Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Transcription

1 Finance Personal Immigration UK EU International Undergraduate Postgraduate Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

2 About the Advice and Counselling Service The offers a free and confidential service to all QMUL students,including those from Barts and The London, QMUL s School of Medicine and Dentistry. You can view our confidentiality policy on our website: Our Welfare Advisers In this guide we sometimes advise you to contact a Welfare Adviser for further guidance. Welfare Advisers in the have specialist training to offer you professional advice on a range of financial, practical and legal issues. This includes: financial support (loans, grants, bursaries, etc) tuition fee status planning and managing a budget cutting costs hardship funds dealing with debt immigration law international student issues financial support for student parents (childcare costs, etc) postgraduate funding welfare benefits, including disability benefits housing rights and council tax The Welfare Advisers role is to offer you advice about your individual situation, explaining your rights, and any options and solutions available to you. You can then choose what you want to do. If your situation is complex, a Welfare Adviser can advocate on your behalf where appropriate, for example, appealing against an incorrect assessment of Student Finance or a welfare benefit. You can get advice at any time during your course, as well as before you start at QMUL. How to contact a Welfare Adviser You can see a Welfare Adviser in person during one of our same day appointments (during term time only), or at a pre-booked appointment, or you can questions via our website. If you need to speak to a Welfare Adviser but you are unable to come to the the Mile End campus, we can normally offer a telephone appointment. Appointments are one to one and confidential. More information about how an adviser can help you, and how our appointments work, is available at index.html For more information on how to contact us to book an appointment, our opening hours, and the times of our same day appointments, visit qmul.ac.uk/contact Also see our A Z directory of support services for information on how to contact other support departments at QMUL, and external organisations which can also offer you support. Disclaimer Law, regulations and policies can change quickly so make sure that you are using the most up-to-date version of this guidance. Check the Advice and Counselling Service website for regular updates. The information in this guide is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. QMUL, however, accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Regulation of Immigration Advice The OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) is an independent organisation that monitors immigration advice and services. Welfare Advisers at QMUL are regulated under OISC guidelines to give immigration advice. We have to attend regular training to do this. If you ever need to complain about the immigration advice you receive, the has a complaints procedure. You can find this on our website at Alternatively, you can complain directly to the OISC. Their complaints form is on the website at

3 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Contents Introduction 5 Making a successful immigration application 5 What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission? 5 Technical terms 6 Can I apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission? 7 Applying inside the UK 7 Time limit ( cap ) on studies 8 Obtaining a CAS 11 New students 11 Existing students 11 Check your CAS statement carefully: 12 Forms, application fees and where to apply 13 The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) 13 Applications made to British visa application centres or sections (outside the UK) 14 Extension applications (inside the UK) 17 How much money do I need to show? 22 Maintenance 22 Tuition fees 24 I still need to show some money for my tuition fees and/or maintenance 25 What else should I submit with my application? 30 Evidence of your qualifications 30 Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate 30 Parental permission for students who are 16 or 17 years old 31 Delayed or missing documents? 31 Low risk nationals 33 So do I actually need to have this evidence? 34 Should I submit this evidence anyway? 34 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 3

4 welfare.qmul.ac.uk What about the immigration application form? 34 Hong Kong SAR passport holders 34 Application checklist 35 For applicants outside the UK 35 For applicants in the UK 35 All applicants 35 Keeping copies of your documents 36 Partners and Children 37 Babies born in the UK 38 Further information 38 After your immigration application has been decided 39 If you submitted your application to a Visa Application Centre outside the UK 39 If you apply in the UK 40 Is your immigration permission correct? 41 Correcting an error 42 Registering with the Police 43 What to do if things go wrong 44 Applying outside the UK 44 Applying in the UK 46 Where can I get further information and assistance? 54 Contact the 54 Information provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) 54 Other regulated immigration advisers 55 Appendix 1: Worked example showing funds in multiple bank accounts 56 Appendix 2: Sample bank letter 59 4 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

5 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Introduction Making a successful immigration application The UK immigration system for students has been, and is going, through a period of considerable change. It is therefore very important to make sure that you are using the latest guidance when you make an immigration application. You may find that a document, which you used in a previous application, is no longer acceptable. Don t get caught out make sure you use the most up to date guidance when making an immigration application. Warning: When making an immigration application, do not take advice from your friends or other people who are not regulated to offer immigration advice. They could give you bad advice, which could result in your immigration application being refused. Every immigration application is different as everyone s circumstances are different. Do not assume that your application will be the same as your friends because you think your situation is similar to theirs. This Advice Guide The Welfare Advisers at the have written this advice guide to help you make a successful immigration application: if you read it carefully, you should be able to prepare your application so that it meets the immigration rules. The first half of this advice guide will help you prepare your application, and the second half explains what happens after you submit your application, and what to do if anything goes wrong. Video guidance We have also created a number of video guides that explain the requirements, show you how to prepare your supporting documents and how to complete certain sections of your application form. The videos provide an overview, but you will still need to refer to this guide for the details. To access the videos, visit our website: If your situation is unusually complicated or if something has gone wrong, you may need to seek immigration advice. See the section in this guide Where can I get further information and assistance? What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission? Tier 4 is part of the Points Based Immigration System. The Home Office administers the System. For a successful Tier 4 (General) application, you must score a total of 40 points: Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 5

6 welfare.qmul.ac.uk You can get 30 points for a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a Licensed Sponsor You can get 10 points for having a specified amount of money available to you The points based system is very rigid which has the advantage that, if you follow the rules carefully and provide all the correct documents, your application should be successful. The disadvantage is that if you make a mistake with showing you meet the rules, the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker who decides your application is normally required to refuse your application. It is unlikely that you will be able to challenge a decision to refuse your immigration application if you have made a mistake. Even if you are able to challenge a decision, this can cost money and take many months. For these reasons, it is very important that you make sure that you complete your application form correctly and submit all the required documents in the specified format within the relevant timeframe. If you follow this guide carefully, you can make a successful application. Technical terms There are some technical terms associated with the Points Based System of immigration: Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)? To apply for immigration permission under Tier 4 of the Points Based System, you will need a special reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This reference number is linked to a record on a secure Home Office database, which contains the details QMUL has provided about you and your programme of studies. When you make your immigration application, the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker will use this reference number to retrieve the information QMUL has provided about you and your programme of studies. If you take up an unconditional offer on an eligible programme, QMUL will provide you with a CAS reference number. QMUL will also provide you with a statement of all the information the university has provided to the Home Office. This is only to help you complete your application form and you do not need to submit this statement with your immigration application. Tier 4 Licensed Sponsor Your Tier 4 (General) application must be sponsored by an education institution, which is licensed by the Home Office. In this context, sponsorship does not mean financial sponsorship. QMUL is licensed by the Home Office as a Tier 4 Sponsor. This is the highest possible rating. If you accept an unconditional offer on an eligible programme, QMUL will normally agree to be your sponsor. 6 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

