Making a Tier 4 (General) application

17 June 2013

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Warning: This information sheet is based on the Immigration Rules, and on the policy guidance and application forms issued by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for Tier 4 (General) applications. We update it as soon as possible after any changes. However, if you have printed this information sheet, we advise that you check on our website that it is still the most recent edition.

This information sheet is based on:

• version 04/13 of the UKBA's Tier 4 of the Points Based System - Policy Guidance [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf] and
• the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications (valid from 28 May 2013) [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4]

What's new?

• We have added information about applying online to the relevant sections, in particular to the leave to remain section of Which application form should I use?
• We have added a warning about printing your application form to the section How do I submit my application if I am applying in the UK?
• We have amended references to the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] to reflect the new guidance, dated 28 May 2013.
• We have added a link to the Home Office's visa processing times tool to the entry clearance section of When should I apply?
• We have updated the Assessment of your English language ability section to include information about TOEIC certificates.
• We have added information about credibility interviews to the entry clearance section of Do I have to go for an interview as part of my application?

Who is this information sheet for?

This information sheet is for you if you want to apply for immigration permission under Tier 4 (General). In this information sheet, we sometimes need to distinguish between the two different types of Tier 4 (General) application, depending on where you are applying:

Entry clearance

This means applying in your home country, sometimes called a visa application

Leave to remain

This means applying in the UK, sometimes informally called a "visa extension"

If you are less than 16 years old, you can apply for permission to study at an independent fee-paying school, but you must apply as a Tier 4 (Child) student, not under Tier 4 (General). Ask your school for information about how to apply.

If you are 16 or 17 years old, you can sometimes choose to apply either as a Tier 4 (Child) student or as a Tier 4 (General) student. This will depend on:

• the type of institution (school, college or university) where you intend to study
• the type of Tier 4 sponsor licence the institution holds: a Tier 4 (Child) licence or a Tier 4 (General) licence or both
• the level of the course.

Again, if you are applying as a Tier 4 (Child), speak to your institution directly.

If you want to study a short course in the UK, you may be eligible to apply to enter the UK as a 'student visitor' (or as a 'child visitor' if you are under 18 years old). For immigration purposes, a short course is any course which lasts no more than six months or an English language course which lasts no more than 11 months. See Making a student immigration application as a student visitor [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/immigration_student_visitor.php].

If you are applying as a Tier 4 (General) student and you have family (spouse, partner and/or children) who want to apply for immigration permission as your dependants, see Your family's immigration [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.php].

If you are a national of the European Economic Area (EEA), or of Switzerland, see EEA and Swiss students [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/eea.php].

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Introduction

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is the department within the Home Office which is responsible for immigration, and staff within the UKBA process all immigration applications.

If you want to come to the UK to study, or to extend your stay for further studies, you need to apply to the UK immigration authorities under Tier 4 of the Points Based System (PBS).

Usually, you must meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules which are in force on the date that you submit your immigration application. The details in this information sheet are based on the most recent changes to the Immigration Rules which came into force on 6 April 2013.

If you want to make a successful Tier 4 (General) application, it is extremely important that:

• before you apply, you read and understand the UKBA's Tier 4 of the Points Based System - Policy Guidance [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf] - this information sheet is based on version 04/13 of the policy guidance, to be used for all Tier 4 applications made on or after 6 April 2013.
• you check that you meet all the requirements before you apply
• you provide evidence in the exact format required by the UKBA, as explained in the policy guidance and on the application form
• you complete all sections of the form, fully and accurately
• you allow plenty of time to collate the documents required to make your application
• your application does not come under the general grounds for refusal
• you check with an adviser at the institution (school, college or university) where you intend to study, for any further changes that might affect your application.

You should wait until you have obtained your immigration permission before you book any non-refundable tickets for travel.

You can download the following flowcharts to guide you through the application process:

Flowchart for Tier 4 applications made in your country of residence

Flowchart for Tier 4 applications made in the UK

Please note: these flowcharts are designed to act as a summary of the steps involved in applying for a Tier 4 visa, they do not contain detailed information about the Tier 4 requirements. It is therefore important to also read this information sheet about making a Tier 4 (General) application. The flowcharts by themselves do not contain enough information to make a successful Tier 4 application.

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I already have student immigration permission for the UK that is still valid. Do I really need to apply again?

In most cases, yes.

If you applied for your current immigration permission before Tier 4 was introduced on 31 March 2009, and it is still valid, you can use it to continue your full-time studies in the UK. If your permission will expire before the end of your new course, check with your institution that you will be able to apply to extend your stay under Tier 4 to complete the course. You will need to check that (a) they have a Tier 4 licence, and (b) the course is one for which they can sponsor you under Tier 4.

Otherwise, if you have a Tier 4 (General) visa that is still valid, you can use it to continue your full-time studies with the same Tier 4 sponsor if:

• they still have a Tier 4 sponsor licence; and
• the new course is one for which they are happy to continue sponsoring you under Tier 4; and
• they have not reported you to the UKBA as having finished your course, interrupted your studies, or having not enrolled. If they have reported you, it is likely that your visa has been "curtailed" and is no longer valid.

If you are in your home country, we strongly advise that you check these three issues specifically with your Tier 4 sponsor before you attempt to enter the UK using Tier 4 immigration permission issued for previous study. Furthermore, even if your existing immigration permission does allow you to enter the UK to continue your studies, it is often more straightforward to apply for a new Tier 4 visa for your new course before you travel to the UK. Your situation and intentions will be clearer to UK Border Force officials, and you will not need to make a leave to remain application to continue your course once you are back in the UK, which can be expensive and time-consuming.

If you are progressing to a new course with a new Tier 4 sponsor, and you are travelling outside the UK before you start the new course, it is safest to apply for and obtain your new Tier 4 leave before you leave the UK, or if you are visiting your home country, to apply for a new Tier 4 visa while you are there. You can use the UKBA's visa processing times tool [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries] to check currrent processing times in your home country.

If you cannot do either of the above, the UKBA has told us that you will be allowed to re-enter the UK using your current visa as long as you have a CAS from your new sponsor institution, and they are a Highly Trusted Sponsor on the UKBA's Register of Sponsors. If you rely on this provision, it is important that you carry a print-out of your CAS statement in your hand luggage, so you can show it to the Border Force Officer if they ask for evidence of your studies. You might also want to carry with you the relevant page of the UKBA's Register of Sponsors showing that your new institution is a Highly Trusted Sponsor.

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Where can I study as a Tier 4 (General) student?

