Tier 4 Student Visa - September 2018 Intake Timeline

StanBrown wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:56 pm

Alhamdullilah, I got my visa today. I submitted documents last Thursday and got the text today; thanks all. It only took 5 working days for mine to come.

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:27 pm

I got an email yesterday saying that my passport is ready for pickup. I will pick it up Monday, since VSF is closed today. Fingers crossed that it has the right stamp.

My overall timeline was as follows (Priority Application):

Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notified CAS has been used: 16 July
Called UKVI and was told that a decision has been made: 19 July (morning)
E-mail from VFS saying passport is ready for collection: 19 July (evening)

No email or communication from UKVI or VFS about ECO being assigned or decision being made.

Good luck everyone!

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:27 pm

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:15 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:29 pm

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 13, 2018 10:43 am

I am in a similar situation. I applied at the TLSContact center in Tel Aviv, and was expecting an interview. However, they just collected my documents and biometrics without any mention of an interview whatsoever. I applied priority, and they told me that I would hopefully have a decision within 5-10 working days.

Timeline (Priority Application):
Online application submission: 06 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
TLSContact Says the documents have been transferred to UKVI: 11 July
TLSContact tracking shows the application was received by UKVI: 12 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July

I suppose it is possible that they have chosen not to interview us? Or will we likely get invited in on a different date to sit for an interview?

Hi! Did you get your visa yet?

I am exactly in the same situation.
Priority application from Lima.

Timeline (Priority Application):
Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notification that my CAS is now marked as USED by Home Office: 16 July

No further news since then.

Let me know about any updates pls!!

I'm in the same situation at the moment. My uni told me that they used my CAS on July 16. On July 17, I called UKVI and they told me that a decision had been made, and that I now need to wait for my documents to be returned. I have received no email from UKVI confirming that a decision has been made, however, and the processing center's tracking does not show the decision as having been made yet, either.

I got an email yesterday saying that my passport is ready for pickup. I will pick it up Monday, since VSF is closed today. Fingers crossed that it has the right stamp.

My overall timeline was as follows (Priority Application):

Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notified CAS has been used: 16 July
Called UKVI and was told that a decision has been made: 19 July (morning)
E-mail from VFS saying passport is ready for collection: 19 July (evening)

No email or communication from UKVI or VFS about ECO being assigned or decision being made.

Good luck everyone!

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:30 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:27 pm

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:15 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:29 pm

Hi! Did you get your visa yet?

I am exactly in the same situation.
Priority application from Lima.

Timeline (Priority Application):
Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notification that my CAS is now marked as USED by Home Office: 16 July

No further news since then.

Let me know about any updates pls!!

I'm in the same situation at the moment. My uni told me that they used my CAS on July 16. On July 17, I called UKVI and they told me that a decision had been made, and that I now need to wait for my documents to be returned. I have received no email from UKVI confirming that a decision has been made, however, and the processing center's tracking does not show the decision as having been made yet, either.

I got an email yesterday saying that my passport is ready for pickup. I will pick it up Monday, since VSF is closed today. Fingers crossed that it has the right stamp.

My overall timeline was as follows (Priority Application):

Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notified CAS has been used: 16 July
Called UKVI and was told that a decision has been made: 19 July (morning)
E-mail from VFS saying passport is ready for collection: 19 July (evening)

No email or communication from UKVI or VFS about ECO being assigned or decision being made.

Good luck everyone!

I wish you the best of luck! My papers are also supposed to arrive on Monday (they only do passport return via courier here). I will post an update. Good luck!

ILoveMyDogs wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 22, 2018 11:20 am

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:30 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:27 pm

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:15 am

I'm in the same situation at the moment. My uni told me that they used my CAS on July 16. On July 17, I called UKVI and they told me that a decision had been made, and that I now need to wait for my documents to be returned. I have received no email from UKVI confirming that a decision has been made, however, and the processing center's tracking does not show the decision as having been made yet, either.