7 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Can I apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission? Even if you have a valid CAS and the specified amount of money (see later sections Obtaining a CAS and How much money do I need to show? ), there are some restrictions on if, when and where you can apply. If you are starting a new programme or resuming existing studies, you can make your Tier 4 (General) application a maximum three months before the start date or resumption date of your studies. For this reason, this is the earliest QMUL would normally issue a CAS for a new or resumed course. You must be at least 16 years old. Applying inside the UK There are specific restrictions on who can make a Tier 4 application inside the UK. If you do not meet them, you will need to apply outside the UK. If you are starting a new programme or resuming existing studies (e.g. after a period out of attendance), these must start within 28 days of the date that your current immigration permission is curtailed to or expires. If you are applying for an extension so that you can finish your current programme, QMUL will issue your CAS a maximum six months before your current immigration permission expires. QMUL can normally only issue a CAS for an application in the UK if you have Tier 4 (General), Tier 4 (Child) or Tier 2 immigration permission, which has not expired and has not been curtailed. If you previously had one of these but it has now expired or been curtailed, or if you have another type of immigration permission, for example short-term student, a visitor or a dependant, you must apply in your home country. Exceptions There are currently four exceptions to this: 1. Some Syrian nationals QM can issue you with a CAS for a Tier 4 application in the UK if you are a Syrian national who is normally resident in Syria, currently resident in the UK with any type of immigration permission. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 7

8 welfare.qmul.ac.uk The Home Office will accept your application despite you not having current Tier 4 or Tier 2 immigration permission (or one of the other exceptions below), and they will disregard any time limit ( cap ) on studies. See the section Time limit ( cap ) on studies for more information. You still need to meet all the other Tier 4 requirements. This concession will end on 28 February Some Libyan nationals You must be a Libyan national who switched from Tier 4 to Discretionary Leave under a special Home Office concession brought in on 20 July 2011, and who now wishes to switch back to Tier 4. If you are a Libyan national thinking of switching from Discretionary Leave to Tier 4, we advise you seek immigration legal advice. 3. Some dependants of overseas diplomats This is only possible in certain compelling circumstances: please see the guidance written by UKCISA for further information. You may also wish to contact a Welfare Adviser if you think this applies to you. 4. People with valid leave in one of these withdrawn categories The following types of immigration permission have not been granted for some years, but someone with such permission can switch to Tier 4 within the UK. Tier 1 (Post-study Work) International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme), Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme, Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist, A pre-tier 4 study visa that you applied for on or before 31 March 2009, including Student, Student Nurse, Student Re-sitting an Examination, Student Writing-Up a Thesis, Student Union Sabbatical Officer A pre-tier 2 Work Permit Time limit ( cap ) on studies You can normally spend a maximum 5 years studying in the UK at degree level and above as a Tier 4 (General) student or as a Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009). If your Tier 4 application is to study Medicine or Dentistry at QMUL, these courses are exempt and are not counted in the 5 year time limit. If you have previously studied any exempt courses, including Medicine, Dentistry and some other Law and Architecture courses, it is the Home Office s policy to count these courses in the time limit 8 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

9 welfare.qmul.ac.uk for any new application. The five year limit is extended to six years if you wish to study a course at Master s level and you have successfully completed a degree level course in the UK where the standard course length was at least 4 academic years (this includes courses with a year in industry or a year abroad). Students studying on their first PhD, MRes, or one of the other Postgraduate Research Qualifications listed in Annex 5 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance are also exempt: However, if you have already completed a Postgraduate Research Qualification in the UK, you can only apply for immigration permission to study another course (at any level and in any subject area) if that course will bring the total number of years to eight or less. For a full list of acceptable PG research qualifications please see Annex 5 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance: If you take longer than expected to complete your course, for example because you need to retake part of your course or do resits, and to do so would take you over the five year limit, you can only extend your immigration permission if you had very compelling circumstances, such as injury, disability, or other compelling reasons. Time spent outside the UK The immigration rules only refer to time spent in the UK being counted in the five year limit, however the policy guidance is not clear that time spent outside the UK during your programme of study should not be counted in the five year limit. We are seeking clarification from the Home Office on this and will update this guidance when we receive it. Keep evidence of your travel in and out of the UK in case you need to prove that you were outside the UK for a period of time. UKCISA has created a webpage and flowchart to help you calculate if an application for a further period of study will be possible under the cap: For more detailed information on the five year limit, follow this link to refer to paragraphs of the Home Office Tier 4 Policy Guidance: Progression of studies If you are making your Tier 4 (General) Student immigration application in the UK, QMUL is usually required to check that your studies show academic progress from any previous studies you have undertaken while in the UK with Tier 4 (General) or Student immigration permission. QMUL is required to confirm this in your CAS. Academic progress means that: Your course at QMUL is at a higher academic level than previous studies; or The course is connected to, part of the same subject group as, or involves deeper specialization of the previous course; or Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 9

10 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Your previous course and the new course together support your genuine career aspirations. QMUL does not need to confirm academic progress on your CAS if your Tier 4 application is for re-sitting an exam or repeating modules; or completing a PhD or other doctoral qualification that you have been previously studying with Tier 4 (General) or Student immigration permission or completing a course that you started at an institution which had its Tier 4 licence revoked Academic progress is also not needed for a Tier 4 application made outside the UK. When you request your CAS, you will be asked to provide information about any previous studies in the UK. QMUL will use this information to assess your academic progress. If you do not inform QMUL of your previous studies, your immigration application could be refused. If you have any questions about the level of your programme at QMUL or any previous programmes you have taken, contact the admissions team responsible for your application. 10 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

11 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Obtaining a CAS New students When you accept an unconditional offer, the Admissions and Recruitment Office will you details of how you can apply for your CAS. There is no fee for this. The Home Office has rules about the required level of English language for a particular course. If you have any questions about what level of English is required to get a CAS, contact the admissions team dealing with your application. During the CAS request process, you will receive an asking you to verify your CAS by logging into the web portal. You should check the CAS statement carefully to make sure that all the information the university has provided is correct, and none of the required information is missing. If anything is incorrect or missing, you will be able to correct this, before your final CAS is issued. Existing students If you are part way through a programme at QMUL and you need to extend your immigration permission, you can request a CAS by logging in to your MySIS profile: You will find the form to request a new CAS under My Details. In order to complete the form, you will need to provide a copy of the personal details page of your current passport and a copy of your most recent visa sticker or biometric ID card (both sides). There are photocopiers in the main library, which you can use to scan your documents onto a USB memory stick. A new CAS for existing students costs 25. If anything has changed since you started your programme, you need to casinfo@qmul.ac.uk to ask for your CAS to be updated. If you are applying for an extension of your immigration permission so that you can finish your current programme, the university will not normally be able to issue you with a CAS until 6 months before your current immigration permission expires. However, if you already have enough time on your existing immigration permission to complete your current programme, QMUL will not normally issue a CAS as you do not require further time in the UK to complete your studies. Your CAS will not be valid if: you have already used it in a Tier 4 (General) application that was granted or refused; or it was issued more than six months ago; or it was withdrawn by either the university or the Home Office Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 11