As a Tier 4 (General) student, you can study at any school, college or university which has been granted a Tier 4 (General) sponsor licence by the UKBA. Only institutions with a Tier 4 sponsor licence can issue you with a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS), which you must obtain in order to apply for immigration permission as a Tier 4 (General) student.

Each institution granted a Tier 4 sponsor licence will be given one of the following sponsor ratings: Highly Trusted; A (Trusted); or B (Sponsor). The courses that an institution can offer to international students will depend upon their Tier 4 sponsor rating. Highly Trusted sponsors (HTS) can offer the widest range of courses.

You can check which institutions have a Tier 4 (General) or (Child) sponsor licence, and how they are rated, on the Register of Tier 4 Sponsors[www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation].

NOTE: Since 21 April 2011, Tier 4 sponsors with a B-rated licence cannot sponsor new students. They can sponsor existing students who need to apply for leave to remain in order for them to complete their course. From April 2012, all Tier 4 sponsors must have applied for HTS status.

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What can I study as a Tier 4 (General) student?

You can study a wide range of courses in the UK, but you must check that the course you want to study is at a high enough level.

Some different levels of study were previously allowed, if the CAS was issued before 21 April 2011. However, any CAS issued before this date is now invalid for a new application because a CAS is only valid for 6 months. If you need advice about a pending Tier 4 application based on a CAS issued before 21 April 2011, contact your Tier 4 sponsor for advice.

The levels of courses studied in the UK are defined by the following organisations:

• English language courses: Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) [www.linguanet-europa.org/plus/en/home.jsp] For your own information, you can assess your level of English using this website.
• Other courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF) [www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualifications-and-assessments/qualification-frameworks]
• Other courses in Scotland: The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) [www.scqf.org.uk/The%20Framework/]

For information as to how the different qualifications compare across the UK and Ireland refer to the following guide [www.scqf.org.uk/content/files/resources/Qualifications_can_cross_boundaries_leaflet_-_July_09.pdf].

Degrees and degree-level courses

Study which is part of a degree-level course you are studying in another country

Courses below degree-level

Pre-sessional courses

English language courses

Courses with a work placement

Re-sits and repeats

Student union sabbatical officers

Postgraduate doctors and dentists in training

Supplementary studies

 

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Is there a maximum time limit ("cap") on studying with a Tier 4 visa?

Yes. Before they can issue you the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, a Tier 4 sponsor will need to check that your application will not take you over the maximum time allowed, or "cap":

Below degree level: 3-year cap

Once you are 18 years old you cannot study in the UK on a course which leads to a qualification below degree-level for more than three years in total, as a Tier 4 (General) student. This limit applies to entry clearance applications submitted outside the UK, as well as to extension applications submitted within the UK.

This three year limit can be spent studying a single course or several courses as a Tier 4 (General) student. However, it does not include any time that you have already spent in the UK studying courses below degree level with the following types of immigration permission:

• as a student under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009
• as a Tier 4 (General) student when you were 16 or 17 years old
• as a Tier 4 (Child) student when you were 17 years old or under
• under any other category of the Immigration Rules.

Degree level: 5-year cap

Some time limits were introduced on 6 April 2012 for degree level study. Any new Tier 4 application must lead to you spending no more than five years on courses at degree level. All time you have had leave under Tier 4 (or as a pre-Tier 4 student) counts towards the 5 years, except for the short extra time you are given before the course (maximum one month) and after a course (maximum four months).

There are some exceptions to the 5-year cap:

• if you have successfully completed a UK degree course which was at least four years long, and you are making a Tier 4 application to study a Master's degree at a higher education institution (recognised body or institution in receipt of public funding), the limit is six years.
• if your Tier 4 application is to study a PhD at a higher education institution, there is no limit while you are studying the PhD.
• if you have already completed a PhD in the UK, any new Tier 4 application is subject to an 8-year limit (including courses below degree level).
• courses in architecture, medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and science, or music at a conservatoire, are exempt from the limit.
• if you have completed a UK degree, and your current Tier 4 application is to study certain legal qualifications (CPE, GDL/LPC or BPTC), the legal qualification is exempt from the limit

The UK Border Agency will not grant further leave to someone whose current Tier 4 application means they will exceed these limits, unless there are "compelling and compassionate circumstances", such as injury or disability.

Calculating the cap

We have created a flowchart to help students and institutions calculate whether an application for a further period of study will be possible under the cap:

Calculating the cap [www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/pdf/immigration/cap_flowchart.pdf]

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Where do I apply?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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When should I apply?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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How much does it cost to apply?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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What biometric data do I have to give?

As part of the Tier 4 (General) application, you are required to provide your biometrics (your facial photograph and fingerprints).

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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Do I have to go for an interview as part of my application?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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Do I need to have a medical check?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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Which application form should I use?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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The confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS)

You must have a CAS before making an application as a Tier 4 (General) student. A CAS is an electronic document generated by your Tier 4 sponsor after you have accepted an offer to study there. A CAS is valid for six months from the date on which it is assigned to you, therefore you must submit your Tier 4 application within this period.

Your institution will send you the the unique reference number that corresponds to your CAS. You must provide this reference number in the appropriate field on your Tier 4 application form. The UKBA official processing your application will check this electronic document to confirm that you have an unconditional offer from the institution for the course that you intend to study.

Your institution should also send you the information that they have used to generate your CAS. This is often referred to as a 'CAS statement' and it is normally sent to you by email. The CAS statement itself is not required for your Tier 4 application, but it gives you all of the information about your course and sponsor, and some of the information about money, that you need to complete your Tier 4 application form. If there are any discrepancies between the information used by the institution to generate the CAS and the information on your application form, then your application may be refused.

The CAS statement should tell you:

• the 14 digit reference number for the CAS, containing a mixture of letters and numbers
• the Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) of the institution where you intend to study
• the start and end dates of the course that you intend to study
• the title of the course that you intend to study
• the tuition fees for the first year of the course, or the entire course if it will last one year or less. If your CAS has been issued for further study on a course that you are already partway through, the "first year of study" means the first year of this new period of study.
• any tuition fees that you have already paid to the institution, if a separate receipt has not been issued
• any accommodation fees that you have already paid to the institution, if a separate receipt has not been issued
• any qualifications that the institution has used to make you an offer to study the course
• an assessment of your English language ability, including any formal qualifications considered
• if you have previously been granted immigration permission to study in the UK, either under Tier 4 or under the student rules that were in place before Tier 4 was introduced on 31 March 2009, it will confirm that the new course demonstrates academic progress from your previous study (unless you are being issued with a CAS in order to repeat part of your course or to re-sit exams).

