until the end of 2020.

You should attempt to collect it as soon as your quarantine has ended, but you must not attempt to collect it if you are subject to quarantine restrictions.

The list of countries exempt from quarantine can be found on the the UK government web pages:

Exempt countries and territories

This list can change overnight, so it is important to check it before travelling. 

Last updated 29 September 2020

Some nationalities need to register with the Police within 7 days of their arrival in the UK.  This is either shown on your 30 day vignette or your visa application decision letter. You can also refer to the official list:

Countries required to register with the Police 

You must not attempt to register if you are required to complete quarantine. The UKVI have confirmed that you should check with the local Police on whether they are open for registrations.  If they are not you must complete it once social distancing measures have been removed.

The Metropolitan Police Overseas Visitors' Records Office have announced that Police Registration appointment booking will resume from 30/09/2020.  You will need to book an appointment to attend and given the number of people who need to register with the Police in London, this may still take a few months to complete.  We still advise booking an appointment as soon as possible.

Find out more about registering with the Police in London on the following web page:

When you have your visa

Last updated 23 September 2020

At 09:00am London time on 5 October 2020, Tier 4 will be replaced by the Student Route.  Any applications submitted after this time will be considered under the Student Route rules.

Important: EU/EEA students who are not residing in the UK prior to the 31 December 2020 and are not eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme, will need to apply for a Student Route visa if they are only joining us from Lent Term 2021.

• You will be able to use a CAS issued before 5 October 2020 for an application under the Student Route. Any CAS issued from 5 October 2020 must be formatted in accordance with the new guidance (yet to be released).
• If you are applying to extend your visa in the UK and have been in the UK on a visa for 12 months, you will not need to show evidence of your qualification or finances - we are checking if this also includes people who have not been in the UK on a Tier 4 visa.
• The cap on degree level study will be removed for postgraduate programmes of study.
• You will not need to submit evidence of your qualification with your application overseas, but you will need to show evidence of your finances unless you are considered as a low-risk national.
• The Immigration Health Surcharge will increase on 1 October 2020 to £470 per year plus the additional time on your visa.  However, there are no changes to the amount of maintenance required to be shown until next year.

There will be no changes to the working conditions, so you will not be affected in your working options.

Last updated 23 September 2020

If your Tier 4 visa has been successfully granted, you will be issued with a 90 day sticker in your passport.  This will enable you to travel to the UK to collect your BRP which is then your immigration permission.

FAQ: I applied for my Tier 4 visa and said that I intended to travel in January.  My 90 day sticker was issued for September to December.  What do I need to do?

We are aware that some caseworkers have been issuing 90 day stickers in line with the guidance, which states that they are valid from 7 days of your intended date of travel or your course start date, whichever is sooner.  In this case, a caseworker may have referred to your CAS and issued your sticker on your course start date rather than your date of travel.  

In this case, you will need to apply for a replacement vignette. This process is free but only until the end of 2020. You should not leave applying for the replacment vignette until too late or there may be a backlog of applications. When applying it may help to give further information on your new intended date of travel, as you have to evidence that the sticker will expire before you travel.

Details of the process can be found in the section on 30 day vignettes expiring in the UKVI Coronavirus guidance:

UKVI Guidance 

FAQ: I intended to travel for the start of year, but I have now changed my plans and will not join LSE until the Lent Term. What do I need to do?

In this case, you will need to apply for a replacement vignette. This process is free but only until the end of 2020. You should not leave applying for the replacment vignette until too late or there may be a backlog of applications. When applying it may help to give further information on your new intended date of travel, as you have to evidence that the sticker will expire before you travel.

Details of the process can be found in the section on 30 day vignettes expiring in the UKVI Coronavirus guidance:

UKVI Guidance 

Last updated 23 September 2020

The UKVI has said that it is possible for someone to start their course online, if they are being sponsored under Tier 4.  However, the UKVI expect that the applicant should plan to arrive in the UK for face-to-face teaching as soon as possible. If you travel to the UK, you are effectively saying that you intend to study face-to-face by activating your Tier 4 visa.

