What will happen on the day?

This page explains the process you will follow when making an application at one of our public enquiry offices. The processes vary slightly, depending on which office you attend, but the following is a general guide to what you can expect.

The times given are approximate ones for Croydon and will depend on the number and type of applications we receive on the day. Your application might take longer. At our other public enquiry offices, your wait might be shorter.

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Arriving at the public enquiry office

Follow the signs to the public enquiry office. (At Croydon, follow the signs to 'Appointments'.) You must have booked an appointment in advance.

If you are applying at Croydon, please arrive with photocopies of your supporting documentation, and bring your original documents with you so that we can compare them with the photocopies. If you do not do this, we may take longer to consider your case. Photocopies do not need to be notarised or certified by a solicitor.

Security - 5 to 15 minutes

For your own safety, you will go through an airport-style security check. Your personal possessions will all be scanned, and any sharp or dangerous objects will be taken away. Please do not bring penknives.

There is nowhere for you to leave luggage. If you bring large bags, you will need to carry them with you at all times. We strongly recommend that you do not bring luggage into our Cardiff office, because it as a small waiting area. There are lifts at the Liverpool office. At Croydon, lifts are available for the elderly, people with young children and people with disabilities. The Solihull, Glasgow, Cardiff and Sheffield offices are on the ground floor.

Reception - 10 to 15 minutes

You will be called to a counter at reception, where an officer will complete some preliminary checks on your application. Please have all your documents ready. The officer will tell you whether your application can be considered in the public enquiry office today, or whether you must apply elsewhere or provide extra documentation.

To ensure that you are prepared when you arrive, please look at the information on this website, read the forms carefully and phone our immigration enquiry bureau on 0870 606 7766 if you have any queries.

If you are applying as a student under Tier 4 of the points-based system, please ensure that your education provider is a registered sponsor. We will refuse your application if your education provider is not registered.

We will only accept original documents. Any computer printouts must be validated. For example, a printout of your bank statement must be validated by your bank (which means that someone at the bank must officially stamp and sign the printout).

If your application can be considered on the day, your application form will be stamped and you will be directed to the payment desk. At Croydon, we will give you a ticket and tell you where you need to go. Please keep this ticket handy, as you will need to show it to both staff and security throughout your time in the public enquiry office.

If you need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application, we will remind you that you must provide your biometric information.

Paying your application fee - 10 to 15 minutes

For information about application fees and how you can pay them, see the How much does it cost? page. You should ensure that we will accept the method of payment you wish to use.

If you are paying with a credit card or debit card that is not in your name, the person named on the card must be present to authorise the transaction.

After payment, you will be called to a counter to have your application processed or (if you need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application) registered.

Registering your case - 5 to 15 minutes

If you need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application, we will register your application on our immigration database before you enrol your biometric information. You will be asked to wait until you are called to the biometric enrolment booth.

Enrolling your biometric information - 10 to 60 minutes

When your case has been registered, you will be called to provide your biometric information. We will ask you to sign an acknowledgement form, to confirm that you understand what you need to do. We will then ask you to place your fingers, followed by your thumbs, on a fingerprint scanner. When your fingerprints have been recorded, we will take a digital photograph of your face. You will then be asked to wait until you are called to a counter.

For general information about applying for biometric resident permits, the biometric enrolment process and customer journey, see our biometric enrolment leaflet (PDF 67K opens in a new window).

Considering your case - 20 to 90 minutes

At the counter, an officer will examine your papers and make a number of checks on our immigration databases. You will be asked questions about your application, and your case will be considered according to the current Immigration Rules and regulations.

When the officer has confirmed that your application can be processed, you will be asked to wait while your passport and documents are taken to another area.

We will then notify you of our decision on your application. If we approve your application, we will:

• insert your residence permit into your passport (see below), if you do not need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application; or
• tell you that you will receive your biometric residence permit by post, if you need one. We will not give you your biometric residence permit on the day of your appointment.

If we refuse your application, we will give you the appropriate notice of this, and tell you whether you have any right to appeal.

We continue to process applications until we have seen the last customer, but we lock the doors at closing time for security reasons. You will still be able to leave the building after this time.

Inserting a vignette into your passport - 30 to 60 minutes

If you do not need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application, we will:

• scan your passport; and
• insert a sticker (known as a 'vignette'), which states that you have permission to stay in the UK, into your passport.

The vignette will include the photograph that you have provided with your application. You will be called to a counter, where an officer will return your passport and documents. If you apply at our Cardiff office, your passport will be returned to your correspondence address by special delivery.

You should check your vignette to ensure that all the details are correct.

Issuing your biometric residence permit

If you do need to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application, we will not insert a vignette into your passport. Your biometric residence permit will not be issued on the day of your appointment - if your application is successful, we will send your permit to you by post within 7 working days. We advise you not to make any travel arrangements before you receive all of your documentation.