In some cases, your institution may issue you with a single CAS to cover both a pre-sessional course and a main course of study. You may be issued with a single CAS if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You intend to study at a higher education institution (HEI)
• You have an unconditional offer for the pre-sessional course
• You have an unconditional offer for your main course (for example, this means you are not required to pass an exam at the end of your pre-sessional course).
• You intend to study both courses at the same institution, or at partner institutions with the same sponsor licence number (SLN)
• Your pre-sessional course will last less than three months
• Your main course will be at degree-level (NQF 6 / SCQF 9) or above
• There will be a gap of no more than one month between the end of your pre-sessional course and the start of your main course

If you are issued with a single CAS, it will give the start date as the start of your pre-sessional course and the end date as the end of your main course.

You may obtain a CAS from several different institutions. However, before you apply for your Tier 4 visa you must decide where you intend to study and use the CAS from that institution in your application. When your immigration permission has been granted, and you enter the UK, you must study at this institution (see below What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission?).

A higher education institution (HEI) is defined by the UKBA as an institution with degree awarding powers; or an institution in receipt of funding as a higher education institute from the Department of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland, the Higher Education Funding Council of England, the Higher Education Funding Council of Wales, or the Scottish Funding Council; or Richmond, the American International University in London which is recognised in The Education Order 2006.

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Applications by "low risk" students

Nationals of some countries do not need to provide evidence of their qualifications or their money when they apply for Tier 4 (General). The UKBA calls this the "differentiation agreements" for "low risk students".

You are a "low risk" student if you are applying for Tier 4 (General) to study at a Highly Trusted Sponsor, and:

• you are a national of Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, or USA, and you are applying for entry clearance in your country of nationality, or for leave to remain in the UK; or
• you hold a Hong Kong SAR passport or a British National (Overseas) passport and you are applying for entry clearance in Hong Kong, or for leave to remain in the UK; or
• you hold a Taiwan (ROC) passport with a residence card number, and you are applying for entry clearance in Taiwan, or for leave to remain in the UK.

In the next section we have provided specific information for "low risk" students where appropriate. If there is no specific information for "low risk" students, you must provide the standard evidence.

It is very important that as a "low risk" student you still obtain the evidence of your qualifications and your money, even though you do not need to send them. This is because the Home Office can request this evidence as as part of their decision process and they will refuse your application if you are unable to provide it within a specified timeframe. Page 28 of the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] says that a "low risk" applicant who is found to have a record on the Police National Computer (PNC) will be asked for evidence of their qualifications and money.

However, page 29 of the same document says that if a "low risk" applicant does submit evidence with their application which they did not need to submit due to the differentiation arrangements this evidence will not be considered. We therefore do not recommend that "low risk" nationals submit this evidence until requested to do so.

Note: The UKBA's Tier 4 of the Points Based System - Policy Guidance and the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications both state that "low risk" applicants do not have to submit evidence of their English language ability with their application. However, the Immigration Rules state that all students, including "low risk" students, must submit evidence of their English language ability with their application (if appropriate). See Assessment of your English language ability for more information about English language requirements.

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What evidence should I include with my application?

You should include all of the documents listed in the application forms and guidance, including those described below. You will also need to enclose a valid passport with your application, so ensure that your passport is not about to expire.

We strongly recommend that you photocopy all of your documents and keep a copy of your application form, before you send your application to the UKBA. You should keep these copies for your records in case there are any problems with your application.

Your qualifications

You must have original copies of all qualifications that your institution has listed in the 'Evidence used to obtain offer' section of your CAS. If this information is not included in your CAS statement, ask your institution for details.

"Low risk" students should keep the originals safe in case the UKBA asks to see them. All other applicants must submit the original certificates or transcripts of results.

If you submit any certificates or transcripts that are not in English (or Welsh), you must also include a translation of each. Read the section on Translations (below) for more details.

Assessment of your English language ability

Your English language ability will be assessed by your institution as part of the academic admissions process. Tier 4 sponsors must follow specific guidelines from the UKBA when assessing your English language ability before they can issue you with a CAS.

In most cases the institution must state in the CAS how they have assessed your English language ability and the level of ability that you have obtained in reading, writing, speaking and listening. You may need to take one of the UKBA's approved secure English language tests (SELTs) as evidence of your English language ability. The approved SELTs are listed in Appendix O of the Immigration Rules [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendixo/].

Note: Page 78 of the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] states that your application will be refused if you submit more than two TOEIC certificates as evidence of your English language.

Your Tier 4 sponsor is not required to assess your English language ability before issuing a CAS if:

• you are the national of a majority English-speaking country (see below) - your passport will act as evidence of this; or
• you have completed an academic qualification at degree level or above, which was taught in a majority English-speaking country (including the UK and Ireland but excluding Canada) - you must submit the original certificate or results transcript with your application as evidence; or
• you have successfully completed a course as a Tier 4 (Child) student, or as a student under the rules that were in force before Tier 4 and you were granted this permission whilst under the age of 18. The course must have been at least six months long, and must have ended no more than two years before the date on which your CAS is assigned. You must submit evidence of this course with your application; or
• you are studying a degree level course (or higher), your Tier 4 sponsor is a higher education institution and your Tier 4 sponsor believes that you are a "gifted student". This exemption is very unusual and can only be used if your course of study does not require a high level of English and if it would not be appropriate for you to do a pre-sessional course. Your CAS must explain that you are a "gifted student" and you must submit an original letter from your Tier 4 sponsor's academic registrar with your application. You must also carry this letter with you when you enter the UK.

If you do not fall into one of the categories above you may need to provide evidence that you have a minimum level of English language ability. The level of English language ability that you need to demonstrate, and the evidence you must provide, will depend on:

• the course that you wish to study
• the type of institution that has issued your CAS.

If you wish to study a course at degree-level (NQF level 6 / SCQF level 9) or above your English language ability must be at a minimum CEFR level B2 in each of the four components AND:

• If your institution is an HEI (see above) they can choose how to assess this. The UKBA's policy guidance states that in this situation, you do not have to submit any evidence of your English language ability with your immigration application
OR
• If your institution is not an HEI (see above) they must assess this using a SELT. You must submit the relevant certificate as evidence with your immigration application, if you do not, your application will be refused.

If you wish to study a course below degree-level (below NQF level 6 / SCQF level 9), a pre-sessional course or an English language course:

• your English language ability must be at a minimum CEFR level B1 in each of the four components
AND
• your institution must assess this using a SELT - it does not matter what type of institution you wish to study at.

