Guide to Tier 4 Print and Send Online Applications Information from the International Student Support Service April 2013
What is Print and Send? From 6 April 2013, applications for tier 4 and tier 4 dependant visas from the UK must be made online using the UKBA s Print and Send form. After this date, it is no longer possible to apply with handwritten paper forms. The application process is largely similar to the current one, and there will be no difference in waiting times or the way that your application is considered. The form is completed online, and the payment is taken by debit or credit card. The completed form is then printed out and sent by us to the UKBA along with your supporting documents (bank statements etc). What are the benefits? The online application process will be tailored to your circumstances, and it will ask the questions that are relevant to you, based on your previous answers. There is no risk of your application being rejected due to failed payment, as payment is taken before sending. There is less chance of your application being returned as invalid due to missing information, as the form will alert you to any missing answers, and you will not be able to progress to the payment until the application is complete. You can save your application and return to it later, so there is no need to fill it out at once or in any specific order. Mistakes are easily and neatly corrected no need for scoring out or additional pages. Important things to Remember You must still submit your visa application through ISSS. When you meet with an adviser, you will receive a personlised checklist with all the documents you are required to submit along with your application. You will also be given the link to the UKBA webpage where you can begin your application. At your second appointment, you will bring all the required documents, and submit your application. Your payment is submitted online, but your form and documents are still sent via post to the UKBA. ISSS will send these for you, and your documents will arrive in our office for you to collect. You will still need to give your biometrics at the Post Office as part of your application. Once your online form is complete and payment is taken, you have 15 days to print it off and submit your documents. If the application is not sent within this time, it will be invalid and your fee will not be refunded. You should have all of your supporting documents ready to be sent the same day that you submit your payment.
The official date of your application is the date that your form and documents are posted, not the date that your payment is taken. Remember that you cannot make a tier 4 application after your current visa has expired, which is why you must come and see ISSS at least 90 days before this date, and submit all your completed documents no less than 3 weeks before your visa expiry date. If there are any questions you do not understand or cannot fill out, or if you are having difficulties with the online form, leave them blank until you see us. Remember that we are here to help you. The guide below will help you in filling out the online application, particularly in entering your personal details, addresses and passport information, but remember that ISSS advisers will guide you through most of it at your appointment.
Beginning your application This is the online applications page at https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal. To find the Tier 4 application, click Forms A-Z, and click Tier 4 student Print and Send application.
You must register to create an account. When you first register, you must create a username and memorable information (similar to a password - YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS). When you register, you will be assigned a password (by email), which you should then change immediately. Once registered, you can log in at any time by clicking the log in button at the top right of the screen: Things to remember about logging in: You must remember your username, password and memorable information, as you will be asked for these each time you log in. If you forget your password, it is possible to reset it, but you need your memorable information to do this. It is not possible to reset your memorable information, so if you forget this, you will not be able to login, you will lose any saved applications, and you will need to create an entirely new account. If a saved application is not accessed for 56 days, it will be deleted and you will need to start it again. When logged in, if you are inactive for 20 minutes, you will be logged out and any unsaved changes will be lost.
Returning to an Application You do not need to complete the application in one sitting. You can save it at any time, and return to it later. When you login, you will see the following page, detailling any application(s) you have started but not completed. You can resume, view, or delete these. Completing each section When you click check this section, it will alert you to anything that needs to be corrected: Once corrected, it should read: Remember to regularly click save as you progress through the application.
You can return to the Home tab at any time. This will tell you what sections are yet to be completed. You will not be able to progress onto the payment and printing stage until all are marked with a blue tick as complete. Passports All current and previous passport details must be entered.
Addresses You must provide details of your current address, study address (this will be on your CAS) and of any previous UK (including Northern Ireland) addresses in the last five years. There is a very specific format in which you must enter addresses so that your application can be marked as valid and complete. If you live in a flat/apartment, enter the flat number in the format above with a dash (-), as above. The system will not accept a slash (/), so you must enter 2-3 instead of 2/3. For a Glasgow address, the county is Lanarkshire. The postcode must be entered in the correct format, otherwise this section will not be marked as complete. If you are having difficulty with this, click more guidance. Remember, if you are unsure of any information on where you have previously lived, check with your previous accomodation provider.
Entering your course details You must enter the information in this section exactly as it appears on your CAS. If any details are incorrect, the section will not be marked as complete. The sponsor licence number (shown on your CAS) must be entered correctly, and you must then confirm Glasgow Caledonian University. Your CAS number must also be entered correctly. If it is not, the section will not be marked as complete. The level of qualification will appear on your CAS. Note that the system only accepts NQF level; your CAS will specify the SCQF (Scottish equivalent) level. If you are unsure of the NQF equivalent level of your course, ask an adviser.
Once your application is complete Do not proceed to this section unless you are with an ISSS adviser, as you cannot edit your application from here. When you are sure you have finished your application, and there are no more incomplete sections in Home, click on the Check tab. Once you have read and understood the instructions, click Check application.
This will take you to an online checklist of the documents you need to submit in support of your application. It is essential that you read this page carefully to ensure that all of the documents you submit match those you have ticked on the checklist.
Once you click next, you will be asked to confirm that you meet the maintenance requirement for yourself and any dependants, and then to agree to a declaration. Make sure you read this declaration very carefully, and also ensure that you are aware you cannot edit your application again once you click next on this page. When you click next, you will be taken to the payment section, and prompted on whether you wish to apply via the standard (postal) service, or the premium (in-person PEO ) service. Remember that regardless of whether you wish to apply by post or in person, you must submit your visa application through ISSS.
Payment The online payment section accepts the following: You must ensure that when you pay your fee, this does not bring your maintenance below the required level. If you do not have a debit/credit card, you can purchase a pre-paid card from the post office; please see an ISSS adviser for more advice on this. Submitting your form and documents Once you have printed out your form, you must bring it back to ISSS along with the rest of your documents, where it will be sent to the UKBA. If you have any questions about print and send applications, please contact us by email (isss@gcu.ac.uk), phone (0141 273 1244) or in person (M111) to arrange an appointment with an adviser. Voted number one in Scotland for visa advice by our international students in the i-graduate International Student Barometer (Autumn 2012 wave).