Students Solution - How to apply for student visa for UK?

The UK Border Agency aims to process settlement visa applications within 12 weeks from the date your visa application form and supporting documents are received at the UK Border Agency office in Canada. Visa applications are assessed individually and processing times may vary.

When to submit your visa application

You can start the visa application process up to 3 months in advance of your planned travel date. The UK Border agency advises you to start the visa application process at least 5-10 weeks prior to your planned travel date. This should allow you enough time to complete your online application form; prepare your supporting documents, submit your biometrics data at the visa application centre and for your application to be processed.

Visa Application Procedure

All UK visa applications must be made online. Each person traveling (regardless whose passport they are traveling on) must complete an online application.

Complete the online application form and submit your online payment ($328).
Indicate if you would like the High Commission to send your visa directly to you or whether you would like to collect it from the Toronto Visa Application Centre (VAC) after processing. Note: This pick-up service is only available to applicants who had their biometrics enrolled at the Toronto VAC.
You will then be prompted to make an appointment at the Toronto VAC.

All members of your family or group will have to attend individual appointments at the VAC. When booking your appointment it is important to account for all members of your party to allow sufficient time for processing.

When you attend your appointment at the Toronto VAC, staff will check to make sure that you have completed and paid for your online application accurately and that you have the required documents. The Visa Application Centre staff will then enroll your finger scan biometric data using an electronic scanner and take a digital photograph. These will be sent by encrypted link to the UK for comparison to immigration and other databases.

The applicant will arrive at the Toronto VAC and will have to check in with a building receptionist at the time of arrival. Please do not arrive any earlier than 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.

When your appointment is complete you may leave your application documents at the Toronto VAC for onward transmission to the High Commission. You also have the option to collect your passport and visa from the Toronto VAC when processing is complete.

Please note that your application and required documents must reach the High Commission within two weeks after your appointment at the Visa Application Centre.

Depending on which option you chose when making your application online, your adjudicated application will either be available for collection from the Toronto VAC or it will be sent to your home address by Courier (you must remember to select this option and pay for the service while you are making your online application). NOTE: This pick-up service is only available to applicants who have their biometrics enrolled at the Toronto VAC.