When you enter (or re-enter) the UK with Tier 4 leave, the Border Force Officer must be satisfied that you speak English at the required level, without needing an interpreter. The Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] confirms on page 138 that Officers "must not give [Tier 4 migrants] a test of any kind but rather follow the normal line of questioning."

Majority English-speaking countries are defined by the UKBA as: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Tinidad and Tobago; United States of America. The UKBA will assess your nationality using your passport.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

If your course leads to a qualification at Master's or doctorate level, or a postgraduate qualification abroad, ask the university whether you need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance certificate for the course. This is a certificate issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which gives you security clearance to study certain subject areas. These subject areas relate to where the knowledge gained may have application in the development of weapons of mass destruction (for example, certain science subjects, mathematics, engineering, technology or medicine).

Your institituion must confirm in your CAS whether you require an ATAS clearance certificate, or not. If you do, you must apply to the FCO for your ATAS clearance certificate before you submit your immigration application.

You can check the list of subject areas that require an ATAS clearance certificate on the FCO website [www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme].

Letter from your parents if you are under 18 years old

If you submit an application as a Tier 4 (General) student when you are 16 or 17 years old, you must include a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to show that they support your application. Their letter must confirm all of the following:

• their relationship to you
• that they consent to your application as a Tier 4 (General) student
• that they consent to your living arrangements in the UK
• if you are applying for entry clearance, that they consent to your independent travel to the UK

If one parent or legal guardian has legal custody or sole responsibility of you, the letter must confirm this and be signed by that parent or legal guardian. If not, then both parents or legal guardians must give their consent and the letter must be signed by both parents or legal guardians.

Translations

If your application includes any documents which are not in English (or Welsh), you must also include an original translation of each document. Each translation must contain:

• confirmation from the translator / translation company that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the full name and signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
• the contact details of the translator or translation company

Consent of current or previous official financial sponsor, if they are a government or an international scholarship agency

If you have an official financial sponsor for your proposed studies, and this sponsor is a government or an international scholarship agency, their sponsorship letter (which you will need for evidence of your money, see below) should specifically state that they consent to your Tier 4 (General) application.

If you have previously received financial sponsorship from a government or international scholarship agency for your studies, and this sponsorship ended less than 12 months ago, you must also include a letter of consent from this financial sponsor.

Photographs

An entry clearance application requires one passport sized colour photograph of yourself, and a leave to remain application requires two. All photographs must comply with the UKBA's photo guidance [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/flr/photoguidance0409.pdf]

Police Registration Certificate

If you are applying in the UK, and your current or most recent immigration permission required you to register with the police, you must include the Police Registration Certificate with your application. Make sure it is up to date and shows your current address and current immigration status. For more information, see Protecting your Tier 4 immigration status [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/protect_t4_status.php#register]

If you are applying in your home country for entry clearance, and you still have a Police Registration Certificate issued in respect of a previous stay in the UK, you do not need to include it with your application.

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Your finances

You will need to show that you have enough money to pay for your course fees and your living costs while you are in the UK. The UKBA refers to this as the maintenance (funds) requirements.

How much money do I need?

The amount of money that you need to have for your maintenance will depend on:

• how long your courses lasts AND
• where you will be studying in the UK

Course fees
You must have enough money to pay for the course fees for the first year of your course, or the entire course if it is less than one year long. Your CAS will state the fees that you will be required to pay for the first year of your course, or the entire course if it is less than one year long. The UKBA will use the details in your CAS to confirm how much money you need for your course fees.

If you do not need to pay any course fees to your Tier 4 sponsor, your CAS will state that there are no fees due. For example, if you are applying to come to the UK as part of a 'study abroad' programme, and you have paid all of your course fees to your home institution, this will be confirmed in your CAS.

Living costs
You must have a fixed amount of money to cover your living costs.

If you will be studying in inner London (see below for the list of areas this covers) you will need £1,000 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. This means that if you will be studying in inner London for a course that lasts one month only, the minimum amount that you will need is £1,000. If you will be studying in inner London for a course lasting nine months or more, the maximum amount that you will need is £9,000.

If you will be studying in outer London or elsewhere in the UK, you will need £800 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of nine months. This means that if you will be studying in outer London or elsewhere in the UK for a course that lasts one month only, the minimum amount that you will need is £800. If you will be studying in outer London or elsewhere in the UK for a course lasting nine months or more, the maximum amount that you will need is £7,200.

If you will be studying for part of a month, this should be 'rounded up' to the next month when you are working out how much money you will need to demonstrate. For example, if your course will last five and a half months, you will need to have enough money for six months.

Inner London is defined as the following London boroughs: Camden; City of London; Hackney; Hammersmith and Fulham; Haringey; Islington; Kensington and Chelsea; Lambeth; Lewisham; Newham; Southwark; Tower Hamlets; Wandsworth; Westminster. If you do not know whether your institution is in one of these boroughs, you can enter the postcode of the main study address at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. This will tell you which borough it is in.

If your institution is not in one of the boroughs listed above, then you will be studying in outer London or elsewhere in the UK.

Can I have a lower amount of money?

Yes, in certain circumstances. If you have previously studied in the UK, you may be allowed to have a lower amount of money. It does not matter if you are applying for immigration permission to complete a course that you have already started, or to begin a new course.

You will be allowed to have a lower amount of money if you currently have valid immigration permission as:

• a Tier 4 (General) student
• a Tier 4 (Child) student
• a student under the immigration rules in place before 31 March 2009
• a Postgraduate doctor or dentist

AND

• during this immigration permission you finished a single course that was at least six months long, or
• you will continue to study on a single course and you have already completed at least six months of that course, or
• you are applying for leave to remain as a Tier 4 (General) student on the doctorate extension scheme.

Paragraph 158 of theTier 4 of the Points Based System - Policy Guidance [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf] confirms that "a Tier 4 (General) student can qualify for the reduced maintenance levels whether he/she is applying from inside the UK or from overseas".

Students who benefit from this provision are said to have an 'established presence' in the UK. If you have an established presence, you will need to have enough money to pay the course fees for the first year of your course (or the entire course if it will be less than one year) plus money to cover two months' living costs. This means that the maximum amount you will need to have for living costs is:

• £2,000 if you will be studying in inner London
• £1,600 if you will be studying elsewhere in the UK.

If you do not meet all the criteria for an established presence, you must show that you have the full amount of money required, as described above. There are two exceptions: for students who could not finish their course either because their college has closed, and for those interrupting their studies because their sponsor's licence has been revoked. For more information, see Tier 4 sponsor licence problems, and colleges that close. [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/licenceproblems.php#newapp]

The immigration rule about established presence (Appendix C, paragraph 14) and the relevant paragraph in the Tier 4 policy guidance (paragraph 158) confirm that you can only have established presence if your relevant immigration permission is still valid.