12 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Warning: During busy periods, it can take QMUL between 10 and 15 working days to issue a CAS. Please request your CAS as early as possible. Check your CAS statement carefully: Check that all the information in your CAS statement is correct, especially: Your name, date of birth, nationality and passport number should exactly match the passport you are planning to submit with your immigration application. Make sure you actually have any documents listed in the Evidence Used section, and that the documents you have are original. This section must also detail how the university has assessed your English language ability, and that your course of study shows academic progression. What if something in my CAS statement needs correcting or updating? If you pay any money to QMUL, such as your tuition fees, after your CAS has been issued, this will not be automatically updated in your CAS. If this or anything else needs amending in your CAS, please New students: cas-admissions@qmul.ac.uk Existing students: casinfo@qmul.ac.uk 12 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

13 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Forms, application fees and where to apply The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) You will need to pay the IHS if you apply in the UK, or if you apply outside the UK for immigration permission that will allow you to stay in the UK for more than six months. This fee is payable so that you can have access to hospital treatment from the NHS (National Health Service) while you are in the UK. What you will need to pay will be based on the length of immigration permission you will be granted if your immigration application is successful, including the time you are given before and after the course dates. The IHS is calculated at 75 for each six months period of immigration permission that will be granted (rounded up to six months). Here are some examples: Course length/type Pre-sessional English 0 * 1 year master s degree year undergraduate degree year PhD 675 Nationals of Australia and New Zealand, and anyone who has been awarded a Chevening Scholarship are exempt from paying the IHS. The IHS payment is integrated within the Tier 4 online application. If you are liable to pay the health surcharge, or if you are exempt but require an IHS reference number, when you are completing your Tier 4 online form you will be automatically directed to a new IHS payment website. Once you have completed the IHS process you will be issued an IHS reference number and you will be redirected back to your application form. * Except if you are applying for an extension of your immigration permission in the UK. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 13

14 welfare.qmul.ac.uk If you are applying outside of the UK, the website will quote the fee in a foreign currency. Please note that we have observed that the exchange rates which the Home Office is using appear to have 2-7% of additional loading fees. If you are applying to extend your leave inside the UK, you will continue to have free access to NHS hospital treatment while your application is being processed as long as you make your immigration application before your current immigration permission expires. While your immigration extension application is being processed, you should keep evidence of your IHS payment in case it is not clear to hospital staff that you have paid. Applications made to British visa application centres or sections (outside the UK) The form: Unless you are applying in North Korea, you will apply and pay for your immigration application online. You will be offered various options under the heading "Visa Sub Type". You should choose: Tier 4 (General) Student if you will be self or family funded, otherwise privately funded or funded by a student loan; Tier 4 (General) (Sponsored) Student if all of your tuition fees and living costs are going to be funded by an "official financial sponsor", which includes scholarships or bursaries provided by QMUL, another university, the UK government, your home government (though this does not include student loans), the British Council or any international organisation or international company. If you are only partially funded by an official financial sponsor, complete the Tier 4 (General) Student application instead. Tier 4 UK Government (Scholarship) Student ONLY IF you are the holder of a Chevening Scholarship or Fellowship, a British Marshall Scholarship, a Fulbright Scholarship or a Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan. If you are applying in North Korea, you will need to complete a paper version of the VAF9 form and Appendix 8. You can access the forms (online and paper) by visiting: Some of the wording used in the questions on the Visa4UK online application form can be confusing. You can find detailed explanations of some of these questions in this guide to the online form: The fee: 322 in the currency local to the visa application centre or section 14 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

15 welfare.qmul.ac.uk In some countries there is an additional fee of 59. To check the exact application fee for the country where you will be applying, visit Where to make your application You should apply in the country where you are living. You cannot apply in a country where you are visiting, unless you happen to hold a passport of that country or a residence permit that allows you to live there. You can find which British visa application centre or section you need to apply to by visiting the GOV.UK website: Photographs You must submit one UK passport sized photograph taken within the last six months. Check that your photograph meets all of the Home Office requirements. You can find a summary of the requirements here: Warning: Your application could be refused if your photographs do not meet the requirements. Passport or travel document You will need to submit your current passport or travel document. Make sure that it has not expired. You will also need to submit any previous passports you ve held unless they have been lost, stolen or returned to the issuing authority. Other documents You may need to submit other documents with your application, such as your previous qualifications or bank statements. See the following sections of this Advice Guide: How much money do I need to show? and What else should I submit with my application? All documents you submit must be originals (not photocopies faxes or printouts from the internet), unless the Home Office policy guidance specifies otherwise. Translations If a document is not in either English or Welsh, you must provide an English translation of the document. Paragraph 17 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for translations for students who are applying from outside the UK: Do you need TB screening? Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 15

16 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Biometrics You will need to attend a British visa application centre or section to record your biometric details. They will take a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photograph of your face. Your visa application centre or section will give you information on how and when you should do this. Will I be need to have an interview? You may be invited to a video or telephone interview as part of your entry clearance application. If this raises any questions over whether your application is genuine, you may be required to attend an interview with an Entry Clearance Officer at the visa application centre. It is expected that, before accepting your offer to study at QMUL, you will have researched your choice of course carefully. It is also expected that you will have thought about the practicalities of studying in the UK (budgeting, finding somewhere to live, etc.). If you have done this, you shouldn t have any problem answering any questions as part of a credibility interview or an interview with an Entry Clearance Officer. The Entry Clearance Officer may consider the following: Your immigration history in the UK and other countries o Have you previously been refused immigration permission for the UK or elsewhere? o How long and for what purpose have you spent time in the UK and other countries? o Have you complied with the conditions of previous immigration permission? Your education history, study and post-study plans o When and what were your most recent studies? o Why you have chosen to study in the UK? o Why you have chosen your subject and course? o Why you have chosen to study at QMUL? o What is your proposed career plan and how will your course at QMUL help you achieve that? Your financial circumstances o Where is the money for your studies in the UK coming from? o Have you prepared a budget for your studies? o How do you know that you will have enough money to cover your expenses? QMUL and any official agents we use overseas If the Entry Clearance Officer is not convinced that you are genuine, you may be refused entry clearance. See the section of this guide called What to do if things go wrong. Tuberculosis (TB) Screening You will need to take a tuberculosis (TB) test if you re coming to the UK for more than 6 months and are resident in any of the countries listed here: If your test shows that you don t have TB, you ll be given a certificate which is valid for 6 months. You will need to include this certificate with your UK visa application. 16 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

