` TIER 4 ONLINE ENTRY CLEARANCE APPLICATION GUIDE USE ONLY IF APPLYING OUT OF THE UK This should be used in conjunction with the Tier 4 Policy Guidance and the online guidance provided on the UKVI website. Produced by the International Student Advice (ISA): Ground Floor, Roland Levinsky Building International.advice@plymouth.ac.uk Tel: 01752 587740 Updated 02/03/2017 1
Immigration Health Surcharge - as part of your visa application you may need to pay a healthcare charge It is a criminal offence to provide information which you know to be false, or which you do not believe to be true, it may also result in your application being refused. If you have any questions or are unsure how to proceed with your application please email international.advice@plymouth.ac.uk or call us at 0044 1752 587 740 Before you start: You must be outside the UK to apply for your visa using this form. You will need to: register for an account fill in the application form in English pay for the visa fee online (in most cases) and pay for the immigration health surcharge (if you are coming to the UK for a period longer than 6 months) print out your form and write the immigration health surcharge number on it book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre You must: have the original and a photocopy of all the supporting documents you need for your visa translate any supporting documents and include them with the originals if they aren t in English Tuberculosis (TB) test: You may need to get a TB test, depending on where you re applying from -check if you need a TB test on https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa Attending an appointment Check where your appointment will be before you apply. How long it takes Find out how long it will take to get your visa at https://www.gov.uk/visa-processing-times 2
APPLY FOR YOUR TIER 4 VISA Click on the Entry Clearance Website: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/ Click to register a new account; you will be sent an email to activate your account. CARE: The registration email (and any future emails from the Home Office) may come up as spam or junk email so check your email folders. The registration email will ask you to click on it or copy and paste a web address into your browser which will then allow you to input your email address and password again. Then press Apply For Myself and read the screen. 3
The supporting document list a number of items but generally you will need the following: I. Plymouth University will issue you with a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) identification number to include with your application. This will be sent with your unconditional offer. Continuing students should contact ISA: international.advice@plymouth.ac.uk to request a CAS. II. Your valid passport. III. Two passport photograph of yourself. IV. Your ATAS clearance certificate if required. V. Any relevant diplomas or educational certificates used to obtain your Plymouth University offer* (these will be listed on your CAS statement). VI. Financial evidence.* UK or overseas bank statements in your name that show you have maintained the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days. OR UK or overseas bank statements in your parent s name that show they have maintained the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days PLUS your original birth certificate PLUS a letter of parental consent. OR If you are being officially sponsored, a formal letter from your sponsor confirming the details of your sponsorship. *Low risk nationals are subject to different documentary requirements and do not need to provide these documents although they can occasionally be requested. 4
Care: The above is a guide. Please check with your visa application centre for the exact documents required. All documents should be originals and officially translated into English if necessary. Press continue at the bottom of this screen. Complete the following screen: 5
Study PBS Tier 4 Student Tier 4 (General) Student Then press Create Application This will be the next screen: Press Go to Application 6
The next screen gives you your unique application reference number: You will now need to complete each of these sections: PRESS THE SAVE BUTTON REGULARLY SO YOU DON T LOSE INFORMATION. IF YOU GET TIMED OUT, IT WILL REQUEST YOU LOG IN AGAIN. What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying in the UK? 7
What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? If you do not yet have a UK address confirmed, please enter: Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom, Tel: 01752587740. Once each section has been completed successfully, the headings will turn green: THE SECTIONS PASSPORT / TRAVEL DOCUMENT INFORMATION SECTION : This section is straight-forward. You will see that some of the boxes are not big enough to show what you have just typed in; this is being fixed by the Home Office. Please, carry on typing in the field where requested. 8
What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? If you do not yet have a UK address confirmed, please enter: Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom, Tel: 01752587740. PERSONAL DETAILS AND TRAVEL HISTORY SECTION: Answer this section very carefully Have you ever voluntarily elected to depart the UK? Only answer yes if you have been served immigration papers because you have breached a condition on your visa If we need to interview you, what language would you like to use in the interview? You may need to attend a credibility interview as part of your Tier 4 visa application. See our website for more details: http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/isas/ FAMILY DETAILS This section is straight forward. MEDICAL TREATMENT SECTION This section is straight forward. TIER 4 STUDENT SECTION Sponsor Give your Tier 4 Sponsor s Licence Number: RQ2UGKJY7 What is the name of your sponsor: Plymouth University 9
