1 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas A guide to completing the application form overseas Start maintaining funds and have all evidence ready for visa application Travel to the UK and collect BRP (plastic visa card) from the University Receive CAS from the University The application cycle Receive successful result from UKVI Submit visa application online Have appointment at visa centre
2 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Registering for an account Go to www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk Once you ve registered, click Apply for Myself in the top left of the page and read the information carefully When registering, make sure you write your name exactly as it is shown in your passport You ll then be presented with these initial questions: Enter the number of the passport that you will submit with your visa application. This should match the passport number in your CAS statement. If it does not match, contact before continuing If your upcoming course is at least six months long or a pre-sessional course, you can enter the UK up to one month before the "course start date" in your CAS. If your course is less than six months and is not a presessional course, you can enter the UK up to 7 days before the "course start date" in your CAS
3 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas For most students, these are the 3 options you should choose: If your full tuition fees and living costs will be funded by an official sponsor (e.g. a University, a government, an international organisation or company) then choose Tier 4 (General) (Sponsored) Student. However, if you are not sponsored, or are only partially funded by an official financial sponsor you should complete the Tier 4 (General) Student application instead. Have your passport and CAS to hand while you re completing the form for a lot of questions, you are simply copying details from them to the application. Below we ve explained some of questions that are a bit trickier. Section 1 Date of planned arrival in the UK If your upcoming course is at least six months long or a pre-sessional course, you can enter the UK up to one month before the "course start date" in your CAS. If your course is less than six months and is not a pre-sessional course, you can enter the UK up to 7 days before the "course start date" in your CAS. How long do you intend to stay in the UK? You could write length of my course (there is only a maximum of 20 characters allowed, so you can t write much more). The UKVI will know to add extra time for you to stay in the UK after your course has ended.
4 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? If you know where you ll be staying in the UK then give this address. If you have not yet arranged your accommodation in the UK you should write "not yet confirmed" in line 1 of the address, you cannot continue with the form if you leave it blank. When you have arranged your accommodation, you should let the UKVI know this by completing the form here: https://www.gov.uk/change-circumstances-visa-brp Section 2 Have you ever voluntarily elected to depart the UK? This question is not asking if you ve ever come for a holiday to the UK and left. You should only answer yes if you have been refused a visa for the UK and voluntarily left the UK instead of being deported. Questions relating to criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings For a list of what convictions you must declare, see Section 3: Good Character, of the document Naturalisation as a British citizen --a guide for applicants: form AN: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/529577/an_guide_- _June_2016.pdf If we need to interview you, what language would you like to use in the interview? The purpose of the interview is to check that you are a genuine student and that your English is at a good enough level to study, so you should write English. Section 4 If you ve received medical treatment in the UK, you should write the address of the doctor s surgery or hospital where you received treatment. If you received treatment several times and you can t write it all in this part of the form, you can write an extra explanation in the additional information section at the end of the form
5 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Section 5 You should find that all the information you need is on your CAS, and copy it directly from there. What is the full address of your sponsor? Copy the address from your CAS, and give the ISS contact details: Phone no: 01782 4539 Email: What is the level of the course and qualification? Copy this from the "course level" field in your CAS. Your level of course is likely to be NQF6 (undergraduate), NQF7 (taught postgraduate) or NQF8 (postgraduate research). Start Date of course You should normally copy this from the "Course start date" field in your CAS statement. Have you already started studying this course? Only select "yes" if you are already a Staffordshire University student and you re applying to continue your current course, otherwise tick "no". What is the address of the main site of study? Copy this from the "Main study address" field in your CAS. You can use the same telephone and e-mail contact details as in the sponsor address section. Have you been assessed by the sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork? Most students should select no. You may have submitted a reference as part of your application to study at Staffordshire University but these are usually part of our internal admissions process and are not declared on your CAS. However, these are usually for our own admission purposes and will not be declared on your CAS. You should only select yes if the "Evidence used to obtain offer" section of your CAS states that you have been assessed by other means. If it does not mention a reference or portfolio then you should choose no. Please indicate how you meet the minimum English language requirement relevant to your course
6 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas The English language qualification field on your CAS explains how your English language ability has been assessed. Select the corresponding option on the application form. Are you required to obtain permission from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)? Check the ATAS? Field, in the Course Details section of your CAS. If it says "Yes" then you will need to apply to the UK Government for an ATAS certificate before you can make your immigration application at https://www.academic-technology-approval.service.gov.uk/ How much are the fees for your course of study? You should copy this from the "Course fees charged for first year of the course" field in your CAS statement. Have any of your course fees been paid? If you have already paid some or all of your tuition fees to the University, and if this is stated in your CAS, then answer "Yes - Paid to UK Education Provider". If you have paid tuition fees and it is not shown in your CAS, then please contact the team who issued your CAS. You will then need to answer the following supplementary questions: Please enter the amount This should be listed in the "Course fees paid to date" field in your CAS. What document has been provided as evidence of payment You should select "Shown in the CAS". If you are a study abroad student and you are paying your home institution and not Staffordshire University, you should select Yes- Paid to overseas Higher Education Institution. Have any of your accommodation fees been paid to your sponsor? If you have paid some money to live in Staffordshire University halls of residence, and if this is stated in your CAS, then answer "Yes - Paid to UK Education Provider". If you have paid money to Staffordshire University for accommodation and this is not shown in your CAS, then please contact the team who issued your CAS. The UKVI will not consider any fees paid to any other accommodation provider, such as a private landlord, or non-university halls of residence. You will then need to answer the following supplementary questions: Please enter the amount Copy this information from the "Accommodation fees paid to date" field in your CAS. Please note, although you should copy the amount shown in your CAS statement, only the first 1265 can be deducted from the amount you need to show for your living expenses. So even if you have paid a lot more than this, the UKVI will only consider 1265 has been paid What document has been provided as evidence of payment You should select "Shown in the CAS".
