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International Student Support

QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST

Making a Tier 4 (General) Leave to Remain visa application in the UK January 2019

This guide provides information about making a Tier 4 visa application when you are already in the UK.

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Contents

Who can apply? .................................................................................................................. 2

Eligibility .............................................................................................................................. 3

Academic Progression ........................................................................................................ 4

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) ................................................................... 4

Tier 4 Maintenance Requirements ..................................................................................... 5

Tier 4 Documentary Requirements .................................................................................... 5

Differentiation arrangement .............................................................................................. 5

Tier 4 Pilot Scheme ............................................................................................................. 5

When can I apply? .............................................................................................................. 6

How can I apply? ................................................................................................................. 6

Application Fee and Processing times ................................................................................ 6

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) ................................................................................... 6

Biometrics ........................................................................................................................... 6

Interview and Medical Checks ............................................................................................ 7

Annex A: Documents required for a Tier 4 application in the UK ...................................... 8

Who can apply?

You may need to make a Tier 4 Leave to Remain application in the UK if:

This guidance has been produced in good faith by Queen’s University Belfast to help students

understand UK immigration procedures and to assist students making an immigration application to

study in the UK. This guidance has been written in line with UKVI guidance which may change at any

time if there are changes to the UK Immigration Rules. Our guidance has been carefully checked at

the time of publication, however it is the responsibility of students to ensure that any immigration

application complies with current UK Immigration legislation. Queen’s University Belfast accepts no

legal responsibility for the accuracy of this guidance and if there are any discrepancies found between

Queen’s University guidance and UKVI guidance, guidance issued by UKVI will take precedence. You

can also refer to the International Student Support (ISS) website and UK Council for International Student

Affairs (UKCISA) website which is updated regularly for students.

UKVI Tier 4 Migrant Guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/673437/T4_Migrant_Guidance_11_January_2018.pdf UKCISA guidance https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Visas-and-Immigration/Making-a-Tier-4-General-application-in-UK International Student Support (ISS) website https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/iss/

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you are progressing to a new course of study

you are continuing your current course of study and need more time to complete your course

You wish to work under the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme, as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer, or as a doctor or dentist in training

You must be in the UK on either a Tier 4 visa on a full-time course of study with an eligible licensed Tier 4 sponsor, or on a Tier 2 visa. If you are in the UK on a short term study visa, general visit visa or a dependant visa you will not be permitted to make a Tier 4 application in the UK. If your Tier 4 sponsor does not meet the eligibility requirements, or if you are currently studying on a part-time course, you will not be permitted to make an application in the UK. You will have to return home to apply for your Tier 4 visa overseas.

Eligibility Eligibility requirements for making a Tier 4 application in the UK are listed below. If you wish to make a Tier 4 application in the UK to study at Queen’s or to continue your studies at Queen’s, contact International Student Support (ISS) at immigration@qub.ac.uk for immigration advice. If you are eligible, ISS will assist you with your visa application. You can find more information about the UVKI Tier 4 eligibility requirements at https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa.

You must have an unconditional offer for an eligible course of study at Queen’s. Your course will normally be full-time and must lead to a recognised UK qualification that is at least Level 3 on the Ofqual register. This includes foundation courses, pathway courses, degree courses and postgraduate degree and Research courses. It is possible to apply to study on a part-time course but only if it leads to a qualification that is at least Level 7 on the Ofqual register.

If you are starting a new course, the start date of your new course must not be more that 28 days after the expiry date of your current visa. If this date is later, you will have to return home to apply for your Tier 4 visa overseas.

If you are starting a new course, you must be able to demonstrate that you have successfully completed your previous course of study in the UK. If you have not successfully completed your previous course, you will have to return home to apply for your Tier 4 visa overseas.

You must be in a position to submit your visa application before your current visa expires.

If you have ever studied before in the UK, you must provide ISS with additional information about your immigration history and you must be able to meet the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) academic progression rules.

You must not exceed the time limit “caps” on how long you can study in the UK on a Tier 4 visa. If you applying to study at degree level, any new Tier 4 application must not lead to you spending more than 5 years on courses at degree level. If you studying at a Higher Education Institution (HEI) this cap is extended to 5 years 11 months. In certain circumstances, the 5-year cap is extended to 6 years, or 6 years 11 months if you are studying at an HEI. Some courses are also exempt from the 5-year cap. Check the UKVI Tier 4 Migrant Guidance for further information about the UKVI academic progression requirements.