17 welfare.qmul.ac.uk For more information about Tuberculosis testing, visit the GOV.UK website: How long will my application take? The UK Government aims to decide 90% of standard applications within 15 working days. Depending on the post you apply to, there may also be the option of making a priority application (within 5 working days) or a super priority application (within one working day). You can check processing times for last month at From July, Visa Application Centres become increasingly busy as students make their applications to start programmes in September. Extension applications (inside the UK) The form: Apply online at and select Start now. When you have completed your application, you will pay for your application online. You will then be prompted to print out a cover sheet, which you will send with your passport and supporting documents to the Home Office. The address is on the cover sheet. UKCISA has written guidance on the online form: There are also videos on our website, which answer some of the frequent questions students have when completing the application form: The fee: 439 for a Standard (by post) application (usually decided within 8 weeks) 839 for a Premium (in person) application (usually decided on the same day, but you will need to make an appointment in advance. You will normally receive your plastic Biometric Residence Permit with your new immigration permission in 3-5 working days after your appointment.) Where to apply Standard (by post): Send your cover sheet, passport and supporting documents to the address on the cover sheet. We recommend that you send your application via Royal Mail Special Delivery so that you can track your application online, see confirmation that it has been delivered and signed for. Special Delivery includes compensation for any loss or damage to your documents. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 17

18 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Premium (in person): If you are applying in person you will need to attend one of the Home Office s Premium Service Centres. There are seven centres in the UK: Belfast Cardiff Croydon (this is the closest to QMUL and is about an hour from the Mile End campus by public transport) [Directions] Glasgow Liverpool Sheffield Solihull You can try to book your appointment when you pay for your online application. During busy periods, appointments may not be available. Deadline for posting your documents or attending your appointment You must apply online before midnight on the day your immigration permission expires. If you have selected the standard service, you then have a further 15 working days to post your documents to the Home Office. If you have selected the premium service, you must attend an appointment with your documents within 45 working days. Warning: if you use the Tier 4 Student online application form and you need to show funds, you must have held your funds (see next section) for the 28 days before you submit and pay for your application online. If you are posting your supporting documents via Royal Mail, you must post them on or before the 15 th working day after you submitted your online immigration application. If you are using a private courier company, they must deliver your supporting documents to the Home Office on or before the 15 th working day after you submitted your online immigration application. Photographs You need two UK passport sized photograph taken within the last month. You can read a summary of the requirements here: Warning: in the UK, one of the most common reasons why applications are retuned as invalid is because an applicant s photographs do not meet the requirements. Passport or travel document & UK Biometric Residence Permits You will need to submit your current passport or travel document. Make sure that it has not expired. 18 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

19 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Make sure your name and other details are correct in your passport. When QMUL issues you with any documents (such as your degree certificate and your CAS) we will copy your name and other details exactly as they appear in your passport. If you have renewed your passport since you were last granted immigration permission, you will also need to provide your previous passport (unless it has been lost, stolen or returned to the issuing authority). If your current immigration permission is on a Biometric Residence Permit, you will also need to submit this with your immigration application. Other documents You may need to submit other documents, such as your qualifications or bank statements. See the following sections of this Advice Guide: How much money do I need to show? and What else should I submit with my application?. All the documents you submit must be originals (not photocopies, PDFs, faxes or printouts from the internet). Translations If a document is not in English (or Welsh), you will also need to provide an English translation of the document. Paragraph 16 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for translations for students who are applying in the UK: If you are re-using a document you used in an entry clearance application in your home country, check it meets the requirements for applications in the UK. Enrolment at QMUL You must submit your online Tier 4 application before you can enrol. If you are moving between courses at QMUL, we advise that you make your new Tier 4 application shortly before enrolment. You will then have time to enrol, take your required documents to enrolment, including a copy of the printed cover sheet from your online application, before you post the required documents to the Home Office. If for any reason you need to post your documents to the Home Office before you enrol, you must take your passport and qualifications to the Student Enquiry Centre (Ground Floor, Queens Building) so that they can take copies of your documents. If the Student Enquiry Centre have not taken a copy of your documents and you are unable to provide them because they are at the Home Office, you will not be able to fully enrol. Biometrics Before your immigration application is processed, you will need to register your biometric details. This involves giving a scan of your finger prints and digital photograph of your face. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 19

20 welfare.qmul.ac.uk For a Standard (by post) application, the Home Office will write to you and tell you how to register your biometric details. During busy times it may take around three weeks for the Home Office to send you the letter requesting you to submit your biometric information. You can submit your biometric information at some Post Offices, where it costs in cash or by debit card. Credit cards are not accepted. For more information about providing your biometric details at a Post Office, see: If you are submitting your application in person at a Premium Service Centre, your biometric details will be recorded when you submit your application. Do I need to attend an interview? The Home Office may ask you to attend an interview. For more information about interviews see the UKCISA website: General-application-in-the-UK/Where-when-how-to-apply/#Do-I-have-to-go-for-an-interview-aspart-of-my-application? How long will my immigration application take? If you make your application in person at a Premium Service Centre, you will normally receive a decision on the same day. Your plastic Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will normally be posted to you within three to five working days. For postal applications, the Home Office expects to be able to process 98.5% of straightforward applications within 8 weeks. Some applications can take longer, but this is unusual and the Home Office will write to you if this happens. These processing times are from the date when the Home Office receives your application to the date that they make a decision. It may take a few more days for the notice of their decision, your supporting documents and your Biometric Residence Permit to be posted to you. During the summer, and before Christmas, the Home Office receives a very large number of applications and it may take longer than normal for an application to be processed. If you are applying in person, you may find that there are very few appointments available during these periods. If your application takes longer than 8 weeks to be processed and you have not received anything in writing explaining that it will take longer, you can contact the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre on: *. Unfortunately, the time it takes to process your immigration application is outside of QMUL s control. * This is a national rate number and you can use any call allowance included in your phone contract. 20 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

21 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Do not plan any travel outside the UK until you have your passport and new BRP. If you unexpectedly need to travel urgently and your passport is at the Home Office, you can contact the for advice. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 21

22 welfare.qmul.ac.uk How much money do I need to show? How much money you need to show depends on how long your studies will be, if you have recently been studying in the UK, and if you will be receiving official financial support, or a scholarship. Maintenance Maintenance is the money you will need for your accommodation and other living expenses while you are studying in the UK. This information is for applications submitted on or after 12 November Established presence/reduced maintenance From 12 November 2015, there is no allowance for those students who have studied in the UK previously. You will need to show the same amount of money as you would if you were applying for the first time. Length of programme You will need to show that you have 1,265 for each remaining month of your programme up to a maximum of nine months. You need to check your CAS statement for the start and end dates of your programme, to calculate the remaining length. If your CAS states that your programme starts or finishes part way through a month, you need to include the whole of that month when you calculate how long the remainder of your programme is. Depending on the remaining length of your programme on the day that you apply, you will need to show: Remaining length of programme in months Maintenance requirement 1 1, , , , Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

23 welfare.qmul.ac.uk 5 6, , , , , ,385 * Deductions Money you have already paid to QMUL for your accommodation If you will be living in QMUL halls of residences you can deduct up to a maximum of 1,265 of the money paid to QMUL for accommodation for the year from the amount you need to show towards your maintenance. If you have paid more than 1,265 you can still only deduct 1,265 from the amount you need to show for maintenance. The amount you have paid should be shown in your CAS statement. You can only use evidence that you have paid money for accommodation, if you have paid the money to QMUL or the University of London. You cannot use money paid to other accommodation providers. Official financial sponsorship If you will be receiving money for living expenses from any of the following: The British Government The government in your home country The British Council An international organisation An international company the Home Office has previously stated that they regard this as meaning a company with presence in more than one country. The Home Office will try and verify this themselves e.g. by checking company stationery or websites A university (including funds provided or administered by QMUL) An independent school Then you can deduct the amount you will receive for the year from the amount you need to show for maintenance. * The amount you need to show is capped at 9,180. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 23

