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United Kingdom Visa Processing Times & Consular SLA

Country: United Kingdom•Consular update: July 2026
Visa Fee$490 USD
Average SLA / Duration3 Weeks (3 to 4 weeks)
Approval Index86% Approval

Eligibility Requirements

Unconditional offer and Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor, 70 points on the Student Route scale, proof of funds (£1,529/mo London, £1,136/mo outside London for 9 months) held for 28 consecutive days, Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) payment (£776/year).

Documents Checklist Drawer

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number from a licensed sponsor
Proof of funds: £1,529/month in London (max £13,761) or £1,136/month outside London (max £10,224) held for 28 consecutive days
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) payment receipt (£776 per year of study for students)
Valid passport with at least 1 blank page
Tuberculosis (TB) test certificate (for applicants from listed countries)
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate (for sensitive postgraduate STEM subjects)
Proof of English proficiency (SELT IELTS 5.5+ or university assessment waiver)

Step-by-Step Filing Roadmap

1

Obtain unconditional offer and receive your CAS number from the UK university.

2

Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) online to access the NHS (£776/year).

3

Ensure the required maintenance funds have been held in your bank account for 28 consecutive days.

4

Complete online visa application and pay the £490 application fee.

5

Schedule appointment at a VFS Global or TLScontact center to submit biometric data.

6

Attend credibility interview if randomly selected.

7

Receive passport vignette or digital eVisa status granting entry to the UK.

Core Rejection Reasons

  • •Maintenance funds falling below the required amount even for a single day during the 28-day cycle.
  • •Inconsistencies or failure to pass the UKVI Credibility Interview.
  • •The CAS letter being expired, withdrawn, or containing name/passport mismatches.

Guide Navigation

1. Fees and Processing Times2. Eligibility Benchmarks3. Necessary Checklist files4. Roadmap Steps5. Refusal Prevention
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