IMMIGRATION

Immigration - arriving in the UK

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

• If you’re from a country outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland you will be issued with a BRP.
• This serves as your visa for the duration of your studies.
• You will need to collect your BRP once you’re in the UK, before the expiry date on your Entry Clearance Vignette.
• The UK is transitioning to Digital Immigration Status or eVisas and BRPs are being replaced with eVisas; if you hold an immigration permission that extends beyond 2024 your BRP will expire on 31 December 2024.

 How do I collect my BRP?

• If you used the RVC’s collection location code in your visa application your BRP will be sent directly to the RVC.
• Student Records will send you an email to confirm your BRP has arrived, and you can collect it at enrolment.
• If you used the RVC’s collection location code in a visa application for a dependent, you can also collect their BRP at enrolment. They do not need to come with you, but please bring their passport and proof of entry to the UK.
• If you did not use the RVC’s collection code your BRP will be sent to a Post Office near the UK address you used in your visa application. Please collect your BRP before on-site enrolment and bring it with you when you come to enrol. If your BRP has not arrived at the Post Office before enrolment don’t worry, bring a copy of your permission letter with you and we’ll need to see your BRP once you have collected it.

 Digital Immigration Permission

• If you’re from the EU, EEA or Switzerland then you will receive a Digital Immigration Permission, known as an eVisa and you will not have a vignette placed in your passport.
• Do not travel to the UK before the start date of your eVisa.
• Student Records will send you an email on how to verify your eVisa before enrolment once you have made your visa application.

 Entering the UK

•  If you’re a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the US you can use eGates to enter the UK. This means your passport won’t get stamped at the border.
• If you enter the Republic of Ireland before entering the UK your passport also won’t get stamped at the border.
• Please retain your boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation to prove the date you travelled into the UK; we’ll need to see it at enrolment.
• In all other cases your entry clearance vignette will usually be stamped at the border to prove your entry to the UK.

Attendance Monitoring

• We are required to monitor the attendance of students who are sponsored for a Student visa and those in receipt of Direct Loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
• For more information, please see the RVC's UKVI and US Federal Loans Student Attendance Policy or information for US Federal Loan recipients

 Working In The UK

 If you want to work whilst at the RVC, you should be aware of the regulations and limitations around this when you have a Student Visa.

• All work, paid or unpaid (including volunteering) is restricted. You must not work more than 20 hours per week during term-time.
• Outside term-time you can work full time. You’ll be able to find the term dates on the RVC intranet once you are enrolled.

Information, Advice and Guidance

• The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website is the go-to resource for all issues regarding the international student experience.
• They have the most up-to-date information regarding visas and immigration, fees and other practical matters.
• You can also contact our student support team in the Advice Centre with visa related questions.