24 welfare.qmul.ac.uk If you will be receiving money for your living expenses from QMUL, this should be detailed in your CAS statement. If your living expenses will be paid directly to you, you will need to provide a letter from the organisation as proof. Paragraph 207 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for the letter: Warning: If you are receiving or have received sponsorship in the last 12 months from a government or an international scholarship agency for all of your tuition fees and your living expenses, you must provide a letter from your financial sponsor confirming that they give their consent for your immigration application. If you do not provide this letter, your application will be refused. Tuition fees You must be able to show that you have the money to pay for your tuition fees for the year. Your CAS statement should show how much you must pay for the year. Definition of the year If your programme is one year or longer, the Home Office will assess your finances based on an academic year. The academic year that the Home Office will use to assess your finances will depend on your situation, when your CAS is issued: For new students it will be the first year of your programme If you are applying part way through an academic year then it is the current academic year If you are applying between academic years (E.g. during summer holidays) then it is the next academic year. In this section we will refer to this as the year. Deductions Money you have already paid to QMUL for your tuition fees If you have already paid money to QMUL for your tuition fees, this information should be included in your CAS statement. Your CAS statement will only detail money paid for the year (see above). It will not detail money paid in previous years. Note: If the amount you need to pay for tuition fees has been reduced (E.g. because you have a Science and Engineering Scholarship or a discount for prompt payment), this may be shown as money you have paid to the university. The reason this is shown in this way is because the Home Office systems are not able to account for tuition fee reductions separately. Official financial sponsorship An official financial sponsor means: 24 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

25 welfare.qmul.ac.uk The British Government The government in your home country The British Council An international organisation An international company the Home Office has previously stated that this means a company with presence in more than one country. The Home Office will try and verify this themselves e.g. by checking company stationery or websites A university (including funds provided or administered by QMUL) An independent school If an official financial sponsor is paying some or all of your tuition fees, you can deduct the amount you will receive for the year from the amount you need to show for your tuition fees. Depending on how your sponsorship is arranged, your sponsorship may be detailed in your CAS statement or you may need a letter from the official financial sponsor. Paragraph 207 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for the letter: Study abroad (associate) students If your home institution is paying your tuition fees, your CAS will say that the tuition fee payable by you is Therefore you do not need to show that you have any money for your tuition fees. If your home institution will also be paying for your accommodation at QMUL, this should also be detailed in your CAS statement. PhD students writing up There is no tuition fee. On your application form you will need to enter 0.00 as your course fees. If you are making your application in the UK, there is a question Have you or your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) already paid any of your course fees? You should answer No. I still need to show some money for my tuition fees and/or maintenance Warning: one of the most common reasons for immigration applications being refused is because an applicant s financial evidence does not meet the requirements of the Home Office policy guidance. Please read this section very carefully to ensure you meet the financial requirements. If you have not been able to deduct all of your tuition fees and maintenance (see above), then you will need to show that you have enough money to cover the remaining amount. Whose money can I show? You can show money held in your own name, including a joint account, or in a parent or legal guardian s name: Your parent(s) (you will need to include your birth certificate with your application) Your adopted parent(s) (you will need to provide your adoption certificate with your application) Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 25

26 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Your legal guardian (you will need to provide a court document that confirms the appointment of your legal guardian) If you do not have your birth certificate, a government-issued household register is acceptable, and the Home Office s guidance for staff assessing applications confirms this. There is no option on the form for a household register, so you will need to tick the birth certificate option. If your country does not issue birth certificates, the Home Office will accept another type of official document such as a government-issued household register, or whatever document is formally is issued in your country as confirmation of birth. They will not, however, accept an affidavit, even one sworn before a court. If you are using money held by your parent(s) or legal guardian, you will also need to provide a letter from them confirming that they will allow you to use this money. For full details of what the letter needs to include, see paragraphs 218 of the Tier 4 policy guidance: How long must I have had this money? On the day you apply, the money must have been held continuously for 28 days. This means that the account balance must not have dropped below the required amount of money at any time during the 28 day period up to the closing balance. The closing balance (the last day of the 28 day period) does not need to be the day you apply, but it must be no more than 31 days before. If you submit evidence which covers more than 28 days, the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer will only consider money held for the 28 days up to your closing balance. They will ignore any balances before the 28-day period. The Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer will not consider balances after the date of application. If you submit evidence from more than one account, the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer will look at the combined total of all your accounts during the 28-day period before your closing balance. If the closing balances for your accounts fall on different dates, the case worker will choose the date of one of your closing balances and consider the combined total of all your accounts during the 28 day period up to that date. They will try to choose whichever closing balance date would allow you to show that you have maintained the required amount of money for 28 days. They can only choose a closing balance that is within 31 days of the date you submit your immigration application. For more information about using multiple bank accounts, see the worked example in Appendix 1. Declaring that money is available When you make your immigration application, you are declaring that the money you are showing is genuinely available to you for your tuition fees and your living expenses and will remain available to you (unless you use it to pay for your tuition fees or living expenses). Warning: Do not make a false statement about the availability of your money. For example: if the money you show belongs to someone else and 26 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

27 welfare.qmul.ac.uk you have to give it back before your studies are complete, you would not be able to make the above declaration without making a false statement. If you make a false statement to the Home Office, your immigration application could be refused. If your immigration application is successful, but the Home Office later finds out that you had made a false statement, your immigration permission could be cancelled. If your immigration application is refused or your immigration permission is cancelled because you have made a false statement, any application you make for immigration permission to travel to the UK may automatically be refused for up to 10 years. Which documents can I use as evidence? To make sure that your financial documents will be accepted, check the requirements in paragraph of the Tier 4 policy guidance: You can use any of the following documents as evidence of the money available to you, your parents, adopted parents or legal guardian: A bank or building society statement (see sample statement on the next page) A building society pass book A letter from your bank confirming your funds have been held for 28 days (see Appendix 2: Sample bank letter) A letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that you have a loan that is provided by the national government, the state or regional government or a government sponsored student loan company, or that is part of an academic or educational loans scheme. (If you have obtained a loan from a different source (such as from a bank) in order to finance your studies then you must transfer the funds into your own bank account (or that of your parents or legal guardian) and wait 28 days before using one of the other forms of evidence listed above.) Certificates of deposits These are not listed in the Immigration Rules or policy guidance as acceptable, but the guidance the Home Office issues to its staff confirms that a certificate can be accepted if it meets the following requirements: the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application at least 28 days must have elapsed between the date of the deposit and the date of issue of the certificate; and there must be no wording on the document which indicates the funds are frozen or otherwise inaccessible. Banks outside the UK You can use a statement from an account in a bank which is not in the UK. The Home Office uses the currency converter on the Oanda website ( to check the exchange rate Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 27

