Applying for Tier 4 (General) visa from overseas 2017 This guide is for students who are making a Tier 4 (General) entry clearance application. This guidance is only to help you complete your application form and it does not explain the immigration rules or which documents you may need. Please note, this guidance is correct at the time it was written. The application form is subject to change by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) at any time. Please ensure that you do not simply copy the answers given in the examples! Go to this link to access the application form: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/apply Click apply online to start the process of your application. 1
Click Create an account if this is the first time you are applying for a UK visa or Sign in if you already have an account. *Complete all mandatory fields* e.g. Personal Details, contact details, address details and create a password (something you can remember, you might want to write this down in a safe place) agree to the Terms & Conditions and click Register to create your account. You will receive an email confirmation to unlock your account. When you receive this, click the link to login into your account, using the email address and password. When you click Apply For Myself, you will be redirected to a page with some important information - please ensure you read this before clicking Continue. Some of your personal details will be automatically populated, but you need to complete: passport number, Date of Intended Travel and Location (country from where you are making the application - this can be your home country 2
or a country where you are leaving legally in any capacity other than as a short-term visitor). When you have completed this section, questions about the visa type will be available - please select the following: Reason for visit: Study Visa type: PBS Tier 4 Student Visa subtype: choose from a) Tier 4 (general) student b) Tier 4 (Chevening, Marshal and Commonwealth only) Student, if you a are being sponsor by the Chevening scholarship scheme c) Tier 4 (general) (sponsored) student * When you have completed this section, click Create Application. When you have created the application, you will be redirected to a page with information about your application e.g. reference, intended date of travel, status and the type of visa you are applying for. Click Go To Application. 3
Section 1: Passport/travel Information: The information on your passport should match the information on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). If any of the information has changed, you must contact the Compliance team (cas@lsbu.ac.uk) to update your CAS. All your details should match the details on your passport. If you have passports from two different countries, please select the other country of nationality. If the passport you are using to make the application is not your first passport, you should input the information of your old passport. Travel information: If you are traveling with anyone, please mention this on your application; it doesn t matter if the person is not related to you. The earliest date you can arrive in the UK is one month prior to the start date of the course, we strongly recommend you don t book your flight until you have confirmation that your visa has been granted. How long do you intend to stay in the UK? We advise you to type the end date of the course as given on the CAS. What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? If you booked your accommodation in one of LSBU s students halls of residence, please write their address - you should have received this in a communication from us or you can check this details on our website http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation/residences. If you are staying in a private accommodation request the address to be sent to you or if you are yet to confirm where you will be staying in the UK, write the general University address so you can be contacted. Select Next section when you have completed the first part of the application. 4
Section 2: Personal details and Travel History You should write the details of the address where you currently reside or your parents address. Are your preferred contact details different from the contact details already provided above? If you would like to be contacted on an address different from the one inputted on the personal details, click Yes and give details of an alternative address. All the documentation related to your application will arrive to this address. Travel and criminal history: It is really important that all your responses in this section are accurate UK : refers to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland UK Overseas territory : see the list of countries here https://www.gov.uk/types-of-british-nationality/britishoverseas-territories-citizen Commonwealth Countries : see list of countries here http://thecommonwealth.org/member-countries If you ve been to the UK before, you should give detail of this. You will be asked to provide date of arrival, date of departure and the purpose of the trip. If you don t remember the exact dates please write approximate dates but it is important that you try to give accurate information. 5
If you ve ever had an entry refusal for any country, please state this information on the application. You are required to name all countries you have visited in the past 10 years try to be as accurate as possible. National insurance (NI) is a system of taxes paid by workers and employers. Your NI number helps to locate the taxes paid against your name only. If you have previously studied in the UK and applied for NI card, you can use the same number. 6
Section 3: Family details if you provide information about your Spouse/Partner (if applicable), father, mother and child dependant (if applicable), please give the details as written on the passport, ensure that you use all names, middle names and all surnames (where applicable) Section 4: Medical treatment You must declare in this section any medical treatment which you have received in the UK. This would normally be at a hospital and occasionally at a GP surgery. This does not refer to appointments at a GP surgery. You are only able to add details of one occasion of treatment. If you have more than one, you should mention these in the Additional Details section later. 7
Section 5: Tier 4 Student The answers to the questions on this section are listed on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Sponsor: Sponsor licence: 1F2MGYXUX Name of sponsor: London South Bank University LSBU Address: in UK Postcode type SE1 0AA and click Find Address - the address will automatically populate Studies: please write the information as per your CAS What is your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Number? Check this information on your CAS statement What is the title of your course? Refer to Course Name on your CAS What is the level of the course and qualification? Refer to Academic Level on your CAS Start and end date of the course? State the dates as given on the CAS. Have you already started studying this course? If you are extending to complete your course your answer should be Yes, but if you are applying for a new course you should state No What is the address of the main site of study? In UK Postcode type SE1 0AA and click Find Address - the address will automatically populate Confirm which of the following options apply Choose Studying Have you been assessed by the sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork? Refer to evidence to obtain offer on your CAS - you should select No unless your CAS specifically states you have been assessed by anything other than academic qualifications. 8
