GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 APPLICATION FORM (Applications made in the UK only) Updated May 2018 This booklet should not be used as a stand-alone guide. Before beginning your visa application you must ensure that you read the UKVI Tier 4 Policy Guidance and the information on the RCM s Visas and Immigration website. UKVI regularly makes updates to the Tier 4 Policy Guidance, so it is essential that you check the latest information before applying. Whilst the information in this guide is provided in good faith, and every effort is made to keep it up to date, the RCM accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy. 1
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE STARTING Ensure that you read the RCM s guidance on applying for a Tier 4 visa thoroughly. This is available at http://www.rcm.ac.uk/international/visas/ Have your passport and other immigration documents to hand, well as your CAS Statement, as you will need to copy information from them. We recommend that, before submitting the application, you make an appointment with one of our immigration advisors to check your answers for you. Please contact international@rcm.ac.uk. Once you pass the Declaration page, you will not be able to make any further changes, so make sure the form has been thoroughly checked first. The date that you submit and pay for your application online is considered to be your date of application. Your evidence documents (e.g. bank statements) must be dated on or before this date, or your application will be refused. If you will be under 18 on the date of application, your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must provide a letter giving their consent for you to live and study overseas independently. You must also provide evidence of your relationship with them (e.g. your birth certificate). If you have problems answering any of the questions on the online application form, and cannot find the answers in these guidance notes, contact international@rcm.ac.uk for assistance. An incorrect or missing answer could result in your application being refused, so if in doubt please do not guess, ask us. We are here to help! GETTING STARTED Go to https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier-4-student and click the green Apply Now button at the bottom of the page. Please note that UKVI sometimes make minor adjustments to the online form. You may, therefore, see slight differences between the images in this guide and your application. You will be asked some basic questions to check you are using the correct form: 2 If you are applying from outside the UK you cannot use this application form. Go to https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/welcome to apply.
Only select yes if an immigration lawyer is completing your application for you. Create an account and password You can save, amend and return to your Tier 4 application at any time before you submit. You can also print your application as a pdf to check it. When attending an appointment with our staff to check your application, please bring a pdf print-out with you. 3
Go to the Application menu to save your form for later, or print a pdf of your work so far. Now you can begin your application. If you have a spouse/partner or any children who are applying with you, you can add their details at this point. Click here for information on dependants applications. 4
Enter your personal details, ensuring they match your passport Make sure you spell your name exactly as it is shown in your passport. UKVI provides help text to guide you through the form. If you are unsure which are your given and family names, click this link for help. Answer yes if you have ever changed your name (e.g. if you were married or adopted) or if you ever use another name for official purposes. 5
Enter your contact details carefully. Reminder: if you are likely to move house in the near future, make sure that you will give the address where you will be able to receive correspondence about your application. 6
If you have more than one nationality, this should be the nationality shown on the passport you are using for your application. If your place of birth is not shown on your passport, give your city/town of birth. TOP TIP! You can view and change the answers you have given so far by clicking this link. You must submit your original passport with your application a photocopy is not acceptable. 7
Copy the information in this section exactly from your passport. It must also match your CAS. Leave to remain just means a visa issued in the UK Most RCM applicants will hold either a Tier 4 (General) or Tier 4 (Child) visa. If you have another type of visa, you need to check that you can apply to switch visa category in the UK before continuing. Copy this information from your most recent visa / BRP 8
This refers to a visa that was cancelled after it was issued. You must declare this if it has happened to you, or your current application could be refused. This does not include any visa applications that were refused. This is the number in the top right corner of your plastic BRP card. Select this option if your current visa is a sticker (vignette) in your passport. 9
If you just completed a course in the UK and are starting a new course at the RCM in September, answer yes. If you are extending your visa for a course you have not finished (e.g. to re-sit or write up), answer no. You will probably only have an NI number if you have worked in the UK. This is not the same as your NHS number. You can find your NI number printed on one of your payslips. The next section checks how you meet the UKVI English language requirements. If you have previously studied on a Tier 4 (Child) visa, you will not see the second set of questions about English language assessment. This is a special Tier 4 visa for under-18s. You may have had one if you recently finished A Levels at a UK independent school and are starting the BMus. 10
The RCM is a higher education institution, so answer yes to this question. You will not be asked further questions about how you were assessed, and if you submitted a Secure English Language Test (e.g. IELTS) you will not be required to submit it with your visa application. This section of the form checks that you haven t broken any of the conditions of your current visa. Tier 4 students should not be claiming public funds. This does not include using the NHS. If you think you have, contact us. You must be honest and declare any convictions, including driving offences or cautions. Your application will be refused if you are found to have withheld information. 11
The next section asks you about your course. Copy this information from your CAS Statement. Answer yes if you applied through UCAS Conservatoires. Answer no if you are taking the Doctoral Programme or the Artist Diploma in Chamber Music, or applying for the Doctoral Extension Scheme. The answer is no for all the RCM s courses. 12
This section checks the details of your course and how you intend to pay for it. Select yes if you received a scholarship from the RCM or from another official sponsor for the course you have just completed (or for your current course if you are extending your visa to complete it). If you were wholly sponsored, you will need a letter from your previous sponsor to confirm there are no restrictions attached to the award preventing further study in the UK. If the RCM was your sponsor and you need a letter, please e-mail international@rcm.ac. uk. Select yes if you have been given an RCM Scholarship towards your tuition fees for your new course. This information will be confirmed on your CAS Statement. If you are receiving sponsorship from another official sponsor, also select yes. You must have an original letter confirming your award. Only state that you are being wholly sponsored if your sponsor is paying for all of your tuition fees and all of your maintenance funds. 13