28 welfare.qmul.ac.uk on the date you submit your immigration application. If your account is not in pounds sterling then you will need to check that, according to that conversion rate, your account(s) show that you have held enough money for the 28 day period. The Home Office has very strict requirements for the documents they will accept as evidence of the money available to you. The Home Office publishes lists of financial institutions whose financial statements are not accepted for the following countries: Bangladesh India Iran Pakistan Philippines If you submit an application with a statement from a financial institution whose statements are not accepted, the Entry Clearance Officer will not consider the funds in that account, which may cause your application to be refused. Lists of these financial institutions can be found here: These lists change from time to time, so you may find that a document from a financial institution that was previously accepted, may not be accepted when you make a new immigration application. 28 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

29 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Any bank statement you use must include all these features: Your bank s name and logo 30/11/2015 Mr J Smith A BANK Date Type Value Balance 01/11 Opening Balance 35, /11 Cash , /11 DD Phone , /11 Mum and Dad , /11 A shop Cinema , /11 Travel tickets B shop , /11 Closing Balance 35, The date of the statement Your name or your parent/ legal guardian s name, and the account number. Full name not needed. Address not needed. Transactions that show the required amount of money held continuously for 28 days up to and including the closing balance Date of the closing balance is day 28. Must be within the last 31 days It is a good idea to use a highlighter pen to indicate each of the above features on your bank statement, so the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer can easily see that your statement meets the requirements. Warning: one of the most common reasons why Tier 4 (General) applications are refused is because an applicant s financial evidence does not meet the requirements of the policy guidance. Carefully check your documents against the Home Office policy guidance to make sure this does not happen to you. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 29

30 welfare.qmul.ac.uk What else should I submit with my application? You may need to submit other documents with your immigration application. Evidence of your qualifications Your CAS statement will normally confirm that QMUL has assessed your ability to undertake a programme of studies based on a previous qualification. You need to provide the original certificate or transcript that you showed QMUL. If certificates or transcripts are not in English, you will also need to provide an English translation of the document. Paragraphs of the Tier 4 policy guidance explain the requirements for translations: You can tick no to the question on the application form which asks Have you been assessed by the sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork because QMUL assesses candidates on academic criteria. Warning: one of the most common reasons why Tier 4 (General) applications are refused is because an applicant hasn t provided the documents listed in their CAS statement. Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate Postgraduate qualifications in some subject areas, including some MEng degrees, require an ATAS security clearance certificate. For more information about which subject areas and qualifications need an ATAS certificate, and to apply for one if you need it, see If you are studying one of these courses, you need to apply for an ATAS certificate before you make your Tier 4 application. Current students will need to show their ATAS certificate when requesting their CAS from QMUL. There is no charge for applying for an ATAS certificate and you can apply for as many certificates as you have offers. It can take 20 working days (4 weeks) for an ATAS certificate to be issued and sometimes longer during busy periods. Apply as early as possible. 30 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

31 welfare.qmul.ac.uk What do I do if my ATAS application is delayed? If you have not had a response from the FCO, check your Spam folder or Junk folder to make sure that the has not been filtered out. If it is more than 20 working days since you have applied for your ATAS certificate, you can atas@fco.gov.uk. If you contact them sooner, they will not reply. If you applied more than 20 working days ago, you have then ed atas@fco.gov.uk and you have not had a response within two working days, please contact the for assistance. You will need to provide us with a copy of your application confirmation ( ed to you) and a copy of the you sent to atas@fco.gov.uk. What do I do if something changes after I apply for my ATAS certificate? If you have been granted an ATAS certificate, but something changed, you will need to apply for a new ATAS certificate with your new details within 28 calendar days of any such changes being agreed. * Relevant changes include: your CAS number your passport number your JACS code your course end date is postponed for a period of more than three calendar months there are any substantive changes to the contents of your course or to your research proposal Parental permission for students who are 16 or 17 years old If you are 16 or 17 years old you must provide a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian giving their consent for you to apply for immigration permission and travel to the UK to live independently. The requirements for the letter are detailed in paragraph 220 of the Tier 4 policy guidance: Delayed or missing documents? You must meet the immigration requirements on the date that you make your online Tier 4 application. If you are applying in the UK, you then have a further 15 working days to post your supporting documents to the Home Office, or up to 45 working days to submit your supporting documents if you are attending an in person appointment. While you are not required to be in possession of all your supporting documents on the date you make your online application, you must be sure that you will be able to obtain all of the required documents within the 15 or 45 working * This is a QMUL requirement for all students, and it is also an immigration condition for those who applied for Tier 4 immigration permission on or after 06 November Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 31

32 welfare.qmul.ac.uk days deadline, and that those documents will demonstrate that you met the requirements on the date of your online application. For example, you might obtain your bank statements after the date of your online application, but the statements must show that you had held the required funds for 28 consecutive days before the date you submitted your online application. There is no official way to submit late documents after the 15 or 45 working days deadline. Your Tier 4 application should be fully complete with all supporting documents submitted within the 15 or 45 working days. If you know that you will not be able to obtain some documents within the 15 or 45 working days deadline, that demonstrate that you met the Tier 4 requirements on the date of your online application, we advise you do not apply. This may mean you need to leave the UK before your current immigration permission expires. Once you can meet the requirements for a Tier 4 application, you can apply at home, without overstaying your immigration permission in the UK. You will need to consider: The expense of travelling home; and The time this process will take and how that may affect your studies. You will need to discuss this with your academic school and check that they agree to you leaving the UK for the required amount of time. If they don t, you will need to consider interrupting your studies. If you have already applied, and you later realise you cannot provide the required documents within the 15 or 45 day deadline, contact a Welfare Adviser in the as soon as possible to discuss your options. If the deadline for submitting your documents has already lapsed, your options will be extremely limited. 32 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

33 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Low risk nationals Holders of some passports are considered to be low risk by the UK Government: Argentina Australia Barbados Botswana British National (Overseas) Brunei Canada Chile Hong Kong SAR Japan Malaysia New Zealand Oman Qatar Singapore South Korea Taiwan (ROC)* Trinidad and Tobago United Arab Emirates USA British National (Overseas) The list is Appendix H of the Immigration Rules: A small number of Taiwan (ROC) passport holders do not have household registration in Taiwan, and they are not considered low risk. As a low risk national who makes a Tier 4 application in the UK, or in the country or territory associated with your passport, you do not need to provide: 1. Evidence that you have the required money for your studies 2. Evidence of your previous qualifications (as listed in the Evidence used section of your CAS statement) Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 33