What is the full address of your sponsor? Enter postcode PL4 8AA and click on find address (the fields will be populated automatically) Studies What is your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Number? Starting a new course: You do not need to apply for a CAS it will be sent automatically with your offer Continuing students: email ISA to request a CAS International.advice@plymouth.ac.uk. It will take at least 10 working days and will be emailed to ISA: We will contact you once received. What is the level of the course and qualification? This will be on your CAS e.g. NQF Level 8 is Doctorate (PhD), NQF Level 7 is Masters Degree, NQF Level 6 is Bachelor s Degree Start Date of course? This will be on your CAS End Date of course? This will be on your CAS What is the address of the main site of study? This is Plymouth University address: 10
Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom, telephone 01752 587740 email international.advice@plymouth.ac.uk Confirm which of the following apply: Choose Studying Have you been assessed by the sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork? The answer to this is normally no, please check the wording on your CAS. Please indicate how you meet the minimum English language requirement relevant to your course. If you are a pre-sessional English language student choose English language test you will need to fill in additional fields: Awarding Body: enter as appropriate Title of qualification: enter as appropriate Level of qualification: please enter the CEFR level stated on your certificate Date of award: enter the date on the certificate 11
Award reference number: enter the UKVI number (also called SELT Unique Reference Number) stated on your certificate and on your CAS in the Evidence used to obtain offer field. For all others, choose the following answer: Your sponsor is a Higher Education Institution (HEI), and has made its own assessment of your English language ability. Are you required to obtain permission from the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)? This will be stated on your CAS or you can check this website: https://www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme Maintenance and Fees How much are the fees for your course of study? This will be on your CAS. Have any of your course fees been paid? If you have paid some tuition fees already choose: Yes- paid to UK Education provider What document has been provided as evidence of payment? This should be shown on your CAS Have any of your accommodation fees been paid to your sponsor? If yes, choose: Yes- paid to UK Education provider Do you receive support from a financial sponsor that meets the UK Visa and Immigration definition of a financial sponsor? Answer yes if you receive money for your living/fees from an official sponsor e.g. Government Sponsor Do you have any remaining fees and maintenance still due for payment? This will be a yes Course fees: the amount of tuition fees that you still owe for your first year Maintenance: o This will be 9135 for courses of 9 months or longer o For shorter courses you will need to have 1015 per month of the course Total: type in the total of unpaid fees plus maintenance. This is the amount you need to show in your financial documents. Do you have money in your own name? Is the bank account in your own name? If so, type yes. You will then be asked What original documents has been supplied showing evidence of funds for the fees that still need to be paid? Type in the type of document e.g. bank statement, bond certificate If it s in a parent s name, type no. The next question is: What evidence have you provided that shows both the amount of funds available and your relationship to your parents or legal guardians? You need to provide original stamped bank statements, parent s/legal guardian s original birth certificate/or certificate of guardianship plus a letter of consent from the parent/guardian and any translations necessary. 12
Points Claimed Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies Answer: 30 Maintenance Answer: 10 Total Answer: 40 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION Type in anything you think is relevant. You can leave blank. 13
Press save button You can now press confirm application The next screen will be a summary of your application Press submit application if you are happy that the information is correct or return to application if you need to amend something. You will not be able to change anything once you submit After you have submitted, you will see the main screen again: 14
You will see that the application completed has turned green. Now you need to press Sign Declaration. The next screen will ask you to read the declaration and sign in the box (just type your full name in) then press sign declaration. You will now be taken to the back to main screen: You will see that Declaration Signed has now turned green 15