What if I have already paid some of my course fees, or fees for accommodation to my institution?

You can deduct the following from the total amount of money that you need as part of your immigration application:

• money that you have already paid to your Tier 4 sponsor towards your course fees, and
• up to £1,000 that you have already paid to your Tier 4 sponsor for your accommodation fees, if you will be living in university or college accommodation.

You cannot deduct any advance payment for any other type of housing, nor can you adjust the amounts if you will have no housing costs.

Your CAS may include details of any money paid to your institution. If not, you will need to provide an official receipt issued by your institution. It must be an original paper receipt confirming how much money you have paid towards your course fees and/or your accommodation fees.

If you are a "low risk" student, you should obtain the receipt, but you do not need to include it with your initial application.

If the total amount that you are required to show the UKBA is more than the amount that you have have paid to your institution for course fees and for accommodation fees (up to a maximum of £1,000) then you must have the rest of the money required.

What financial documents should I include?

If you are a "low risk" student, you should obtain the evidence of your money in the format explained below, but you do not need to include it with your initial application. All other applicants must include the evidence with their application.

Evidence of your money must meet specific requirements. If it does not, your immigration application may be refused.

As evidence of your money, you must use:

• personal bank or building society statements, or
• a building society passbook, or
• a certificate of deposit (see below), or
• a letter from your bank confirming your funds, or
• a letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that you have a loan that is provided by the national government, the state or regional government or a government sponsored student loan company or that is part of an academic or educational loans scheme. (If you have obtained a loan from a different source (such as from a bank) in order to finance your studies then you must transfer the funds into your own bank account (or that of your parents or legal guardian) and wait 28 days before using one of the other forms of evidence listed above.)

A certificate of deposit is issued by a bank to confirm that the named person has deposited or invested a specific amount of money. Certificates of deposit are not listed as acceptable evidence in the immigration rules or the Tier 4 policy guidance, but Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] confirms on page 90-91 that a certificate of deposit will be accepted if it meets all the following requirements:

• the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application;
• at least 28 days must have elapsed between the date of the deposit and the date of issue of the certificate;
• there must be no wording on the document which indicates the funds are frozen or otherwise inaccessible.

Bank accounts and bank statements

Paragraph 1B, Appendix C of the Immigration Rules lists the information that must be included on any bank statements you use in your application.

Maintenance must be in the form of cash funds. You cannot use evidence of other types of finances, such as shares, bonds or a pension fund. You also cannot use an overdraft facility.

The full amount of money that you need must be in the account for 28 days up to to the date of the closing balance. This means that the account must not drop below the amount that you need to show at any time during the 28 day period. If it does your immigration application may be refused.

Furthermore, the closing balance must not be more than 31 days old on the date that you submit your application; or if you are submitting a letter which confirms that you have a loan it must not be dated more than six months before the date on which you make your application.

A bank account can be in your name, or in your parent's or legal guardian's name, and it can be a joint account you hold with someone else. You can use more than one account if necessary, and you can use a combination of your account(s) and your parent's or legal guardian's account(s). If you are relying on a loan, the loan must be in your name only, (see the information above about loans).

You can use an overseas bank account. However, if your funds are not in pounds sterling, you should convert the closing balance and write this sum on the document that you are using as evidence of your finances. The UKBA uses the OANDA website [www.oanda.com] to convert currencies into pounds sterling, so you should use this exchange rate too.

Online statements must include all the standard required information, and must either be stamped by the bank on each page).

An online statement may have a "date of issue" that is later than the last transaction shown in the statement. According to the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] (page 92), an entry clearance officer or caseworker has the discretion to judge whether the balance is likely to have fallen between the last transaction and the date of issue, and whether this extrapolated lower balance would mean you do not meet the maintenance requirement. The guidance for UKBA staff says:

Banks will often stamp electronic statements with a 'date of issue' stamp. You may accept this as the date of the closing balance but where there is a gap between the last transaction date and the date of issue stamp, you must consider the type of account and the frequency of transactions. For example, if the last transaction was two weeks before the date of issue stamp and the account is a savings account where transactions are infrequent, then you may accept that the balance will not have changed. If, however, the account is a current account where there are daily or weekly transactions, you must ask your senior caseworker for advice.

Appendix P of the Immigration Rules contains lists of financial institutions in Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka that verify financial documents to their satisfaction, and which can therefore be used in immigration applications. There are also lists of unacceptable instituions in Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan and the Philippines. If you use documents from an unacceptable financial institution your application will be refused. It is always safest to use documents from an acceptable financial institution if possible.

If you use documents from a financial institution that is not on either list (where both lists exist), or from a country that does not have such lists then the UKBA will verify financial documents on a case-by-case basis and may refuse your application if the outcome of such checks is not satisfactory.

If you wish to use a bank account in your parent's or guardian's name or names, you must also include evidence of their relationship to you. A "low risk" student should obtain the evidence, but does not need to include it with their inittial application. All other applicants should include the evidence with their application.

This evidence of your relationship with your parent(s) or legal guardian can be:

• your original birth certificate, or a notarised copy, showing the name of your parent or parents whose bank account you are using for your immigration application
• if you are adopted, the original certificate of adoption, or a notarised copy, showing your name and the name of your parent or parents whose bank account you are using for your immigration application
• if you have a legal guardian, an original court document, or notarised copy, which shows the name of your guardian whose bank account you are using for your immigration application

If you do not have any of the above, but you have a government-issued household register showing your name and your parent or parents' name(s), the Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] confirms on page 101 that this is acceptable evidence of your relationship. This option is not listed on the application form, nor in the Tier 4 policy guidance, but in the above guidance UKBA staff are instructed to accept it.

The same page of this guidance also instructs UKBA staff to accept "whatever document a country issues and not restrict it only to those documents specifically called 'birth certificates'." Therefore you can use whatever official document your country of nationality issues as evidence of its nationals' birth and family relationships, even if it is not called a 'birth certificate'. However, this provision is only for people whose country of nationality does not issue birth certificates, if your country of nationality does issue birth certificates then you must submit this as evidence of your relationship to your parent(s).

You must also provide an original signed letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), confirming the relationship between you, and confirming that they consent to the funds being available to you for study in the UK.

What if I have an official financial sponsor?