If you are using any other form of evidence instead of, or as well as, a bank account (e.g. US Stafford loan letter or scholarships letter), select no. You will have the chance to enter more information on your financial documents later in the form. If you are using a joint account or an account in your parent(s) name, the account holder must provide an original letter confirming their permission to use the money. All the information you need to fill out this section is shown on your CAS Statement. Make sure that all your answers match exactly. RQF course levels are the same as NQF levels If you are a current student continuing on the same course, please put the start date on your CAS (which will be the start date of your next visa period), not the date you actually began your course. 14
The answer will be no in most cases. The Doctorate Extension Scheme is a special visa for graduates who have completed a PhD or equivalent. It does not apply to current DMus/PhD students extending their visa to complete their current course. Select no. Any payments to Prince Consort Village cannot be counted here, as they are paid to Campus Living Villages and not to the RCM. 15
This is the fee for the first year of your course only, not the whole course if it lasts more than one year. You should also include any RCM scholarship that has already been deducted from your tuition fees here. If you make a payment towards your tuition fees before applying, make sure you include the information in your CAS Request so that our International staff can confirm it on your CAS.Statement. Copy this information carefully from your CAS Statement. 16
You should now check your answers so far. You can amend your responses by clicking the change or add links. If you forgot to add any dependant family members at the start of your application, you can do so now. Otherwise, click continue. 17
You must indicate the name of the bank where your funds for living costs are held. If you are using accounts from more than one bank, you can add another institution on the next page. If you are funding your studies with a US Stafford Loan, put this as the financial institution and select the third option. If you have a scholarship that covers ALL of your tuition fees AND all your maintenance, write N/A fully sponsored and select the third option. The form will generate a list of the documents you must send in. Check this carefully. If something is not listed that you were expecting, there may be an error in that section of the application. You still can make changes by clicking the show and edit answers at the bottom of the page. Click each box to confirm you have the documents. If you are a low-risk national and not required to send some documents due to the differentiation arrangements, you will be asked to declare this on this page. 18
Do not continue past this point until you have thoroughly checked your answers and documents! You will not be able to make any further changes. We encourage you to get your application checked by one of our international team. E-mail international@rcm.ac.uk for an appointment. The easiest way to check your form is to download a pdf. Please bring this with you if you want us to check your application. This is a legal declaration that all the information in this form is correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you hold all the required documents (even if you are a low-risk national ). If anything is subsequently proved to be false, your application could be refused. 19
After this point your answers will be locked and you will not be able to make any changes. PAYING THE IMMIGRATION HEALTH SURCHARGE You will now be taken through to the webpage to pay the IHS. This will be calculated based on your course dates given in your application, so check they are correct first. SUBMITTING AND PAYING FOR YOUR VISA APPLICATION You will now be taken through to the payment section. Make sure you that you select the correct service so that you are charged the correct fee: Standard Service Once you have submitted your application you have 15 working days to print the cover sheet and send it to UKVI with your supporting documents. The address to use is shown on the cover sheet. The system should also generate a letter inviting you to go to a post office to give your biometrics. The sooner you get this done, the sooner UKVI will start processing your application. Decision received within 8 weeks of application (may be sooner outside of peak periods). Priority Postal Service Before submitting your application, you must complete a request form for the Priority Postal Service and e-mail it to UKVI at the address on the form. Only the first 60 priority requests submitted each day after 08:30 (Monday-Friday) will be accepted. You will receive an e-mail notification from UKVI to tell you if your request has been successful. You must now submit your application online and pay the fee within 24 hours of receiving the notification. Post the printed cover sheet and documents to UKVI within two days (you will need to use special delivery). You must also attend an appointment at a Post Office to give your biometrics before your application is decided, which you must do within two working days of notification. Decision received within 10 days of application. Premium Service Once you submit your application, you will be taken through to the booking system to make an appointment, which must be within 45 days of applying. You must bring your supporting documents to your appointment. Decision received on the day of your appointment (in most cases). For all services your BRP should be posted to you within 10 days of your application being decided. Don t forget to factor this into any travel plans! 20
DOCUMENT CHECKLIST Have you enclosed: Passport Current visa or BRP card Photographs in the required format Original Police Registration Certificate (if you were required to register when you arrived in the UK) Academic qualification used for admission to your course (original certificate, with certified translation if the original is not in English) Evidence of funds Letter of permission from your parents if you are under 18 and evidence of your relationship Check your financial evidence If you are using a bank statement as your financial evidence, check that: The account holds cash funds and there are no restrictions on withdrawing the money (shares, bonds, credit cards and pension funds are not permitted) The letter is printed on the bank s original headed paper If you are using electronic printouts, they are stamped on every page by the bank OR accompanied by an original letter from the bank confirming they are genuine The statement shows the account holder(s) legal name(s) The statement shows the account number and the financial institution s name and logo The statement is no more than 31 days old The statement shows you have held the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days You enclose a certified translation if your statement is not in English If you are using a bank letter, check that: The account holds cash funds and there are no restrictions on withdrawing the money (shares, bonds, credit cards and pension funds are not permitted) The letter is printed on the bank s original headed paper The letter shows the account holder(s) legal name(s) The letter shows the account number and the financial institution s name and logo The letter is no more than 31 days old The letter shows you have held the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days (the letter must state that the funds have been held from X date to Y date: it is NOT sufficient to simply state the amount of funds in the account) You enclose a certified translation if your letter is not in English If you are using a bank account in your parent(s) or guardian(s) name, ensure you enclose: Evidence of your relationship (e.g. original birth or adoption certificate), with a certified translation if the original is not in English Original letter from your parents confirming they give you permission to use the money for your studies Final tip! Keep photocopies of all documentation you submit and your proof of postage (if applicable). You may need to rely on these if there is a problem with your application. 21