7 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Do you receive support from a financial sponsor that meets the Home Office definition of a financial sponsor? You should only answer "Yes" here if you are receiving a scholarship or bursary from: A university, The British Government The government in your home country The British Council An international organisation An international company An independent school. If you answer "Yes", you will then need to answer the following supplementary questions: What is the name of the official financial sponsor? If your bursary/scholarship is paid by Staffordshire University, this should be stated in the "Evidence used to obtain offer" section of your CAS. If your funding is not detailed in your CAS statement, you will need to provide an original letter from your official sponsor confirming the details of your funding. See our Tier 4 Guide for details of the requirements for this letter How much in GBP( ) is the official financial sponsor or Government sponsor paying towards your expenses? This should be the total amount that you will receive from your official sponsor for the academic year. If your sponsor letter only says that all your fees and living expenses will be covered, but doesn t state an exact amount then you should make it clear to the UKVI that all your expenses will be paid. Add together the fee amount shown in your CAS, and the living cost requirement ( 1015 for each month of your visa, up to a maximum of 9 months) and write this amount Do you have any remaining fees and maintenance still due for payment? This question is badly worded, but it is asking if there are still funds that you need to show to the UKVI. Most students should answer "Yes" You should only answer "No" if: All of your tuition fees have been paid already or an official financial sponsor will be paying all of your tuition fees and An official financial sponsor is paying all of your maintenance costs If you answer "Yes", you will then need to answer the following supplementary questions: Course fees
8 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Copy the course fee amount from your CAS. If you have already paid some of your fees, or you have an official financial sponsor then you can subtract this from the total fee amount and enter the amount remaining. Maintenance You will need to have 1015 per month of your visa, up to a maximum of 9 months. Typically, a new student who will study for at least 9 months will therefore need to show 9135. You can subtract up to 1265 if you have paid accommodation fees to live in Staffordshire University halls of residence (see the "accommodation fees paid to date" field in your CAS). If you have a bursary from a financial sponsor, you can also subtract this and enter the amount remaining. Do you have money in your own name? If the money is in a bank account in your own name, or it is a loan, scholarship or bursary in your name then select yes. If your funds are in your parent/legal guardian s bank account then select no. Your funds cannot be held by anyone else - the UKVI will not accept evidence of funds held by partners, siblings, friends, grandparents etc. If you are using funds held by your parent(s) or legal guardians, then you will need to provide additional evidence with your application (see our Tier 4 guidance). What original documents has been supplied showing evidence of funds for the fees that still need to be paid?/what evidence have you provided that shows both the amount of funds available and your relationship to your parents or legal guardians? Explain what evidence you have of your finances. These are some example answers: my bank statement a sponsorship letter from the Saudi Embassy my parent s bank statement, my original birth certificate, and a letter from my parents confirming that the money is available for my tuition fees and living costs "I am a 'low risk' national applying in my home country - I hold the required evidence, but under the guidance I am not required to submit this evidence with my immigration application" - for more information on whether you qualify as a 'low risk' national, see our Tier 4 guidance Points Claimed Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies: 30 Maintenance: 10 Total: 40 Section 6 For most students, there is nothing to write here. However, if you want to clarify an answer you ve given and you ve run out of room in the form, you could explain it here. This section can also be used to explain if you have ever:
9 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Stayed in the UK after your visa or permission has expired. If so, we advise you give the dates of when you overstayed. Failed to register with the police within 7 days of arrival, or update them with a change, if you were previously required to register with the police in the UK Claimed public funds despite a condition that you had no recourse to public funds Worked illegally Failed to study or work with your visa sponsor Any other breaches of a specific previous visa BRP collection If your course here is for 6 months or longer then your visa collection will be a 2 step process: You will be given a sticker in your passport to allow you to enter the UK. This will be valid for 1 month, and you must travel to the UK in the month it is valid for, or reapply for a new visa. When you arrive in the UK you must collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days. This is a plastic visa card that has the full length of your visa printed on it. When you are completing the application form, you need to tell the UKVI where you want to collect your BRP. To collect your BRP on campus, you will need to submit Staffordshire University s unique Alternative Location code: 2HE647
10 How to apply for a Tier 4 visa from overseas Immigration Health Surcharge After you have booked your appointment you will be taken to the Immigration Health Surcharge pages. You should use the information on your CAS to complete the screens. The Immigration Health Surcharge is an extra fee that most students are required to pay, on top of their visa application fee. It will allow you to access the UK National Health Service (NHS) while you re in the UK. Even if you have arranged private medical care you will need to complete the Immigration Health Surcharge part of the form in order to submit your visa application. It is charged at 150 per year of your visa, and 75 for periods of 6 months or less. The only Tier 4 students who are exempt from paying for this are: Students who will be granted a visa for 6 months or less Nationals of Australia and New Zealand British Overseas Territories Citizens who are resident in the Falkland Islands Questions about your application If you re not sure about parts of your application, then please email us on We are also available for Skype chat sessions. Our Skype address is iss.staffs and we are available at these times: Monday am 9:30 10:30 Monday pm 3:30 4:30 Wednesday am 9:30 10:30 Friday pm 3:30 4:30