Frequently Asked Questions

You will first need to report the loss or theft to the Police as you will need a crime reference number when replacing your visa. For passports, you will need to contact the Embassy of your home country straight away to arrange for a replacement. 

If you need a new visa or Biometric residence permits (BRP) card, our advisors can assist you with reporting this to the Home Office and getting a replacement.

You can email visa@yorksj.ac.uk if this happens to you, and we can give you personal advice.

No. Unfortunately, Student visas cannot be extended for graduation ceremonies. You will need to return to your home country and apply for a Standard Visitor visa in order to return to the UK and attend graduation.

You will need to let Registry (studentrecords@yorksj.ac.uk) know that you intend to travel for graduation and they can issue you with a letter inviting you to attend.

You and any family members who wish to attend graduation can use this letter to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

There is an 8 week service standard for normal Student Visa applications. If your application is made outside of peak times then it may only take 2 to 3 weeks to process, but if you applied during peak times it may take the full 8 weeks. 

If your application falls outside of the 8 week standard period, the Visa and Compliance team will follow this up with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for you.

Any family member or friends will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa.

You can request a Confirmation of Attendance letter via e:vision and family or friends can use this letter to support their visa application.

The University cannot generate invitation letters for non-students.

If the course you want to change to is the same length and same course level as your existing course (from one MA to another MA, for example) then it may not affect your visa.

We may need to tell the Home Office if you've changed course, but you won't need a visa extension if the course you switch to is the same length.

Please be aware that the course you switch to must have the same entry criteria - if there are additional entry criteria then you may not be able to switch without returning home and applying for a new visa.

If you are considering changing courses, you should contact your Head of Programme and also let the Visa and Compliance team know at visa@yorksj.ac.uk.

Visa extensions must be supported by your School in the first instance. Visa-holding students must always be full time, so visa extensions will not be granted for single resits or external resits.

If you have many modules to re-take then it may be possible to extend your visa as long as your School is happy to support this. Our advisors handle all in-UK visa extensions and will assist you with making your application.

If you want to ask about a visa extension or make an appointment to speak to an advisor, email visa@yorksj.ac.uk.

Yes. If you renew your passport and are issued with a new one, you need to inform the University and have your new passport scanned into the student records system. Please contact visa@yorksj.ac.uk to inform them about your new passport and to set a time to have this scanned in. 

If you hold a Student visa, you will also need to inform UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) about your new passport details by completing the Migrant Change of Circumstances (MCC) Form.