34 welfare.qmul.ac.uk So do I actually need to have this evidence? Yes. Even though you are not required to submit the above evidence, you must have it in your possession. After you have submitted your immigration application, the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker who considers your immigration application may contact you and ask you to provide your evidence anyway (we understand that this should only happen in a small minority of cases). A Border Force Officer may also ask you to show your evidence when you arrive in the UK and you should carry it with you in your hand luggage. Should I submit this evidence anyway? No. If you are a low risk national, your application will be processed more quickly if you do not send this evidence. If you do send the evidence anyway, the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker may need to take time to verify the documents that you have sent are genuine and meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. This may delay your application. What about the immigration application form? Applying in the country or territory associated with your passport Where the form asks about evidence of your money, you can select evidence not required under guidance, but held by applicant. There is no equivalent question about evidence of your qualifications. Applying in the UK If you are one of the above nationals and you are applying in the UK, the online application form will automatically work out which documents you are required to submit with your immigration application. The form will recognise that due to your nationality you qualify for differentiation arrangements, and it will not prompt you to provide evidence of your finances or your academic certificates or transcripts. Hong Kong SAR passport holders If you are a Chinese national with a Hong Kong SAR passport and you are applying in the UK, choose 'Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China' as your nationality. The question is asking about which passport you hold. 34 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

35 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Application checklist Use the following checklist to make sure that you are ready to submit your immigration application: For applicants outside the UK You have evidence of a tuberculosis test (if you are required to provide this) For applicants in the UK You have your UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if your current immigration permission is on a BRP) You have your police registration certificate (if your immigration permission requires you to register with the police). If you are required to register with the police, you must register any new immigration permission and any changes of address within 7 days. You should take extra care to make sure your registration certificate is up-to-date before submitting your immigration application. If you have not yet enrolled, ensure that you have shown your passport and qualifications to the Student Enquiry Centre (Ground Floor, Queen s Building) and copies have been taken of these documents. If the Student Enquiry Centre have not taken a copy of your documents and you are unable to provide them because they are at the Home Office, you will not normally be able to fully enrol. All applicants Your passport is valid and that it has your correct details All the information in your CAS is correct (check your CAS statement) Your CAS is less than six months old (your CAS statement should state when it was issued) Your CAS statement explains how QMUL has assessed your English language ability, and how QMUL has assessed your academic progression You have evidence of your qualifications (if listed in your CAS) and these are in English or you have official English translations * You have your ATAS certificate (if required by your CAS) * You should not provide this if you qualify as a low risk national (see previous section) Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 35

36 welfare.qmul.ac.uk You have permission from your parents (if you are 16 or 17) You have evidence of your finances which you have checked meets the requirements of the Home Office policy guidance * Your photograph(s) meet the Home Office photograph requirements Your passport or travel document is still valid You have the correct application payment You have completed the form(s) correctly Keeping copies of your documents Warning: You must keep a copy of your online application form, and everything you send with your immigration application, as well as any correspondence you receive from the Home Office. This includes your passport and any supporting documents you send (e.g. photographs, bank statements and certificates). This is very important as the Home Office may keep all your documents if your immigration application is refused. You will need copies of these documents if you wish to challenge the decision or submit a new application. If there is a problem with your application, you may need to show your photocopies to a Welfare Adviser in the so that they can provide you with advice. If you are a current student and you are in the UK, you can use the photocopiers in the main library to scan your documents onto a USB memory stick. There is a procedure to request the Home Office to return your documents however, it can take the Home Office a long time to do this and, if you have a deadline to meet (e.g. if you are submitting a new application or challenging a decision) you may not get your documents back in time. * You should not provide this if you qualify as a low risk national (see previous section) 36 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

37 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Partners and Children Your partner and/or child can come to the UK as your Tier 4 dependant, extend their stay as your Tier 4 dependent, or switch from their current status to Tier 4 dependant, if: you are studying a postgraduate programme at QMUL, which is 12 months or longer; or you are a government-sponsored student and you are studying a programme at any level, which is more than 6 months long. They can only switch to Tier 4 Dependant from within the UK if their current permission is Tier 4 (General), Tier 2, or any other permission granted for longer than 6 months, except short-term student. Visitors cannot switch to Tier 4 Dependant in the UK. If you are studying a different course than those listed above, and your partner and/or child is are already in the UK as your Tier 4 dependant, there are transitional measures for them to extend their stay in the UK. In this context, partner means: Husband or wife Same-sex civil partner A partner who you have been living with for at least two years in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership You and your partner must be 18 or older on the date when they arrive in the UK. Your child must either be: under 18; or in the UK as your dependant and not living an independent life. Both the child s parents must also be in the UK or plan to travel to the UK with them, unless the other parent has died, or they are not and have never been involved in the child s life, or there are serious and compelling reasons for only one parent being here. If you think this applies to you and your family, you may like to get specialist immigration advice to see if you would have a strong case before you apply. You will need to show that you have additional money to support your dependants. There is more information on the GOV.UK website: Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 37

38 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Babies born in the UK Birth in the UK does not automatically make a baby a British citizen. The baby needs to have a parent with British citizenship or settled status in the UK in order to be born British. Your baby can stay with you lawfully in the UK without making a Tier 4 Dependant application. However, your baby will need immigration permission (and a passport) if they need to re-enter the UK after any travel. A baby who is born in the UK is exempt from paying charges for NHS hospital treatment while they are aged 3 months or less. Therefore if you would like your baby to be able to get free hospital treatment after 3 months, you can make a dependant application for them. Alternatively, you may decide to pay for private medical insurance for your baby. There is information about how to apply for immigration permission for babies born in the UK on the UKCISA website. Further information You can find more information about the requirements and how to apply for immigration permission for your family on the UKCISA website: Warning: The immigration rules changed several times. Even if you have applied with your dependents before, you may find that you are unable to apply under the new rules or that the requirements have changed. If you have questions after reading this information, see the section in this guide Where can I get further information and assistance? 38 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

39 welfare.qmul.ac.uk After your immigration application has been decided If your application is successful, the Home Office will return your documents and issue you with immigration permission. If your application is not successful see the section of this Advice Guide called What to do if things go wrong for information about refused and invalid applications. If you submitted your application to a Visa Application Centre outside the UK Your passport and documents may be posted to you or you may need to travel to the centre or section to collect your documents and passport. Your passport will contain a short-term Entry Clearance sticker, valid for 30 days that you can use to enter the UK. It looks something like this, although this example shows a longer validity, not 30 days: Check all the details are correct. See the section Error on an Entry Clearance issued outside of the UK below. When you travel to the UK, the immigration officer at the airport/seaport/eurostar terminal will stamp your sticker (see example above). You will also have a letter of decision which explains the conditions and length of your immigration permission. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 39