FAQ: Can I complete online registration and start my online studies if I don't have my Tier 4 visa in place and I'm still overseas?

Yes, you can complete online registration and start your studies online if you are overseas and don't yet have your Tier 4 visa.

You will not be able to study a  whole programme completely online and be sponsored on a Tier 4 visa.  The UKVI does not expect a wholly online programme to need a visa because you do not need to be in the UK.

If your visa is successfully granted you will be given a sticker in your passport which is valid for 90 days to enable you to travel to the UK. Information is available on this page if your plans have changed.

Last updated 11 September 2020

The UK is leaving the EU on the 31 December 2020   If you are an EU/EEA/Swiss student joining LSE in the 2020/21 academic year, we strongly advise that you establish residency (start living) in the UK before the 31 December 2020.

Arriving before the 31 December 2020 is vital for any students who will be coming to study in the UK for the first time.  If you do not arrive before this date, you will not be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme and you will need to apply for a visa to  be able to study in the UK. If you do not plan to arrive until after the 31 December 2020 and you are not already resident in the UK, you will need to contact ISVAT for advice because you will need to apply for a Student Route visa to join LSE in the Lent Term.

FAQ: I don't plan to start living in the UK until January 2021. I haven't lived in the UK before but have a UK address arranged. Can I use this address to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme even if I have never lived in the UK?

To be eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme you need to be residing in the UK.  Submitting an application using a UK address when you have not lived there is a fraudulent application.  You should either plan to arrive before the 31 December 2020 or apply for a Student visa not submit a fraudulent application.

The EU Settlement Scheme would give you similar rights to those you would have benefitted from under free movement meaning there would be no restriction on the work you can do.  The application is also free.  If you arrive in the UK for the first time after the 1 January 2021, you would need to apply for a Student visa at a cost and with the same working restrictions that other international students have faced under Tier 4.

We strongly recommend that you do not delay your arrival to the UK until after the 31 December 2020.  Further details can be found on our pages for EU/EEA nationals:

EU/EEA nationals 

Last Updated 23 September 2020

The UKVI have confirmed that those people who already hold a Tier 4 visa and had started their studies prior to the pandemic, will be able to continue online.  You will be able to study Michaelmas Term online but you are expected to return by Lent Term 2021.

When you re-register online, you will be able to indicate your intended date of return. 

Last updated 23 September 2020

If you do not need to apply for a tourist visa in advance of travelling to the UK and are planning to enter before your Tier 4 sticker becomes valid you must note the following important legal points:

• If you are already in the UK as a tourist, you do not automatically become a Tier 4 student just because your sticker in you passport is valid. You must leave the UK and re-enter during the validity of your Tier 4 visa to be considered a Tier 4 migrant;
• You cannot activate your Tier 4 visa by travelling to the Republic of Ireland because there is no border between  the UK and Republic of Ireland;
• Most countries within easy travelling distance of the UK now also require a period of quarantine upon arrival there and also upon your return.  For example, in the past we would have recommended travelling to France or Belgium on Eurostar and returning to activate your Tier 4.  If you arrive as a tourist now you would need to do the following:
  
  1. Quarantine in the UK for 14 days if required;
  2. Travel to another European country and potentially have to quarantine there depending on their rules with the UK;
  3. Return during the validity of your Tier 4 visa and potentially have to quarantine for another 14 days depending on where you travelled to.
• You would not be able to complete campus enrolment or attend teaching until your Tier 4 is active.

UK quarantine rules change frequently and often quite quickly, so you may find yourself in a position where you cannot travel to activate your Tier 4 visa, potentially having to complete two periods of quarantine.  Therefore, you may risk travelling early with no benefit.  It would be easier to travel when your Tier 4 visa is valid and to study online to complete quaratine than potentially not be able to join your studies in-person for a few days.