I got an email yesterday saying that my passport is ready for pickup. I will pick it up Monday, since VSF is closed today. Fingers crossed that it has the right stamp.

My overall timeline was as follows (Priority Application):

Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notified CAS has been used: 16 July
Called UKVI and was told that a decision has been made: 19 July (morning)
E-mail from VFS saying passport is ready for collection: 19 July (evening)

No email or communication from UKVI or VFS about ECO being assigned or decision being made.

Good luck everyone!

I wish you the best of luck! My papers are also supposed to arrive on Monday (they only do passport return via courier here). I will post an update. Good luck!

Just got my visa today, BH. I wasn't ever interviewed and wasn't contacted by UKVI except for the "ECO is preparing your documents" email. Good luck everyone!

eth wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:56 am

Hi everyone. I received my passport with the entry clearance sticker today. Just wanted to share my timeline and experience.

Online application: 17th June
Biometrics & Interview: 28th June
Automated email: 1st July (mentioned that my application is currently being prepared for consideration by ECO)
Call from VFS to collect passport: 17th July
Received the passport: 23rd July

The letter enclosed with the passport mentions a visa grant date of 10th July.

My application was eligible for the Tier 4 Pilot Scheme. But my checklist indicated that I had to submit my certificates. Prior to my appointment at VFS, I contacted the university and they contacted UKVI on behalf of me and told me that this was an error on the UKVI side and I should not submit my certificates. So I submitted only my passport at VFS. My interview was rather long. I was asked more than the standard questions. In case anyone wants to know, these were things I was asked in addition to the usual why did you choose this course/UK and so on.

- Where do you plan to stay in UK? (xxxx)
- How will you get from your accommodation to the university? (I completely forgot the station names but I gave instructions on how to get from the accommodation to the university)
- Do you have any friends or family living in UK? (No)
- How much is the accommodation? (GBP xxxx)
- Have you paid for the accommodation? (I said no because its due sometime in August, but I have placed a deposit to secure the room)
- Does your bank account have the funds required to pay for the accommodation? (yes)
- What is the source of the funds in the bank account? (I replied to this saying that my parents run their own business and they also earn rental income. This prompted the next question)
- How much is the income per month? (I gave a rough figure of the rental income and said that I really don't know the business income)
- How many people are dependent on the income? Any siblings?
- What are your plans after this course? (I mentioned that I will proceed to do a PhD)
- What is the area in which you want to do your PhD?
- What type of salary do you expect you can earn after completing your studies? (This was one of the questions I couldn't really answer because I wasn't prepared for this. So I asked whether the interviewer meant after my Masters or my PhD because I mentioned that I plan to immediately begin my PhD after completing my Masters. The interviewer said that a rough estimate is fine since there's still quite a long gap. I panicked and said GBP 3000 per month. Which obviously is way too high but the interviewer kept on saying any amount is fine, just a rough estimate will do)
- What was the last course that you completed?
- What have you been doing since you completed the course? (I completed my last course in Dec 2017 and spent quite some time with the university application and waiting for the offer from the university. Other than that I mentioned that I have been reading up on relevant material for the course)

What I have learnt from the entire application process is:
1. Contact the International Student Services of your university if you have any doubts. They will be more helpful as they have experience in dealing with this and can offer better advice.
2. This forum is useful to see the timelines, patterns and also get reassurance from others in a somewhat similar situation as you.

I hope everyone waiting for their visas get a positive response soon!

mcchances wrote: ↑

Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:57 am

Here's my Timeline

-Application submitted online (10 July)
-Biometrics and Interview (Friday 13th July)
-Received By UKVI (Monday 16th July)
-Preparation email received from Sheffield (16th July)
-TLSContact email that visa processing is complete (Friday 20th July)
-TLSContact email that passport ready for collection (Friday 20th July)
-Passport collected with Tier 4 Entry Clearance sticker (Monday 23rd July)

Advice: Use the Immigration advisers at your university. They provide excellent reliable specialist advise at no cost at all.

