Immigration - Travel - Visas
Student Visa/Immigration Information
Please be aware that immigration rules can change and that as such we strongly recommend that you check that information you hold about visa requirements is accurate at the time of your visa application.Immigration law is complex ~ do not take advice about visas or immigration matters from anyone who is not qualified to give it.
We recommend that you refer to the websites below for the most up to date information, in additon to http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/.
Alternatively you can contact our International Welfare Advisors who will be able to offer guidance:
Caroline O'Rourke c.o'rourke@ljmu.ac.uk or Reena Modasiya r.modasiya@ljmu.ac.uk both available on 0151 904 6050
Malaysia
Visa Application Centre
Suite 19.06
19th Floor,
Wisma MCA,
163 Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (03) 21649323
www.vfs-uk-my.com
mailto:Info.ukmy@40vfshelpline.com
Ghana
Sri Lanka
Singapore
http://ukinsingapore.fco.gov.uk/en/visiting-uk/visas/
Laws Which Affect Your Entry into Britain
Customs allowances
When you arrive at a British port or airport, you will pass through Immigration and Customs. Customs control the type and amounts of all goods that are brought into Britain.The following websites will advise you on what you are allowed to bring into the UK:
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/banned-restricted.htm or
http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/personal-imports/Remember
- do not bring in items on behalf of other people,
- never allow strangers to carry your bags at ports or airports,
- never leave bags unattended.
Baggage and Insurance
You should ask about your free baggage allowance when you book your airline ticket. If you exceed baggage weight restrictions, you may have to pay a considerable amount of money. Typically passengers are allowed 20 kg plus hand luggage. Some charter flights only allow 15 kg plus hand luggage, so do check beforehand.
You will usually be offered the chance to buy travel insurance when you book your airline ticket. It is worthwhile investing this small sum to save yourself time and more money should you need to replace lost items.
Remember to make a list of everything you pack, so that if your luggage is lost you can account for lost items. If you have bought anything new before your journey, remember to keep the receipts - the insurance company may ask you to provide them for items lost in transit. In the unlikely event that your baggage is delayed when you arrive into the UK, it is also a good idea to pack any essential overnight items in your hand luggage, i.e. toiletries, change of clothing etc.
REMEMBER TO KEEP ALL IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT PAPERS IN YOUR HAND LUGGAGE.
Arrival in Britain
When you leave the aircraft follow the signs marked Arrivals, the procedure is then as outlined below :
Immigration > Baggage Reclaim > Customs
How to Pass Through Immigration
On arrival at a British port or airport, students from overseas will be asked to produce the following documentation:• Passport - valid for six months
• Entry Certificate/ visa
• Evidence of financial support (bankers draft, bank statement, letter from official sponsor)and either the bankers draft for your fees or the receipt to show you have paid your fees on line to LJMU
• Most recent letter of acceptance from Liverpool John Moores University
• Most recent examination results (originals or certified copies)
If you do not have any of the above documentation you may be refused entry into the UK.
How to Collect Your Baggage
After passing through Passport Control, you will be able to collect your Baggage.
The baggage area can be quite confusing, as luggage from different flights comes through at the same time.
The luggage comes through on a carousel system and at each carousel there is a sign indicating the flight number and departure point of the plane whose luggage is being unloaded there.
All you have to do is find the appropriate carousel and wait.
It will help if you have clearly marked your luggage so that it is easily identified.
When you have all your luggage, load it onto a luggage trolley and move on.
How to Pass Through Customs
In most airports in Britain you will find three channels one of which will be applicable to you There is one sign in red, one in green, and another in blue:
BLUE: The blue channel is for people whose journey originated within the European Union (EU).
GREEN: The green channel is for people who are sure they have no goods to declare. It is subject to random checks by a Customs Officer.
If you are travelling from outside the EU, and have nothing to declare, you should go through this channel.
RED: The red channel should be used if you are carrying items that need to be declared.
If a Customs Officer asks you to open, unpack and repack your own luggage, you are required by law to do so.
Making Telephone Calls
Once you have arrived in Britain, you may want to make a telephone call, it is important to let your family know that you have arrived safely.
There are usually distinct signs for public telephones in all airports and stations, and in some large shops and public buildings, such as post offices. In the street, telephone boxes are glass fronted and marked 'Telephone'. Instructions on how to use a coin-operated phone should be clearly displayed beside it, but if you are not sure of how to use the telephone ask someone nearby for help. To make a call you can use any of the following coins: 10p, 20p, 50p, £1. British telephone numbers are preceded by an area code written in brackets. For example the area code for Liverpool is (0151).
The number for Emergency Services in the UK is 999 and this is a free phone number.
For international calls, you will need to dial the international prefix 00 followed by the country code that you are calling, these are normally listed next to the telephone. If you have any problems getting through, dial 100 for the operator.
SIM cards for mobile phones can be bought from any reputable mobile phone shop in Liverpool city centre.
Please remember if you have promised to inform someone in Liverpool of your arrival, to telephone him or her as soon as you arrive in Britain.
Money
It is advisable to bring with you a small amount of money (e.g. £100 cash) to cover your immediate needs on arrival in the UK such as meals and buying pots and pans etc..
Do not carry more cash than you require for daily expenses. If cash is stolen, you will probably not be able to get it back.
You may wish to have travellers' cheques and, if so, it is important to keep a record of the serial numbers on your travellers' cheques, so that if they are lost you can inform your bank.Be sure to keep the serial numbers in a separate place from your cheques. In particular, make sure that your bank and credit cards are well out of sight and carried in a safe place.
Exchange money only at official agencies (Bureau de Change).
Once you have opened a bank account in the UK, your parents / sponsor will be able to transfer funds to your account by telegraphic transfer. Please remember that you should allow at least a week from opening an account and paying in your bankers draft before you can draw cash from the bank.
Handbags and Luggage
Please remember to carry wallets and purses on your person, in a jacket, or in a handbag.
Never leave any of your luggage unattended, and do not allow anyone else to carry it for you. There is a risk that someone may try to put illegal substances, such as drugs, into your luggage, and in Britain the penalty for this is imprisonment.
If you have any other valuables, such as jewellery or cameras, remember to keep a record of serial numbers. Do inform the local police if you lose any valuable items.
Documents
Please remember to keep your passport, travel tickets and important documents in a safe place.
It is sensible to have a photocopy of your passport in a separate safe place, this will make it far easier to replace should the need ever arise.
If you lose your passport please inform the local police.
Left Luggage and Lost Property Offices
If you have any heavy luggage, you may not want to carry it around with you. You can leave luggage in a 'Left Luggage Office' at most large stations and airports, for a small charge and collect it later. Remember to keep the receipt so that you can reclaim your luggage, and to check the hours of opening, or you may find that your luggage has been locked away and that you cannot reclaim it for several hours. Some railway stations have coin-operated lockers.Should you lose any of your luggage during your journey, it is important to notify the officials of your airline immediately. If you lose anything in the airport or railway station, go immediately to the Lost Property Office, as it may already have been found and handed in. Should you lose luggage in the street, or suspect that it has been stolen rather than lost, find the nearest Police Officer who will advise you as to what you should do.