An official financial sponsor is defined in the Tier 4 policy guidance as:

• the UK government
• your home government
• the British Council
• any international organisation
• an international company (the UKBA has not defined 'international company' but it seems to mean a company with a trading presence (an office) in more than one country)
• any university
• an Independent School

If you receive funding from any of the above sources, you will need to obtain a letter from them confirming how much money they will contribute towards your course fees and living costs, (unless your official financial sponsor is also your Tier 4 sponsor and they have included details of your financial sponsorship in your CAS). This letter must show:

• your name
• the name and contact details of the official financial sponsor
• the date of the letter
• the length of the sponsorship
• the amount of money the sponsor is giving to you, or a statement that all course fees and living costs will be covered.

If you are a a "low risk" student, you should obtain this letter and keep it safe, but you do not need to include it with your initial application. All other applicants must include the letter with their application.

If your official financial sponsor is not covering all of your course fees and living costs, you must have the rest of the money required.

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What are "criminal convictions"?

The application form requires you to state any criminal convictions, including traffic offences, that you have obtained in any country, and to provide details. This is because the Immigration Rules include provision to refuse the application of someone with certain criminal convictions, under the general grounds for refusing (see next section). Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4] confirms on page 13 that an entry clearance officer or caseworker should check the Police National Computer for any record of the applicant.

You are not required to obtain or include any specific evidence relating to the convictions.

For further details about the types of convictions that you must declare, see the UKBA guidance on good character [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/britishcitizenship/eligibility/goodcharacter/].

If you have ever lived in Northern Ireland, you will need to confirm this when you complete your application and the UKBA will contact you and ask you to complete a DAT1 form. The form is an authorisation to run a criminal records check with the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

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What are the "general grounds for refusing" and "breaches of immigration conditions"?

The Immigration Rules include provision for an application to be refused under the "general grounds for refusing". The UKBA has detailed internal guidance on the general grounds for refusing [www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/general-grounds-refusing/], with separate guidance for applications in your home country (entry clearance) or in the UK (leave to remain). The guidance for leave to remain applications summarises that UKBA staff should be checking applications for:

"...evidence of any adverse

• behaviour (using deception including false representation, fraud, forgery, non-disclosure of material facts or failure to cooperate)
• character, conduct or associations (criminal history, deportation order, travel ban, exclusion, non-conducive to public good, national security)
• immigration history (breaching conditions, using deception in an application)."

Since 31 October 2011, the Immigration Rules include the provision to refuse an application by someone who has an outstanding unpaid invoice, issued since 1 November 2011, for National Health Service treatment incurred when they were an "overseas visitor". An "overseas visitor" is someone who is not entitled to free NHS treatment in the UK, other than emergency treatment. See Am I entitled to NHS treatment? [http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/keeping_healthy.php#entitled_nhs].

For an entry clearance application in your home country, there are additional general grounds for refusing related to some types of overstay in the UK, health issues, and (from 30 July 2012) for not attending an interview. The entry clearance application forms therefore include some questions about general matters not specifically related to your proposed studies, including questions about breaches of conditions (see below).

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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Can I apply in the UK?

The Immigration Rules only allow people who were last granted leave in certain immigration categories to make a Tier 4 application in the UK. These categories are:

• Tier 4 (General) Student
• Tier 4 (Child) Student
• Tier 1 (Post-study Work) Migrant
• Tier 2 Migrant
• Prospective Student

You can also make a Tier 4 application in the UK if you were last granted leave in one of the old immigration categories that were in place before the introduction of the Points Based System:

• Participant in the International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme)
• Participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme
• Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist
• Student
• Student Nurse
• Student Re-sitting an Examination
• Student Writing-Up a Thesis
• Student Union Sabbatical Officer
• Work Permit Holder

If your last grant of leave was not one of the categories listed above then you must return to your home country and apply for a Tier 4 visa from there. There are currently three exceptions to this:

1. Some Syrian nationals

You must be a Syrian national who is normally resident in Syria, but who is currently resident in the UK. You must have had immigration permission to be in the UK on 15 October 2012, or you must apply within 28 days of your current visa expiring. If you are in this situation then you can apply for Tier 4 leave from within the UK even if your last grant of leave was not in one of the immigration categories listed in the Immigration Rules. However, you still need to meet the other Tier 4 requirements. This concession will end on 28 February 2014.

2. Some Libyan nationals

You must be a Libyan national who switched from Tier 4 to Discretionary Leave under a special UKBA concession brought in on 20 July 2011, and who now wishes to switch back to Tier 4.

3. Some dependants of overseas diplomats

The Home Office's Modernised Guidance for staff assessing Tier 4 applications [http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/studying/pbs-tier-4/pbs-tier-4?view=Binary] states on page 18 that applications from dependants of overseas diplomats to switch into Tier 4 should normally be refused. However, it goes on to say that in compelling circumstances, a caseworker can exceptionally allow such an applicant to switch to Tier 4.

The guidance to caseworkers says all such decisions must be refered to a senior executive officer (SEO) senior caseworker, and suggests the following possible compelling factors:

• Is the dependant mid-way through an academic course?
  
• Has evidence been provided (for example, from the school or college) which shows that return home would be highly disruptive to the dependant's education?
  
• Does the dependant have a particular medical condition?
  
• Is there evidence of particularly high academic ability?
  
• Would the return home take place at a particularly disruptive point in the school term?
  
• Where would the applicant have to return to get entry clearance and how long would it take to obtain?
  

The guidance goes on the say that "[this] list is not exhaustive and [caseworkers] you must make [their] decision based on the facts of each case."

If you wish to apply under one of the provisions listed above then we advise you to speak to an immigration adviser before you apply and to include a letter with your application explaining your situation.

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How do I submit my application if I am applying in the UK?

There are three different methods of applying for leave to remain in the UK:

1. Using the 'print and send' application form. This involves completing the form online and printing it out, before submitting it and your supporting documents to the Home Office. [Note: This is the main method of applying and the one that we explain below.]
2. Applying online. This method of applying involves completing the form online and submitting it online, before submitting your supporting documents to the Home Office. [Note:The Home Office only wants students to apply using this method if their institution has been asked to take part in a trial of the online system. If you want to apply online then speak to a student adviser at your institution first.]
3. By completing a paper application form and submitting this and your supporting documents to the Home Office. This method is only for students who are applying using the Home Office's Super Premium Service to apply, or who are unable to apply using the print and send form (for example, applicants who have ten or more dependants). See Which application form should I use? for more information.

Applying using the print and send application form.

The first step in completing a Tier 4 'print and send' application form is to create an online account. This account will not expire; however if you start completing an application but do not complete it, it will be deleted after 56 days of inactivity. (You will be sent an email after 46 days of inactivity warning you that your application will be deleted if you do not access it within ten days.)