You must meet the Tier 4 English language requirements. If you are applying to study at below degree level you will be required to provide evidence that you have passed a UKVI-approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). If you are studying at degree level or above, Queen’s University, as a Higher Education Institution (HEI), is permitted to assess your English language ability. ISS will advise you if you are required to provide any further evidence in order for Queen’s to make this assessment.

You must meet the Tier 4 maintenance requirements by demonstrating that you have enough money to cover your tuition fees for the current academic year and your living costs up to a maximum period of 9 months.

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You must be able to meet all of the Tier 4 documentary requirements.

Academic Progression The UKVI academic progression rules are in place to ensure that you are progressing academically if you are starting a new course of study or continuing your studies in the UK. If you can demonstrate academic progression you will be permitted to make an application in the UK. If you cannot demonstrate academic progression you will have to return home to apply for your Tier 4 visa overseas. If you are applying to study a new course, your new course must normally be at a higher level that your previous course of study AND you must have successfully completed your previous course of study. Successful completion means that you have obtained the qualification for which you were studying. Exemptions to the academic progression rule are listed below. If you are exempt from the academic progression rules you will be permitted to apply for your Tier 4 visa in the UK. You are exempt if:

you are a Tier 4 (Child) Student; you are making a first application to complete an existing course that was commenced at a

Tier 4 sponsor that had its licence revoked; you are applying to extend your leave in order to re-sit exams or repeat a course module or

you have previously re-sat exams or repeated modules and require more time to complete the course;

you are applying to complete your PhD or other doctoral qualification; you are applying to undertake a role as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer, or to complete

the qualification for which you were last given Tier 4 or Student leave after a period as a Student Union Sabbatical Officer;

you are applying under the Doctorate Extension Scheme; you are applying as a postgraduate doctor or dentist on a recognised Foundation

Programme; you are applying to extend your leave in order to undertake a study abroad programme or

work placement or you have previously completed a study abroad programme or work placement and require more time to complete your course.

Check the Tier 4 Migrant Guidance for further information about the UKVI academic progression rules. Contact immigration@qub.ac.uk and an ISS immigration adviser will advise you if you satisfy the academic progression rules.

Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) When you apply for a Tier 4 visa you must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. This unique 14-digit reference number confirms that Queen’s University have agreed to be your Tier 4 sponsor and sponsor your Tier 4 visa. Queen’s University will provide you with a CAS number once you have satisfied all of the eligibility conditions. If you are already a student at Queen’s, you must complete a Queen’s University CAS Request Form which you can obtain from ISS. Before Queen’s can give you a CAS, ISS will check the information provided with your School to confirm that you are permitted to continue on your course. If you are eligible, you will receive a CAS statement which is an electronic document containing essential information you will need to fill in your Tier 4 visa application, including:

Your unique CAS number;

The University’s Sponsor Licence number

Your course title, course level and course start/end dates

Details of your course fees and any deposits paid or any scholarships or stipends awarded

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Details of your entry qualifications (‘evidence used to obtain offer’ section of CAS) which were used to make the decision to offer you a place OR confirmation that you are continuing on the same course of study

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS): Some courses will require you to have an ATAS certificate. Your CAS will state if this is applicable for you. You must have the certificate before you can apply for your visa therefore you should apply for your ATAS certificate as soon as possible. For further guidance about ATAS go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/academic-technology-approval-scheme

Tier 4 Maintenance Requirements

You must provide evidence that you have enough money to pay for your tuition fees for the current academic year along with living costs. This is known as the Tier 4 maintenance requirements. The evidence that you provide will be a financial document, normally a bank statement or financial sponsorship letter. Currently, in order to study in Belfast, you will be required to show evidence of £1,015 living costs for each month of your course, up to a maximum of 9 months. If your course lasts more than 9 months, the maximum amount you will be required to show for living costs is £9,135. These figures are based on current UKVI guidance, which may change at any time if there are any changes to the Immigration Rules. Always check the Tier 4 Migrant Guidance to make sure that you have the most up-to-date information regarding Tier 4 Maintenance requirements.

Tier 4 Documentary Requirements

You must submit certain documents with your Tier 4 visa application and you will be required to prepare these documents prior to making your Tier 4 application online. ISS will check your documents and confirm if everything is in order for your visa application. If you do not have all of the required documents in place you may not be permitted to make your online application. If any of your documents are not in English, you must also provide a certified English translation of the document. See Annex A: Documents required for a Tier 4 application in the UK for further information about the documents you will be required to provide.

