Student Visa - how early can you arrive?

Hello,

I've been following this forum for a few weeks now, and all of your info is very helpful...so I decided to join today.

My wife will be pursuing her Masters from either Univ of Liverpool, or John Moores University in Liverpool, starting September 2007.  I am aware that she will be going over on a Student Visa, and I will have a dependant Student Visa.

If her university courses begin in September, how early are we allowed to arrive in the UK?  I was thinking it would be good to arrive in June, which will allow us to get settled in, find our way around, and we can both look for jobs (which I read I can work 40 hours and my wife 20 as a student).

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jim

the short answer- it depends.

Official guidance you'll find on the web reads that you can apply for your student visa three months before the start of the course, but that you can only arrive two weeks before the start of the course (the visa can be post-dated for up to three months at the time of application.)

However, there has definitely been some anecdotal evidence of people on this forum and elsewhere that have gotten student visas with start dates during July or August.  It seems that even though the "rules" say you can't arrive more than 2 weeks ahead of time, in practice it's up to the entry clearance officer who processes your application.  You can ask for a specific entry clearance date on your application, but if you're hoping to come as early as June I would wait to buy plane tickets until after you have the visa just in case the ECO decides to suddenly enforce the rules.

EDITED TO ADD: Now that I'm thinking about it...if the course starts in mid-late September (which most uni courses do), you wouldn't be able to even *apply* for the visa until mid-late June anyway.  So the chances of you coming over in June are pretty much slim to none..if you want to come over early, I'd shoot for July instead.

The website says 2 weeks, but mine is for 3.5 wks before my course starts.  Like Andrea said, you mileage may vary.  Your best bet is just to *try*, because there's no way of knowing what will work until you do.

Whoops....I showed up a full 2 months early. I had no idea that I shouldn't have.

I got lucky they didn't send me back!

The website says 2 weeks, but mine is for 3.5 wks before my course starts.  Like Andrea said, you mileage may vary.  Your best bet is just to *try*, because there's no way of knowing what will work until you do.

Yeah, I'm hoping for 2 months early...so there is no harm in trying!  Thanks everyone.

You know, we sent in our applications last Sunday and I can't remember if we included that we have already bought plane tickets to be leaving on August 28.  Non refundable.  I just pray that they'll ok us coming over a bit early!!!  Does the stress ever end?!?!?!?!

I came over 2 months early as well and had my visa until 3 months after I finished my course.  All my documentation said my course started in Oct. but I arrived in August with no problems.

My visa allows me to leave exactly one month before my course starts.

Thanks for updating this- I was going to post the other day that the Britain USA site now says that they'll issue entry clearance for a month ahead of time, instead of 2 weeks.

http://www.britainusa.com/visas/articles_show_nt1.asp?i=65009&L1=41000&a=41074

Bastards!  I could already be there!  Just kidding...I went for almost 3.5 wks early, so that extra week isn't too much to fuss about (though now I feel silly for the 2 paragraph plea in my cover letter b/c I was terrified they wouldn't let me in that early).

5 more days for me! (6 until I land)

I wonder why they changed it to one month before?  Not that I'm complaining or anything, haha. 

I guess they made it a month early so students could get to sightsee and travel a bit before school starts.

Aless, I envy you, haha.  I have about 8 days to go, haha.

When I studied in England I arrived on July 6 2004 and stayed until July 21 2005.  My course started in late Sept, I just wrote that I wanted to travel and get adjusted etc, it was fine? I applied in May of 2004. 

You should have permission to stay in the UK for another 4 months after the end of your course.  In general, undergrads should have until 31 October and postgrads until 31 January.  For short courses it is different. 

The idea is that this gives you enough time to start another course, if that's your plan, or switch to another status if you are eligible, or to wrap up your affairs, graduate and go home.

If are an undergrad or postgrad and don't seem to have this extra time, ask the International Office at your colege to contact the Home Office to have it corrected under the Entry Clearance Correction Scheme.

You should have permission to stay in the UK for another 4 months after the end of your course.  In general, undergrads should have until 31 October and postgrads until 31 January.  For short courses it is different. 

The idea is that this gives you enough time to start another course, if that's your plan, or switch to another status if you are eligible, or to wrap up your affairs, graduate and go home.

If are an undergrad or postgrad and don't seem to have this extra time, ask the International Office at your colege to contact the Home Office to have it corrected under the Entry Clearance Correction Scheme.

I might have to do just this...I'm a postgrad and was expecting my visa to expire in January 2008 since my course ends next September...but my student visa runs out on October 31, 2007. I have a feeling this is a mistake.

Yes, that's a mistake.  It's very common for Entry Clearance Officers to give postgrads the 31 October date, but that is not the guidance they should be working to, and you can get uit changed.  The International Office or Student Services people at your college should operate the Entry Clearance Correction Scheme.  If they don't tell them to start.  Good luck with it.