Once you have created an online account you can complete the application form online. When you have completed the application form you will be asked to check it before selecting which supporting documents you will submit with your application.

Note: the checking tool only checks that all of the required fields have been completed, it does not check whether the information you have provided will result in a successful application.

The next stage in the online process is a 'maintenance declaration'. The online application will calculate how much money you must have in order to meet the maintenance requirements. You must confirm that you have this level of funds in line with the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Note: if you receive official financial sponsorship you will still be required to confirm at this stage that you hold the necessary sum of money, even if some (or all) of this figure is being provided by your official financial sponsor.

You must then complete a final declaration, at which point you will be unable to make any further changes to your application.

The next stage in the application process is to choose whether you would like to make a 'standard' application (that is send your application form and documents to the UKBA by post) or a 'premium' application (that is submit your application and documents in person at a Public Enquiry Office).

Note: Before you choose what type of application to make you will reach a 'Print warning' page, which asks if you have access to a printer. If you do not have access to a printer, or you do have access to a printer but you do not intend to print your application at this stage, then it is important that you exit your application at this point and resume your application (within 56 days) when you are ready to print it. If you continue to the payment stage of your application despite not having access to a printer you may experience difficulties with your payment.

Submitting your application by post

If you select the 'standard' option when completing the 'print and send' application then you will be redirected to the WorldPay website to pay your application fee. Once you have done this you will receive a confirmation email from WorldPay and one from the UKBA. You must print out your completed application form, including the list of documents that you confirmed you will submit with your application and sign the relevant page.

It is important that you post your application and supporting documents no later than the date that your current immigration permission to be in the UK ends.

For sending important or valuable documents by post, you should use Special Delivery, which includes full online tracking, insurance up to £2,500, and is handled separately from normal post. Items sent by a separate service called Recorded Signed For, sometimes called "recorded delivery", includes a signature on delivery, but no tracking or insurance, and is delivered with normal first and second class post. The maximum compensation for a letter sent Recorded Signed For which is not delivered is £46.

Keep your receipt as proof of postage, and as proof that you have applied. You may need to show this to your institution before you can enrol on your course.

Soon after you send your application to the UKBA, you will receive a letter from them asking you to make an appointment to have your biometric data taken (see above for details).

You will need to send your passport with your application. The UKBA will keep your passport until your application has been processed. This may take many weeks. Do not make any arrangements to travel abroad until your application has been decided and you have received your passport and your biometrics residence permit (BRP) from the UKBA.

When your application has been successfully processed your passport and documents will be sent back to you, either by courier or Recorded Signed For. If you prefer for your passport and documents to be returned using Special Delivery, enclose a pre-paid Special Delivery envelope with your application.

Your passport will not show that you have been given more time in the UK. Your BRP, which will be sent to you a little later, is your evidence that you have been granted immigration permission to stay in the UK.

Can I temporarily get my passport back while my application is pending?

It is possible to request temporary return of your passport for identification purposes, but not for travel. However, we advise that you avoid requesting return of your passport if possible, because it will add time and complication to your application. For example, if you know that you will need to show your passport at enrolment, and that your passport is likely to be with the UKBA at that time, ask your institution if you can show them your passport in advance.

The UKBA provides the following information on their website:

If you need your passport for identification reasons, such as opening a bank account, before we decide your application, we will return your passport. You should send your passport back to us as soon as you have used it to confirm your identity. We will not be able to decide the outcome of your application until you have returned it to us. Obviously this may delay the decision of your application.

You should not make plans to travel outside the common travel area while we are considering your application. If you ask for your passport back so you can travel outside the common travel area, when we send it back to you, your application is automatically withdrawn, even if you decide not to travel. If you decide not to travel and still want to stay in the UK, you will need to apply again and pay a new fee.

If you need to ask for the return of your passport, contact the Immigration Enquiry Bureau on [0870 606 7766 or at UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY].

You do not need to request temporary return of your passport to show a new employer that you can work in the UK under the student work restriction. UKBA's guidance for employers on preventing illegal working explains that they should use the Employer Checking Service:

If at the time of the checks, a person has an outstanding application with us [i.e. the UKBA] or appeal to extend their leave in the UK, then you should contact our Employer Checking Service. The Service will confirm that the person has, or continues to have, the right to work here.
[Preventing Illegal Working in the UK, May 2012, Section 2: "Right to work document checks", page 10]

Taking your application to a public enquiry office (PEO)

If you select the 'premium' option when completing the 'print and send' application then you will be redirected to an online system for booking an appointment at one of the UKBA's Public Enquiry Offices (PEOs). You must book an appointment at a PEO on a date before your current UK immigration permission ends, even if this means travelling to a PEO which is not the closest one to where you live. If you cannot get an appointment before your current leave ends, you should exit your application, re-enter your account and select the 'standard' option instead.

If you accept an appointment at a PEO on a date after your current UK immigration permission ends, you will become an overstayer when your current immigration permission ends. You will not have a right of appeal if your application for leave to remain as a Tier 4 (General) student is refused and you will not be considered to have an established presence. Being an overstayer has serious consequences and may affect any immigration applications that you submit for any country in the future.

Once you have selected an appointment it will be reserved for you for ten minutes, during which time you must pay the application fee via the WorldPay website in order to confirm your appointment.

You must print out your completed application form, including the list of documents that you confirmed you will submit with your application and sign the relevant page. These documents must be submitted to the UKBA at your appointment along with your supporting documents.

At the appointment, your application and supporting documents should be checked by a caseworker. You will also have your biometric data (your facial photograph and your fingerprints) recorded.

Applying in person does not include an interview, nor is there any opportunity to discuss or explain aspects of your application. If you feel that there are aspects of your application that would benefit from further clarification or explanation, we advise that you do this in writing and submit your application by post. We also advise you to speak to an adviser at your institution before doing this as it might be better for your institution to send your application to the UKBA on your behalf if they agree to do so.

You should receive a decision on your application on the day that you attend the PEO and you will be able to take your passport and other documents away with you. However, you will not receive your biometrics residence permit (BRP) on the same day. It will be sent to you by courier some time later. This identity card is your evidence that you have been granted immigration permission to stay in the UK. You should wait until you have received your BRP before you make any arrangements to travel abroad.

Asking your institution to send your application on your behalf

Your institution may provide a service where they can check your application and send it to the UKBA on your behalf either:

• by post (as outlined above), or
• via the student batch scheme.

Not all institutions participate in the student batch scheme or are able to offer such a service. Ask your international student adviser if your institution does.

The fee for your immigration application is £406. However, your institution may also charge a small fee to cover their administration costs.