Now press BRP Collection Location. The next screen will be: You can now collect your BRP card from Plymouth University. You will need to enter the following code into the Alternative location box: 2HE747 You should now see the following screen, you will need to click save and close: 16
Now press Book Appointment. The next screen will be: Follow the screens and book your appointment for a PBS Tier 4 (General) Visa. The next screens will ask you to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and the application fee 17
The next screen confirms your application is complete: You will be asked to print your application form. The form confirms your Biometric Enrolment appointment and asks you to print out the appointment booking form: 18
If you then press view applications it will take you back to the home page and your application will say complete: You will notice that the first 2 boxes on the right are a paler green; you cannot access the application form and declaration again. You can still view the appointment (and amend the appointment time if necessary) and print the application again if needed. You will need to take all your documents to your appointment. You may also be asked to register with the commercial visa application centre. Follow instructions if asked to do so. 19
APPLYING FOR DEPENDANTS: On the home page, press Apply for Someone Else: The next screen is: 20
Supporting Documents for dependants may include: 2 x passport sized photo valid passport Birth certificates Financial evidence (this will be the main applicant s bank statement if they apply at the same time). If you are a continuing student and your dependant is over 16 you will need to submit 2 of these items confirming your UK address: o bank statements; and/or o credit card bills; and/or o driving licence; and/or o NHS Registration document; and/or o letter from your current school, college or university confirming your address. This must be on official headed paper and bearing the official stamp of that organisation. It must have been issued by an authorised official of that organisation. If your dependant is married to you, you may be asked to provide your original marriage certificate. The above is a guide. Please check with your visa application centre for the exact documents required. All documents should be originals and officially translated into English if necessary. Press Continue. The next screen is: 21
You need to input the details of your dependant as requested. Complete the following details: Location is your home country Study PBS Tier 4 Student Tier 4 (general) Dependant Child (or choose partner if applicable) Then press create application this will take to back to the main page. You will see the main applicant s application and the dependant s application. Click on go to application for the dependant 22
Passport and Travel Document information section: Some of the boxes are not big enough to show what you have just typed in; this is being fixed by the Home Office. Please carry on typing in the field where requested. 23
How long do you intend to stay in the UK? Your dependant should not stay longer in the UK than you. The number of years and months entered must be no longer than the main applicant. What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? If you do not yet have a UK address confirmed, please enter: Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom, telephone 01752 587740 Personal Details and Travel History Section: Complete and save 24
Press next section: Family Details Section ENTRY CLEARANCE GUIDANCE NOTES Do you have any dependent children? Some dependant applicants may have children and this is why this question is asked. Press next section Medical Treatment Section This section is straight forward 25
Maintenance Section Which area of the maintenance requirement are you applying under? Enter: Own/main applicant funds if you are a dependant partner Parent or Legal Guardian Funds if you are a child Tier 4 Student who has sponsorship if the main applicant and dependants are supported by official sponsorship Press next section Main Applicant Section 26
What is the address where the main applicant works or studies? Type in Plymouth University address What is the start date of the job or course? Refer to your CAS What is the end date of the job or course? Refer to your CAS Press next section Additional Information Section Type in anything you think is relevant. You can leave blank. Press Confirm Press save button You can now press confirm application If you have missed any information, this screen will show up: Re-enter the incomplete sections highlighted in orange. However, it doesn t show exactly which field is incomplete so look carefully. 27
Once all completed correctly, all the sections will turn green and will not be orange: Remember to press save regularly. Press confirm application again. The next screen confirms what you have typed in: 28
Press submit application if you are happy that the information is correct or return to application if you need to amend something. The next screen warns you that you will not be able to change anything once you submit: PLEASE NOW FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THIS GUIDE FROM PAGE 15 TO PAGE 19 TO COMPLETE THIS APPLICATION This guide will help you to set up your Tier 4 Entry Clearance Online application. If you have any queries, please contact: Plymouth University, ISA, Ground Floor, Roland Levinsky Building, Plymouth, PL4 8AA International.advice@plymouth.ac.uk Tel 01752 587740 29