Differentiation arrangement

Some Tier 4 applicants are subject to different documentary requirements and will not be required to provide evidence of their qualifications or money with their Tier 4 application. This is known as the ‘differentiation arrangement’. You can find a list of these nationalities in Appendix H of the UK Immigration Rules at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-h-tier-4-documentary-requirements. ISS will check that you have these documents in place but you will not be required to send them to UKVI as part of your application. As UKVI may request to check these documents at any time during the application process, ISS will retain these documents on your student file until the application process is complete.

Tier 4 Pilot Scheme Queen’s University Belfast is one of 23 universities which have been selected by the Home Office to

take part in a scheme which streamlines the visa application process for certain Master’s degree

students. You are eligible for this service if you are applying to study a full time Masters programme

starting in or after September 2018, which lasts for 13 months or less.

The Tier 4 Pilot Scheme allows you to:

Stay in the UK for 6 months after your programme has ended

Submit fewer documents with your application - you will submit the same documents as a

low-risk national, i.e. you do not need to submit evidence of your qualifications or finances.

ISS will check that you have these documents in place but you will not be required to send them to

UKVI as part of your application. As UKVI may request to check these documents at any time during

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the application process, ISS will retain these documents on your student file until the application

process is complete. If UKVI requests to check these documents and you cannot provide them, your

application will be refused. For further information about the Tier 4 Pilot Scheme at Queen’s

University, visit www.qub.ac.uk/iss.

When can I apply? You must submit your online application for your new Tier 4 visa before your current visa expires. If you are continuing your current course, you can submit an application once you have received your CAS and as soon as you have met the eligibility requirements to make an application. If your visa has already expired and you have become an overstayer in the UK, Queen’s will not be able to give you a CAS or, if we have already given you a CAS, we will have to withdraw your CAS. This means that Queen’s will not support your application in the UK. If you think that you will not be eligible to make an application in the UK before your current immigration permission expires you should contact immigration@qub.ac.uk as soon as possible for further immigration advice.

How can I apply? You will apply, pay the application fee and submit the application form online. ISS will assist you with the online application process. You can access the link to the online application form at https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/apply. At the end of the online application you will pay the application fee, the Immigration Health Surcharge fee and you will download and print your application summary and Biometric Enrolment Letter (BEL). Please note the UKVI application service is changing from January 2019. A new service will replace the existing service. The existing service is still in operation. If you choose the existing standard service, ISS will take responsibility for posting your passport and other original documents to UKVI on your behalf within 15 days of your online submission date. If you choose to pay for the more expensive Premium Service, you will select to attend an appointment at one of the UK Premium Service Centres and you will take your documents in person. There is also a Tier 4 priority visa service where you must submit your documents within 2 days of your application date.

Application Fee and Processing times

Service Type Current Fee (effective from 6 April 2018)

Standard processing time

Standard Service £475 8 weeks

Priority Service £952 10 working days

You can find a full up-to-date list of UK visa application fees at https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees.

Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) You must pay the IHS surcharge for each year that you will be studying. This will enable you to access the UK National Health Service while you are studying on the UK. Use the IHS tool on the UKVI website to check how much you will have to pay https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type. The Tier 4 application form automatically calculates how much you need to pay and you pay for this online before you can complete the Tier 4 application.

Biometrics As part of the application process you must have your photograph and fingerprints take at a local participating Post Office. This information is known as your biometrics. Your biometrics information will be contained within your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) which will be your new visa. A

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Biometric Enrolment Letter (BEL) will be generated automatically once you have completed the online Tier 4 application. You must take this letter to a participating Post Office as soon as possible to register your biometrics. ISS will be able to give you further advice about this process once you have completed your application. If you choose the Premium Service application, you will register your biometrics when you attend your appointment at the Premium Service Centre.

Interview and Medical Checks There are no medical checks or tests for a Tier 4 application in the UK. There is a possibility that you will be asked to attend a credibility interview where a UKVI caseworker will assess whether you meet the English language requirements and also assess if you are a ‘genuine’ student.

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Annex A: Documents required for a Tier 4 application in the UK

*If you are applying under the differentiation arrangement OR under the Tier 4 Pilot Scheme (for Masters

courses lasting 13 months or less) you will not be required to submit financial or qualification evidence to UKVI

with your visa application. However, as UKVI may request to check these documents at any time, you will be

required to prepare these documents for review by ISS. ISS will retain these documents on your student file until

the visa application process is complete. You will not be permitted to submit a visa application until you have

provided these documents to ISS.