It is still your responsibility to complete the form and gather all of the documents that you need to submit with your application. They may also ask you to provide copies of your application and documents, for their own records.

Your application will be processed in the same way as if you sent it direct to the UKBA yourself by post (see above) and you will need to provide your biometrics once you have received a letter from the UKBA. However, if there are any queries with your application, the caseworker at the UKBA will contact your institution directly, rather than contacting you.

You will need to send your passport with your application. The UKBA will keep your passport until your application has been processed. This may take many weeks or longer. Do not make any arrangements to travel abroad until you have received your passport and your BRP from the UKBA.

When your application has been successfully processed your passport and documents will be sent back to your instituiton by Recorded Signed For. If you prefer for your passport and couments to be returned using Special Delivery, enclose a pre-paid Special Delivery envelope with your application.

Your passport will not show that you have been given more time in the UK. Your BRP, which will be sent to you a little later, is your evidence that you have been granted immigration permission to stay in the UK.

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When your immigration permission is issued

Check that it includes all the correct information:

• your name and date of birth. A biometric residence permit (BRP) will also have your place of birth.
• that you are a Tier 4 (General) student
• the Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) of the institution that you intend to study at. Some BRPs show the CAS number instead of the SLN, but this is fine.
• that the start and end dates of the permission are correct (see the paragraph below When will my entry clearance end?)
• whether you can work (see the paragraph below What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission?)
• for some students, the instruction to register with the police.

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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When will my immigration permission start?

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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When will my immigration permission end?

As a Tier 4 (General) student, the date that your immigration permission ends will depend on the length and type of course that you are studying. Your CAS will include the start and end dates of your course.

Your immigration permission will end:

• Four months after the end of the course, if your course will last 12 months or more
• Two months after the end of the course, if your course will last six months or more, but less than 12 months
• One month after the end of the course, if your course will last less than six months and is a pre-sessional course
• Seven days after the end of the course, if your course will last less than six months and is not a pre-sessional course
• One month after the end of the course, if you apply to be a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a Foundation Programme.

NOTE: If you will be studying for part of a month, this will not be 'rounded up'. For example, if your course will last 11 months and three weeks, you will be granted an addtional two months after the end of your course.

If your course is a pre-sessional course which will prepare you for degree-level study at the same institution (or at its partner institution), you may be issued with a single CAS which includes both courses. In this case your immigration permission will end after the main course, rather than after the pre-sessional course. This will save you money and the inconvenience involved in having to apply for leave to remain after the pre-sessional course. Your institution will only issue you with a single CAS if you meet all of the associated requirements, see the section above Your confirmation of acceptance for studies for details.

Make a note of the date that your immigration permission ends. You must not remain in the UK after this date, unless you have already submitted an immigration application for further leave to remain in the UK.

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What conditions will be attached to my immigration permission?

Your Tier 4 (General) immigration permission has some conditions. These conditions will be stated on your entry clearance vignette, or on your Biometric Residence Permit.

Study at your intended institution

You must enrol and study at the institution that issued the CAS which you submitted as part of your successful Tier 4 (General) student application. If you change your mind before travelling to the UK, and you wish to study at a different institution, you must make a new entry clearance application using a CAS from the new institution.

For more information about this condition, and the rules about changing Tier 4 sponsor after arriving in the UK, see our information sheet Protecting your Tier 4 student immigration status [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/protect_t4_status.php#enrol]

Work restriction or prohibition

As a Tier 4 (General) student studying in the UK you may be granted immigration permission which allows you to work outside of your studies, part-time during term-time and full-time during the vacations. This will depend on the date you apply for immigration permission, and on whether you are studying at a higher education institution, a publicly-funded further education college, or another type of institution.

For more information on the work that you will be allowed to do while you are studying in the UK, read the UKCISA information sheet Working during your studies [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/working_during_studies.php].

You may also be allowed to undertake a work placement which is part of your course. This will depend on:

• the level of course that you intend to study, and
• the sponsor rating of the Tier 4 institution that you intend to study at.

For information about being allowed to do a work placement as part of your course as a Tier 4 (General) student see the UKCISA information sheet Working during your studies [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/working_during_studies.php]

Registration with the police

If you are required to register with the police, your immigration permission will state this. For more information about this condition, see the UKCISA information sheet Protecting your Tier 4 student immigration status [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/protect_t4_status.php#register]

"No recourse to public funds"

Your immigration conditions prohibit you from accessing 'public funds', which means certain welfare benefits and local authority housing. To find out what counts as 'public funds', see our Information Sheet Welfare Benefits [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/welfare.php].

Using the National Health Service, sending your child to a state school, being exempt from the Council Tax, and paying "home" fees for study do not count as accessing 'public funds'. (Note: from 1 April 2013, the Immigration Rules will change to include 'council tax reduction' in the list of 'public funds'. This is different from being exempt from council tax. If your dwelling is 'exempt' from council tax, or you are 'disregarded' for the purpose of council tax, then you are not receiving a council tax reduction. See the UKCISA Information Sheet Council tax and international students at www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/council_tax.php if you need more information about this.)

If you claim 'public funds', the UK immigration authorities can refuse your immigration application or remove you from the UK. You might also be barred from returning to the UK for a certain period.

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If your application is refused

Applying in your home country (entry clearance)

Applying in the UK (leave to remain)

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Where to go for help and other useful contacts

If you need help with your application contact the international student adviser or welfare officer at the institution where you intend to study, or its students' union or guild.

If you have any questions about this information sheet telephone UKCISA's advice line Monday to Friday 1300-1600 hours (UK time): Tel: (+44) (0)20 3131 3576 or write to: UKCISA, 9-17 St Albans Place, London N1 0NX, UK

You may also wish to read the UKCISA information sheets on other topics of relevance to international students [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php].

Telephone numbers

If you are calling from outside the UK, do not dial the (0) in the telephone numbers above. For example, if you want to call UKCISA from outside the UK, dial +44 20 3131 3576. If you are in the UK, do not dial +44, but do start the number with 0. For example, if you call UKCISA from within the UK, dial 020 3131 3576.

Textphone numbers are only for those who use a textphone (minicom) because of difficulties with speech or hearing.

© UKCISA
This information sheet may be printed and reproduced provided it is copied unaltered and in its entirety, including UKCISA's logo, disclaimer, copyright statement and the reference to UKCISA's website as a source of further updates, and provided that no charge is made to any persons for copies. NO PART OF IT MAY BE REPRODUCED IN ANY OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.

The information in this information sheet is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. UKCISA, however, accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.

   

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