Are domestic UKVCAS Application Centres open?

UKVCAS have now resumed their normal service for booking biometrics appointments. UKVCAS customers can now book an appointment straight after submitting their application and do not have to wait for an invitation to do this.

Students registering with UKVCAS as part of their Student Visa application will either need to book a biometric appointment or submit biometric information via the IDV app. If using the IDV app, applicants must wait for an email from UKVCAS confirming the next steps. This is because UKVI are assessing which students are eligible for biometric reuse and able to use the IDV app, or which still need to attend an appointment. The IDV app will allow some Student applicants to upload their photo and documents via the app rather than attending an appointment.

Service Support Centres are currently operating in restricted circumstances. At present, most applicants will be sent an email with a link to online portal when they would have originally been required to attend an SSC. All supporting evidence can be uploaded via the portal and will include submission of a ‘selfie’ as part of the biometric information required.

Applicants are asked to not attend an appointment if they have coronavirus symptoms.

Note: You may experience difficulty booking a free appointment with UKVCAS. UKVCAS appear to release many more charged appointments and free appointments are booked up quickly. Just after 9am appears to be the best time to obtain a free appointment although this is far from certain.