Please indicate how you meet the minimum English language requirement relevant to your course: Refer to Reason SELT not required on your CAS and choose the option that applies to you. Maintenance and Fees: We strongly recommend you read our guidance Your Finances before responding to the questions in this section. How much are the fees for your course of study? As given on CAS (numbers only) Have any of your course fees been paid? If you have already paid some of your fees (including the deposit) then select Yes Paid to UK Education Provider. Enter the amount of GBP: refer to Fees Paid section on your CAS and write the exact amount. What document has been provided as evidence of payment: Answer should be Shown in the CAS Have any of your accommodation fees been paid to your sponsor? This question only relates to you if you are staying in any of the LSBU Halls of Residence. Your accommodation deposit will count as accommodation fees. If you have paid this you should select Yes - Paid to UK Education Provider. Please check that your deposit payment is stated on your CAS if it is not, please request this to be amended by emailing cas@lsbu.ac.uk. The maximum amount that can be listed is 1265, the equivalence of one month s living costs. Do you receive support from a financial sponsor that meets the UK Visa and Immigration definition of a financial sponsor? This information will be listed in the Evidence Used to Obtain Offer section of your CAS. For more information about the UKVI s definition of a financial sponsor, please see paragraph 198-203 of the of the Tier 4 guidance. If you answer Yes, please write de details of the official financial sponsor and the amount they are contributing. 9
Do you have any remaining fees and maintenance still due for payment? The answer to this question will be Yes unless you are sponsored by an official financial institution, covering your course and maintenance fee. Course fees Any remaining fees you have to pay towards your course. If you have paid in full, please type 0.00 Maintenance State 11385, unless you have paid money towards accommodation at one of the LSBU Halls of Residence (in this case, please note, only 1265 will be deducted from your maintenance fee.) Total State the amount of course fees remaining + maintenance Do you have money in your own name? If the bank statement is in your name then the answer to this question is Yes and you must list the documents you will provide as evidence e.g. bank statement, letter from bank, financial sponsor letter, etc. If you are showing your funds under your parents or legal guardians name then choose No. You should then list the documents you will provide as evidence of funds and relationship e.g. birth certificate, bank statement, legal guardian certificate, etc. Points Claimed: This information is listed at paragraph 6 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance and should be as follows: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies = 30 Maintenance = 10 Total = 40 10
Section 6: Additional Information You are not required to write anything in this box. However, you have the opportunity to provide any information relevant to your application that you may wish to explain further. If you have received medical treatment in the UK on more than one occasion, you should mention them here. Once completed: When you have completed the application and when you are certain about your responses, please click Confirm Application. You will be unable to proceed if you have not completed all mandatory sections of the form (incomplete sections will be shown in orange). Once fully completed, you will be redirected to a page which shows you a summary of your application. This is the last opportunity to make amendments to the application before you click Submit Application and proceed to the Sign Declaration section. Sign Declaration Read the declaration given in full and then type your name in the Signature box before clicking Sign Declaration. 11
BRP collection We highly recommend that your request for your BRP to be delivered to LSBU. In the Alternative Location field, enter the code: 2HE527 and click Find. The following assigned collection location should appear: London South Bank University Southwark Campus c/o International Office GA01 Technopark 103 Borough Road London SE1 0AA Click Confirm and you will be asked to confirm once again that this address is a stumble location for you you should click Yes. Your BRP will then be delivered and stored at the International Office. We will give you further instructions on when and how to collect your BRP from the University. You will be shown the following screen as final confirmation and you should click Save and Close. If you do not specify that you want to collect it from LSBU, then you will be responsible for collecting it from a specified Post Office. For more information about BRPs, please refer to our guidance Collecting your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) 12
Book Appointment You will now be required to book an appointment to submit your biometric data. Select your Region and Appointment Location from the drop down menus. You will also be given the opportunity to select a Visa Appointment Type (e.g. Standard, Premium Lounge) if this is available in your area. The Appointment Location will also be given to you. Please ensure you read any information given about payment and any Visa Appointment Messages. Click Next and you will be given the option to Select Appointment Date and Time. Select a convenient time and date for you attend your appointment. Click Next and you will be shown Your Appointment Confirmation. Check that you are happy with all these details. If not, click Start Again. 13
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) You are now required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). For more information about this please see our How to Guide Immigration Health Surcharge : https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/my/applicant/current-applicants/internationalstudents/how-to-guides You will be redirected to another page. Don t worry you will be redirected back to the application once you have completed payment. Most of the details will be pre-populated with information from you application form. Check all these details are correct you will need to start your application form again if any of the details are incorrect. You will need to: - Add details of where you are planning to stay: o Are you applying from within the UK? this answer to this should be No o What visa application centre are you applying through? this will be automatically pre-populated o Are you apply to stay in the Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey the answer to this should be No - Click Save and continue and you will be redirected to the Your Details page. Complete all required information o Course start date you can find this information on your CAS statement o Course end date - you can find this information on your CAS statement - Please answer the additional details about your course: o Is your course at NQF 7 please refer to Academic Level on your CAS statement o Is your course a Master s degree only tick Yes if your course title includes MA, MSc or MEng. o Is your course at any of these locations: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, University of Bath or Imperial College London? your answer to this question should be No o Is your course for 13 months or less? calculate the length of your course on the basis of the dates given on your CAS statement You will be redirected to a Summary Page. Check all of these details and click These details are correct to proceed. Read the Declaration and click I agree to proceed. 14
The amount you are required to pay will automatically be calculated in your local currency. Click Pay Now to make payment. What next? When you have paid for the IHS you will need to: - Pay for the Application - Arrange to send or take your printed application form (see below) and supporting documents to a Visa Application Centre. Read all the instructions carefully so that you know what do to. You may be given the option to Register at Commercial Partner to arrange for this through them. - Print Application you will need to print and sign this and submit with all your supporting documents. You should also keep a copy for your records. Any questions? Contact the Immigration and International Student Advice team: international.advice@lsbu.ac.uk Home Office: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa UKCISA: www.ukcisa.org.uk 15