UK visa applicants: register with the police!
Non-EEA nationals coming to the UK to collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and begin employment in the UK should remember to check whether or not they need to register with the police in order to be fully compliant with the conditions of their stay in the UK.
Previously, the need to register with the UK police was stated on their BRP. Following changes made to the UK Immigration Rules earlier in 2016, however this is no longer the case and the notification now appears on the 30-day temporary travel vignette instead.
The requirement of registering with the police can be stated on the vignette using various wording, examples of these are as follows: ‘Pol Reg’, ‘Pol Registration’, ‘Police Registration within 7 days of UK entry’, ‘Police Registration within 7 days of arrival’ or ‘Police Registration within 7 days of arrival in the UK’.
Should an applicant be required to register with the police, they must do so within seven days of arriving in the UK.
In order to register with the police, an applicant will need to show their vignette alongside the letter they received confirming their successful application for a UK visa.
This development means that the instruction to register with the police may easily be overlooked by applicants who are eager to collect their BRP and thereby finish their UK visa process.
Smith Stone Walters advises that UK visa applicants closely examine their 30 day travel vignette prior to arriving in the UK in order to ensure that they do not fail to register with the UK police within the designated time frame.
Click here for more information on how to register with the police or contact Smith Stone Walters for up to date and friendly advice on your UK visa application.
