Applying to study at Oxford
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After you have applied

Having applied for your visa, find out about what you need to know while waiting for a decision and after you have been granted your Student permission.

Your status while awaiting a decision

As long as you applied before it expired, the conditions of your last visa (for example, your work permission) will continue while your application is being processed. You can legally stay in the UK while you wait for the Home Office decision, even if this comes after the expiry date of your previous visa.

If you are called for an interview

The Home Office can call some students in for a credibility interview although this happens only very rarely for in-UK Oxford applicants. This is part of a programme to check that students are genuine and meet their English language requirements and does not necessarily mean that there is any problem with the application. The Home Office will send you instructions about the interview which would usually be on-line but may be in-person. You should reply promptly  and attend the interview or tell the Home Office if there is a strong reason why you are unable to.  Please contact the Student Immigration team if you have concerns. 

How long will it take?

This will depend on the service you selected and paid for.

Standard service: decision usually made within 8 weeks, and may be much quicker if you have been able to use the ‘UK Immigration ID Check’ app to verify your identity

Priority service: decision within 5 working days 

Super priority service: decision by end of the next working day if you have a weekday appointment, or two working days after a weekend appointment. This is currently not available if you applied using the 'UK Immigration ID Check' app

The Home Office will contact you if the application is going to take longer than the times stated because it is unexpectedly complex.

If you are going to be issued with a BRP (because you could not use the  'UK Immigration ID Check' app or because you are a Visa National) you need to allow up to 7 to 10 days to receive your BRP by courier. This will be delivered to the correspondence address that you entered on your visa application form. If you change address whilst awaiting your decision then please complete this form.

If you need to travel

You will not normally need to submit your passport during your visa application. Do not travel before you receive a decision on your application because leaving the Common Travel Area (the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) will mean your application is treated as withdrawn and you will lose the application fee although the IHS payment will be refunded. You might not be able to return to the UK without making another visa application.

If you need to travel because of an emergency, you could contact us for advice.

 The decision

You will receive the decision by email or by letter. Very few Oxford students are refused if they have followed the requirements for applying. If you are refused, please contact the Student Immigration team straight away for advice, include your refusal notice and your student number.

Proving your new Student permission

You will receive a confirmation letter, normally by email, when your Student permission has been granted. Check it carefully and keep it for reference. It will give you information about your status, and how to prove it for purposes such as enrolment, employment and renting accommodation. 

If you applied using the 'UK Immigration ID Check' app it will explain how you can use your UKVI account to view and prove your status and report changes. Your student permission will be in the form of an eVisa. 

If you are a Visa National or you were not able to use the app to apply, you will receive a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP). This will be couriered  to the correspondence address that you entered on your visa application form. If you change address whilst awaiting your decision then please complete this form. Check all the details on your BRP when you receive it. 

Mistakes in your personal details such as the spelling or ordering of your name, or in your date of birth can be corrected by following the instructions in the accompanying leaflet within the time frame given. However, if there is a problem with the conditions, including the period of validity or the conditions such as working or registering with the police these may have to be addressed using the Administrative Review procedure; please email the Student Immigration team for help.

Your college or department will need to record your new Student permission when it is granted. Contact them to share your status with them online or to arrange for your BRP to be scanned if you have one. Please do not delay this step

Reporting to the police

If you are subject to a police registration requirement this will be stated on your BRP or in your letter and you will need to report your new visa time limit to them.

Student visa responsibilities

Your visa status involves ongoing responsibilities for both you and the University. For further information on these see these sections:

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