Before you arrive

This page explains what you need to do before you visit one of our public enquiry offices. We might not consider your application if you do not follow the guidance on this page.

Before you book an appointment, you should ensure that your application can be considered at a public enquiry office. See What services are available?, and also check the details for the office that you wish to attend.

The process at the public enquiry office normally takes up to 90 minutes but may take longer - so if you are coming by car, you should make appropriate arrangements for parking. After the closing time for each office, you will not be able to leave the building and come back. See What will happen on the day? to find out how long you are likely to have to spend at the office.

Book an appointment

Public enquiry offices consider applications by appointment only. For more information, see the Booking an appointment page. If you arrive without an appointment, you will not be seen.

Appointments are limited. If your visa expires soon and no appointments are available, you should send your application by post as quickly as possible.

Before you book your appointment, you should check that:

• you know which application form to complete;
• you can download and complete the application form before your appointment date - if you have any questions about the form, you should book your appointment by phone and ensure you have the form with you when you phone; and
• you know which documents you will need to provide in support of your application, and you know that you will be able to obtain them all before your appointment date. If you are applying at the Croydon office, please the original documents and photocopies of them with you, or consideration of your case could be delayed. Photocopies do not need to be notarised or certified by a solicitor.

When can I make my application?

We will consider any valid application to extend your visa, regardless of when you make it.

If you are applying for settlement (also known as 'indefinite leave to remain', you will normally need to have been living in the UK for a specified length of time before you apply. For information about the qualifying periods, see the relevant section of this website. You should not apply for settlement more than 28 days before the end of your qualifying period.

If your temporary permission to stay in the UK will expire before you qualify for settlement, you will need to extend your visa before you can apply for settlement.

The application form

When you attend your appointment, you must have the correct application form with you, fully completed and with all the required documents. If you do not, your application might not be processed that day.

You can download the application form, and guidance on completing it, from the relevant section of this website.

If you are applying under Tier 4 of the points-based system, and you are studying at a Highly Trusted sponsor, we might (depending on your nationality) consider that you are a 'low-risk' candidate - see the Documents for Tier 4 (General) and Documents for Tier 4 (Child) pages. If you are low-risk, you do not need to provide as much evidence to support your application, but we recommend that you bring all of the documents listed as required in our guidance. If we need to see a document and you do not have it, we might not be able to complete your application during your appointment.

Life in the UK test

If you want to apply for settlement at a public enquiry office, your appointment should be at least 2 working days after you have passed the Life in the UK test. This will allow time for the test result to be sent to us electronically. If the test result is not on our system when you attend your appointment, we will not be able to decide your application on the same day.

If your current visa expires less than 2 working days after you take the test, you should post your application form to the address given on the form.