Moving to a new country is exciting and challenging. We understand that the immigration process is complicated, and we hope the following information will help to make it clear for you.

It is really important that you plan to arrive by the course start date as late arrival can have an adverse impact on your academic induction and social aspects of your life at BU.  If you think that you will not be able to arrive by the course start date, or may not be able to arrive on time, you need to let us know as soon as possible.

We will then let you know whether a late arrival can be agreed (this will depend on a range of factors, including your course). If late arrival is agreed we will give you a final arrival deadline and you must arrive by this date. Find out further information about late arrival, including how to contact us about it.

What do you need to do if you think you're arriving late?

We have to report any students who have not arrived within ten days of registration to the Home Office. If you try to enter the UK after we have reported you as non-registered, you will not be allowed to enter the country and will have to return home.
If you have a genuine reason for being late, we can approve your late arrival and inform the UKVI to ensure you are still able to enter the UK and begin your studies.

When you arrive in the UK you will have to go through immigration control.

If your passport allows you to use e-gates, then you will be able to enter the UK through these. However, you must keep evidence of the date you enter the UK to show us at your enrolment, e.g. boarding pass/flight ticket.
If you are granted an eVisa you must ensure that your passport details are up to date with the Home Office as your visa will be linked to the passport you used in your visa application. If you renew your passport after your visa is granted you must confirm your details on the UK government website and update your UK Visas and Immigration account details. If you were told that you will receive a BRP once you arrive in the UK this does not apply to you.
You will need to be prepared to show the following documents to a Border Force Officer:

  • Your offer letter from BU
  • Your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement (if on a Student Route visa)
  • Information about your finances to prove you have sufficient funds for your time in the UK
  • Documents showing where you are going to stay while in the UK
  • Any other documents that your own country or embassy says you need.

These can be in an electronic format on your mobile phone or tablet or paper copies.
When you enter the UK, the Border Force Officer must be satisfied that you speak English to the required level. They are not expected to give you a test, however, they will pay attention to your English proficiency as they speak to you.

Make sure that your official documents are consistent with each other. For example, if you’ve told us you prefer to be known by a western/alternative name when you’re in the UK, you may find that BU documents use your western/alternative name which won’t match with your passport or visa. This can cause delays at immigration while immigration officers establish that both names refer to the same person. If you need your BU documents to be updated to match your passport and visa please contact us.

You can find comprehensive guidance on the immigration and customs arrival process on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website.