SEE YOU ALL IN THE ROYAL UNITED KINGDOM!!

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 21, 2018 8:30 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:27 pm

BaruchChai wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:15 am

andreabcdef wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:29 pm

Hi! Did you get your visa yet?

I am exactly in the same situation.
Priority application from Lima.

Timeline (Priority Application):
Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notification that my CAS is now marked as USED by Home Office: 16 July

No further news since then.

Let me know about any updates pls!!

I'm in the same situation at the moment. My uni told me that they used my CAS on July 16. On July 17, I called UKVI and they told me that a decision had been made, and that I now need to wait for my documents to be returned. I have received no email from UKVI confirming that a decision has been made, however, and the processing center's tracking does not show the decision as having been made yet, either.

I got an email yesterday saying that my passport is ready for pickup. I will pick it up Monday, since VSF is closed today. Fingers crossed that it has the right stamp.

My overall timeline was as follows (Priority Application):

Online application submission: 01 July
Document Submission & Biometrics (no interview): 10 July
Email from Sheffield saying that my application has been received and is being prepared for consideration: 12 July
Uni notified CAS has been used: 16 July
Called UKVI and was told that a decision has been made: 19 July (morning)
E-mail from VFS saying passport is ready for collection: 19 July (evening)

No email or communication from UKVI or VFS about ECO being assigned or decision being made.

Good luck everyone!

I wish you the best of luck! My papers are also supposed to arrive on Monday (they only do passport return via courier here). I will post an update. Good luck!

wikki wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:54 am

Nikoletta12 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 30, 2018 11:06 am

Hi wiki,
What did they ask you in interview ki have mine on Monday bio metrics on Monday and pls also mention which course did u apply and what type of questions they asked u.

Hi, Nikoletta
The interview was pretty simple, just relax and make sure you have thought about the answers beforehand.
I was asked the following questions:
1. Can you confirm your identity by saying your name, date, and place of birth?
2. Why did you apply for this course?
3. Why did you choose that University and that city?
4. Why did you choose the UK?
5. What will you do after you graduate from this course?
6. How would this degree help you to achieve what you'll do after this course?


Pls can you give me a gist about how your answered question( 3). Why chose the university? Did u compare?

Ghboy wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 28, 2018 3:15 am

When asked, why you choose the university, will you compare it to other universities?

Ghboy wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 28, 2018 3:15 am

When asked, why you choose the university, will you compare it to other universities?

darsh01 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:13 am

Hi All,

My timeline:

7 July 2018: Date of online application
10 July 2018: Date of interview, bio-metrics and document submission
27 july 2018: Received email from british high commission in Delhi that a decision was made
28 July 2018: received my documents with UK entry clearance sticker on passport at home

My take:
I would say that everyone should wait for 15 working days before inquiring UKVI. Inquire them on call or email only if you have not heard back from them after 15 working days.

Also, I had not received any communication from VFS or embassy after submitting my documents at VFS. Only email that I received was on 13th working day, stating that a decision was made.

Moreover, there were some complications with my application. My middle name on passport and degree certificate was a bit different. I had produced a notary undertaking stating that both the names are of same person and that resolved the issue.

jayanadj wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:27 am

darsh01 wrote: ↑

Sun Jul 29, 2018 5:13 am

Hi All,

My timeline:

7 July 2018: Date of online application
10 July 2018: Date of interview, bio-metrics and document submission
27 july 2018: Received email from british high commission in Delhi that a decision was made
28 July 2018: received my documents with UK entry clearance sticker on passport at home

My take:
I would say that everyone should wait for 15 working days before inquiring UKVI. Inquire them on call or email only if you have not heard back from them after 15 working days.

Also, I had not received any communication from VFS or embassy after submitting my documents at VFS. Only email that I received was on 13th working day, stating that a decision was made.

Moreover, there were some complications with my application. My middle name on passport and degree certificate was a bit different. I had produced a notary undertaking stating that both the names are of same person and that resolved the issue.

Did u apply on priority service ?