Applying as a Standard Visitor to attend graduation

The university is not permitted to extend a Student visa simply to allow a student to remain in the UK until graduation. If, therefore, your Student visa is due to expire before the date of your graduation ceremony, please be advised that you will need to return home and submit a new immigration application as a ‘Standard Visitor’ in order to return for the ceremony.

Please note: if your graduation ceremony falls within the period of your current Student visa, but you leave the UK at the end of the course, we advise that you apply for fresh entry clearance as a Standard Visitor in order to attend the ceremony, and do not attempt to re-enter on your Student visa. This is because Immigration Officers could decide that you no longer meet the requirements for a Student visa and refuse you entry to the UK.

When to apply

Applications for a ‘Standard Visitor’ visa can be made up to three months before the intended date of travel. For an indication of how long it may take for the application to be processed, please use the UK Visas and Immigration guide to processing times.

Please note that during peak periods it can take much longer for applications to be processed overseas, so you should try to submit your application as early as practically possible, to avoid disappointment.

How to apply

For everywhere apart from North Korea, you will need to submit your application online.

GOV.UK – Applying for a visa to come to the UK

 

 

 

When you apply, you must choose the option that best describes why you are coming to the UK, e.g. choose ‘general’ if you’re visiting on holiday.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Documents required for application

You should supply all relevant documents listed on the UK Visas and Immigration website. The following documents are normally required:

• Passport
• Recent photographs
• Bank statements and/or pay-slips going back at least 3 months to prove you have enough money to support yourself for the duration of your visit
• Evidence of your reason for travelling to the UK (e.g. travel itinerary, accommodation bookings, document confirming graduation ceremony date etc.)
• Evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit. Some examples might be: document confirming employment in home country, document confirming ownership of property in home country, flight bookings etc.

If you require a letter confirming your eligibility to attend graduation, please send a request by email to [email protected]