Hello, my daughter is STILL waiting for her CAS from Durham to begin her student VISA process. I am trying to get it all together so she is ready to go once we do but having trouble with the biometrics thing. I cannot figure out where to go or what the process is. I cannot go anywhere and ask a question, must have appointment, website is no help. I doubt she will get her VISA in time now & am very stressed. Every time I call Durham is says call failed, I can’t even call them & ask but likely they won’t know the biometrics process here. Can anyone take me through this process? Thank you!
The biometrics appointment is easy. But you can’t get it until you have the CAS. It will be at anyone of these sites:
https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC
@VickiSoCal Ok, so finally I am getting somewhere, lol - I already made an apptmnt online for my DD, but they didn’t have an opening until 8/16 which will really dealy things. It sounds like you are saying that I can’t get it until I get the CAS, do you mean I cant make the apptmtn until she applies online for her VISA? Can I keep the apptmnt I made as it will likely be earlier than if we wait however longer it takes to get her CAS? I am just confused about when we actually make the biometrics apptmtn and about the return shipping for the original documents.Thank you!
I’m not sure. We made the appointment at the same time as filling out the Visa app. But St. Andrews got us the CAS earlier than this.
Just checked. We sent docs off on 6/16 last year, returned on 6/29.
That’s great it was so fast, Durham is dragging their heels. Will probably have to pay $ to expedite, ugh.
@cloudysmom - it is stressful, but somehow it all works out!
I looked up son’s info from 2016 for UK student visa and here are my notes so maybe something here will save you time in the future days.
-7/7/2016 don’t recall if he needed CAS for this, but he did the online purchase of his IHS Immigrant Health Insurance for their NHS. In 2016 the cost was $228. I believe the payment was made to a company called “World Pay” and my MasterCard company was unclear as to whether or not this was legit. It is important to document the reference numbers given as they are needed on the visa app. I assume his school told him to sign up for this prior to app.
-7/22 he had his biometrics appt. It was pretty quick, but they left off his middle name and it is critical that the name on all documents match the passport. HIs school helped sort that out with the UK visa office.
-7/25 he went online to prepay ($53 in 2016) for the round trip courier service used to send and then to receive back his visa from the local UK consulate. We were instructed to use the one in New York. I assume this is a regional decision.
7/25 he sent off his visa app (and made a copy of exactly what was sent should it get lost). You will need a passport photo taken within the last 3 months on a light background to send with visa app.
HIs visa arrived in about 2 weeks. We were impressed with the quick turnaround. When it arrived, I totally freaked out. It said entry clearance valid from 9/9/2016 to 9/10/2016 and he wasn’t going until mid Sept. Silly me…I forgot they write the day and then the month!
If you have not seen it, the visa app will ask you to list date of travel and country visited for all travel outside of your home country excluding the UK.
His school gave us a link to a UK student immigration website that offered a few good tips. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk
Here is another link I had noted: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk
I have faith that this will all work itself out and then you can start worrying about packing!
Agreeing with @Kajon: things work differently in the UK, and they really do tend to work out. Remember also that, for the UK university system A level results have just come out & the system is swamped as everybody finds out who did / did not make their offers. It will settle down again shortly!
A level results aren’t until later in August - the 16th this year.
Oops…tx @Conformist1688 (can you guess that nobody in my immediate orbit is currently waiting for results?!)
Main point still holds though- in the UK framework it’s early days yet / no need to panic 
Scottish exam results were yesterday.
@Kajon Thanks for all the great information, I appreciate you doing all that! The timeline is very interesting. Sounds like the biometrics apptmnt could really delay things though.
@collegemom3717 @Conformist1688 @VickiSoCal I guess you’re right, they are busy now. Someone else messaged me & said things work slower there. So want this VISA thing done!