Visa Cancellation

• Students not registering to start studies on time
• When studies are suspended or are no longer being taken with attendance.
• Studies being completed early

You can expect the Doctoral College Office or Student Records to inform you if visa sponsorship is withdrawn; if you are unsure whether this has been done or is due to be done please check with the relevant office. 

When UKVI cancel a visa it essentially shortens the length of your remaining visa permission.  Following the withdrawal of sponsorship there can be significant delays in UKVI cancelling a visa (sometimes up to many months). While the visa continues, it allows you to remain in the UK, however a cancelled visa cannot be used to re-enter the UK. While a visa is liable to be cancelled it is not generally advisable to travel away from the UK with an intention to soon return or rely on the Student permission to be able to switch/extend visa after return (e.g. Graduate route).  The visa may be cancelled while you are away or by a Border Officer when you try to re-enter. If that occurs you would need some other visa permission to be able to re-enter the UK which may prevent plans to switch (e.g. Graduate route).

A visa cancellation notice may be served by email or letter, generally UKVI will use email for Student visa decisions.  UKVI will use contact details they have on record eg given in a previous visa application or those from your digital account holding eVisa details which you should keep up to date.   Generally, you should receive notice of visa cancellation and the new visa end date of at least 4 months or 60 days depending on the circumstances*. eVisa details should also reflect the new end date. It is advisable to make plans to either leave the UK or switch/extend your visa (if appropriate) within these timescales.  If in the meantime you have switched or extended your visa, this will replace your old permission and there is no need for UKVI to take any cancellation action.

*There are some situations where UKVI may immediately cancel a visa or postpone cancellation:

• If a student fails to register or continue with studies and the University is unable to establish any contact with the student UKVI may cancel a visa with immediate effect.
• UKVI may extend any cancellation period if they are aware that there are good reasons for the student being unable to travel eg pregnancy, ill health, a child completing important exams within the next few months.

If a student has any visa dependants UKVI would typically cancel the dependant visa in line with any decision on the Student visa.

When UKVI cancel a visa they do not refund Immigration Health Surcharge for the period of visa permission taken away.