Coming to the UK

Pre-arrival

By now you will have received your letter confirming your place at University. Now begins the very exciting process of coming to the UK. First comes the planning stage. This section will give you lots of useful advice for making all the necessary arrangements.

Here is a checklist of what to prepare now:

Check your passport. Do you have enough time to cover your studies and return home? If it is close to expiring you should find out how to renew it or apply for a new passport.
Do you need to apply for entry clearance (a visa)? Processing times for visa applications vary depending on the country – remember that August is a very busy time.
Organise your finances. Think about how you will pay tuition fees and living expense.
If your visa application is successful then you should start to make your travel arrangements – book a flight, buy travel insurance.
How will you get to the university once you arrive? If you wish to use the meet and greet service then you need book a flight that will arrive at the correct airport, date and time!
Book a seat on the meet and greet coach.
Change money into sterling so that you will have money until you can open a bank account.
Multiple passport-sized photographs for ID cards etc.

Arriving in the UK: "Immigration Control"

Whether you arrive by air or by sea, when you get to the UK your first step is to pass through immigration control. The UK offers a warm welcome to international students. But, as in all countries, the authorities have to ensure that everyone who enters the UK has a legitimate reason to be here.

* Source: British Council booklet “Studying and living in the United Kingdom, 2006-7.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to the process.

When you enter the terminal building, follow the signs for ‘Arrivals’.These signs will lead you to the passport control area (If you are transferring to another flight at the same airport, follow the signs for ‘Flight Connections’ instead. Then, at your final airport follow the signs for ‘Arrivals’.)
As you approach passport control, you will see electronic screens indicating where you should queue. There will be two types of queue: one for travellers with British or EEA (European Economic Area) passports and another for all other passport holders. Make sure you join the correct queue or you could waste a lot of time.
At some major airports, arriving passengers are also sorted by flight number as they enter the immigration control area, so you should have this number to hand. You can find your flight number on your boarding card and ticket stub. You will also need to know your flight number later in order to collect your baggage so do keep this information with you even after you leave the plane.
When you reach the front of the queue, the immigration officer at the desk will want to see that your documents are in order so make sure you have them ready. In particular you should have ready your letter of acceptance from your place of study and evidence of your funding, such as a sponsor’s letter or bank statements. The immigration officer will check that you have an up-to-date passport and, if required, a valid visa or entry clearance. You should also be prepared to answer some questions about yourself, including where you will be staying and what you intend to do during your time in the UK.
You may be asked to undergo a brief, routine health check by the airport doctor which might include an X-Ray. The health check will take place in a separate room. Afterwards, you will need to return to immigration control.
If you did not obtain entry clearance before you left your home country, the immigration officer will put a stamp in your passport showing how long you are allowed to stay and any special conditions, such as registering with the police. If you obtained entry clearance (a visa or entry certificate) before you left your home country, the immigration officer will put a stamp in your passport showing the date you entered the UK. The conditions of your stay will already be printed on your entry clearance.

As long as your documents are in order, you should pass through immigration smoothly. But if you find you need help for any reason, there are two things you can do:

ask the immigration officer to telephone Higher Education Choices (UK) (0121 250 5700) OR
ask to speak to a representative of the Immigration Advisory Service. The Service has offices in a number of UK cities and can also be reached on these telephone numbers: Manchester 0161 834 9942 and London 020 8814 1115.

What if my luggage is delayed?

Don’t Panic! Go to the helpdesk or luggage enquiries desk and tell the official that your luggage has not arrived. You will need to give the address of the University for your luggage to be delivered to. Make sure you get a reference number and a telephone number to call for news about the whereabouts of your luggage. Proceed to the University and inform staff that your luggage has not arrived so it can be delivered to your room when it arrives from the airport.