NOTES

1. Current valid passport

You must provide your current, valid passport. If you also have an old passport, and your previous immigration

permission was contained within your old passport, you must also submit that passport with your application.

2. Previous Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)/visa

If your previous immigration permission was a BRP, you must submit this with your application. If your previous

immigration permission was contained in your passport, you must submit that passport with your application.

3. Financial Document

This document must clearly show that you have enough money to meet the Tier 4 maintenance

requirements for tuition fees and living costs. Your financial document will normally be a personal bank

statement, a bank letter or an official letter of financial sponsorship. If you have any other type of financial

document, check the UKVI Tier 4 Migrant Guidance to make sure it meets the UKVI requirements.

your document must show that you have maintained the required level of funds for at least 28 days in your

bank account before the date of your visa application.

The date of your document must not be more than one month before the date of your visa application.

Your document must contain following details:

- name of the account holder (your name or your parent’s name)

- account number

- financial institution’s name and logo

- amount of money available

Document

1. Current valid Passport

2. Previous Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)/visa

3. (i) *Original Financial Document e.g. personal bank statement or bank letter or official financial sponsorship letter (ii) Supporting documents (if applicable) e.g. birth certificate and letter of consent if using parent’s bank statement

4. *Evidence of qualifications (if stated as a requirement on your CAS) and evidence of English language ability (if stated as a requirement on your CAS)

5. English translations (if applicable) for any documents not in English e.g. your bank statement, birth certificate, qualification documents

6. Police Registration Certificate (if applicable)

7. ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

8. Under 18 letter of consent (if applicable)

9. Any other documents (if applicable)

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You are permitted to use electronic bank statements. These must be stamped by the bank on EVERY page

or be accompanied by a letter from the bank confirming the statements are authentic.

You are permitted to use a parent’s bank account but you must also provide:

- original birth certificate

- original letter from your parents confirming that you have permission to use their funds.

If you are in receipt of official financial sponsorship (for example from your home government or from an

international organisation) you must provide a sponsorship letter on letter-headed paper or stationery with

the official stamp of that organisation. The letter must contain the following details:

- your name

- name and contact details of your official financial sponsor

- date of the letter

- length of sponsorship

- amount of money the sponsor is giving you or a statement that your official financial sponsor will cover

all your fees and living costs.

- must also confirm that your financial sponsor gives unconditional permission for you to continue your

studies in the UK

*if you have been in receipt of official financial sponsorship as a student within the last 12 months, you may be required to provide evidence of your sponsor’s unconditional consent for you to continue your studies in the UK.

4. Evidence of qualifications

The ‘Evidence used to obtain offer’ section of your CAS statement states the qualification documents you are

required to submit. If you are starting a new course of study, the qualifications upon which your offer is based will

be stated in this section of the CAS. You must provide your ORIGINAL degree certificate or ORIGINAL

transcript of results. If you are continuing the same course of study and you are not required to provide evidence

of your qualifications, this will be stated on your CAS. If you are required to provide evidence of your English

language ability, the document that you are required to provide will be stated on your CAS.

5. English Translations

Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a fully certified translation by a professional translator or

translation company. The translation must include:

details of the translator/translation company’s credentials; and

confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document; and

the translator/translation company’s contact details; and

must be dated & signed by translator

6. Police Registration Certificate (if applicable)

Certain nationalities are required to register with the police under the terms and conditions of their Tier 4 visa for course that are longer than 6 months in duration. Visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-2-police-registration to check if you are a nationality that is required to register with the police. If you already have a Police Registration Certificate, you must ensure that it has been updated with your most recent visa and contact details before you can submit this document with your Tier 4 application.

7. ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

This is only required for certain courses. If your course requires you to have an ATAS certificate, you should

already have been informed about this requirement when you received your unconditional offer from Queen’s

Admissions & Access Service. Your CAS will also confirm if you are required to have an ATAS certificate.

8. Under 18 letter of Consent (if applicable)

If you are under 18 years old when you submit your Tier 4 application, you must provide a letter signed by your

parents or legal guardian confirming that they give their consent for you to studying and living in the UK. ISS will

provide you with a letter template (UKVI Under 18 Parent Declaration) that your parents can use. You must also

provide evidence of your relationship e.g. original birth certificate (and English translation if applicable).

9. Any other documents (if applicable)

ISS will advise you if you will be required to submit any other documents with your application.