40 welfare.qmul.ac.uk The 30 days within which you must enter the UK will start on one of these dates, whichever is the latest: one month before the course start date as stated on your CAS 7 days before your intended date of travel as stated by you on your application form the day your immigration permission is issued If you do not travel to the UK during this 30 day period on the sticker, it will expire. You will need to apply for a new one if you still wish to travel to the UK. When you enter the UK, show the border force officer your sticker and the decision letter. You will then need to collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arriving in the UK. You need to take your passport and decision letter with you. If you do not collect your BRP within ten days of arriving in the UK you may have to pay a fine and/or your visa may be cancelled. We explain how you request where to collect your BRP from in our guide to completing the Visa4UK online application form. You can choose whether to collect from the QMUL main campus or from a Post Office. Students who are bringing dependants can only collect their BRPs from a Post Office. Do not travel outside of the UK until you have collected your BRP. If you lose your passport and / or your decision letter before you collect your BRP, please follow our online guidance about what to do. You can read more here: If you apply in the UK Standard (by post) application The Home Office will post your documents to you with a letter telling you if your application has been successful. The Home Office aim to decide most standard applications within eight weeks of the date they received your application. Your immigration permission will be issued as a separate plastic card called a Biometric Residence Permit (see below). This will be sent to you separately and may arrive before or after you receive your passport and other documents. Premium (in person) application The Home Office will return your documents with a letter telling you if your application has been successful. They will usually do this on the same day. Sometimes the Premium Service Centre may keep your documents if they cannot make a decision on the same day. If this happens, they will usually make a decision within 10 working days and post your documents back to you. Your immigration permission will be issued as a separate plastic card called a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (see below). It will be posted to you and this usually takes about 3-5 working days. 40 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

41 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) A BRP looks like this: Check all the details are correct. Is your immigration permission correct? The Home Office will usually grant additional time before and after your studies. How much additional time you receive will depend on the length of your studies, using the dates on the CAS. Length and type of programme of studies If applying outside the UK, length of permission to be granted before start of studies Length of immigration permission to be granted after studies 12 months or more 1 month 4 months 6 months or more, but less than 12 months A pre-sessional course less than six months long Other course less than six months long 1 month 2 months 1 month 1 month 7 days 7 days If you are re-sitting or interrupting your programme, it is our understanding that the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer should calculate the total length of your programme when deciding how Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 41

42 welfare.qmul.ac.uk much additional time to grant. So they can do this, the original start date of your programme must be detailed in your CAS (under the Evidence provided field). Correcting an error Check your CAS statement Check the dates on your CAS statement. If you have been granted the wrong length of immigration permission because of an error on your CAS statement the Home Office will not normally correct the error. Instead, you will need to apply for a new CAS and make a new immigration application for the correct length of immigration permission. You applied for your immigration permission outside the UK If you are still outside the UK, contact the Visa Application Centre and ask them to correct the error before you travel. If you have already travelled to the UK and collected a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) here and it has an error, you must BRPError@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk within 10 working days of receiving the permit. You need to give your: full name date of birth nationality passport number contact telephone number BRP reference number case reference number explain what is wrong with the BRP If you have already travelled to the UK and you have a visa sticker for your whole programme of study, not a BRP, and there is an error on the visa sticker, contact the Advice and Counselling Service on the ground floor of the Geography Building as soon as possible. Take your passport and a print out of the CAS statement that you used when you applied for your immigration permission. They will check your sticker and can then contact the Home Office for you to try and get any error corrected. You applied for your immigration permission inside the UK Within 10 days of receiving your BRP you need to report any errors online at: If you have missed the 10 day deadline, contact the. 42 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

43 welfare.qmul.ac.uk If you report an error with your conditions or length of permission, the website will direct you to make an Administrative Review, which you must do within 14 days of receiving your BRP. There is more information about Administrative Review online: You can contact the for help with your Administrative Review. Registering with the Police If you have been granted immigration permission that is more than six months long, you may be required to register with the police. There is information on the website, including special arrangements for police registration at the start of the academic year: Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 43

44 welfare.qmul.ac.uk What to do if things go wrong Applying outside the UK Refusal If your application is refused, you will get a detailed refusal notice. Note the date when they give you the refusal notice. If you intend to ask for your application to be reviewed you will need to submit your request within 28 days of the date they gave you the notice. You can get advice from a Welfare Adviser at the about your refusal. For us to advise you, please or fax scans of: Your full refusal notice Your CAS statement Your completed application forms Your financial evidence Any other documents you were required to submit with your application The details page in your passport We also need to know: The date you applied The date you received your refusal notice Please them to welfare@qmul.ac.uk or fax to +44 (0) Please ensure that your scanned pages are no be more than 300KB per page. After we receive your documents and details one of the Welfare Advisers in the Advice and Counselling Service will review your documents and will then you a Client Care Letter which will explain if your refusal is correct or not, and what your options are now. If you are clear about the reasons for your refusal, you can use this guide to help you submit a new application. If you are unclear why your application was refused, you may prefer to wait for a Welfare Adviser to reply to you before deciding what to do next. My programme of studies is starting shortly, but I am not able to travel to the UK in time. What should I do? Your CAS statement will state a latest date you can enrol at QMUL. Sometimes students are unable to travel to the UK in time to meet this enrolment deadline. There could be a number of reasons why this might happen. For example, you might not get your immigration permission in time if you 44 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

45 welfare.qmul.ac.uk apply shortly before you need to travel and there is a delay in processing your application. You might be delayed for another reason, for example bad weather or personal difficulties. If you are not able to arrive at QMUL in time for the latest date of enrolment, you need to contact your academic school at QMUL, before travelling to the UK, to see if they will exceptionally allow you to enrol late. If they will allow you to enrol late, your academic school will need to liaise with QMUL Admissions to ensure that a sponsor note is added to your CAS, stating that your enrolment deadline has been extended. Without this you may encounter problems trying to enter the UK. It is important to check that your immigration permission will allow you to arrive later than planned. It is important to check that your immigration permission will allow you to arrive later than planned. Your entry clearance sticker is only valid for a 30 day period. If you now cannot enter the UK within that period you must: Apply to the Visa Application Centre for a replacement sticker Pay a fee of 120 Provide your biometric information again You do not have to make a whole new Tier 4 application. Warning: If the university will not allow you to enrol late, you should not travel to the UK, as you will not be allowed to enrol, and it is likely you will not be allowed to enter the UK using your Tier 4 entry clearance. The university will notify the Home Office that you will not be allowed to enrol. If the university notifies the Home Office that you will not be allowed to enrol, the following will happen: If your immigration application has not yet been decided, it will be refused, as your CAS will no longer be valid. If your immigration application has been granted, but you have not yet travelled to the UK, your immigration permission is likely to be cancelled. If you try to travel to the UK, you are likely to be refused entry at the airport, seaport or rail station. If your immigration application has been granted and you are already in the UK, the Home Office should curtail (cut short) your immigration permission to 60 days. During these 60 days you can travel home or try to find a new programme and make a new Tier 4 (General) Student application to start that programme. If you are a new student and you will not be able to arrive in time for your programme, and if you are not allowed to enrol late, please contact the admissions team at QMUL dealing with your application to QMUL to see if it is possible to defer your offer of a place until next year. The contact details for the appropriate admissions team will be listed in correspondence related to your admission at QMUL. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 45

46 welfare.qmul.ac.uk If you are a continuing student you may need to interrupt your studies. See our guide Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course - a guide for international students for more information. What do I do if the Immigration Officer refuses to let me into the UK when I arrive? If you are refused entry to the UK when you arrive, you should seek immigration advice immediately. If you are arriving at Heathrow airport during QMUL s arrivals weekend in September, the International Office will have provided you with a contact number for our staff at the airport. You can contact the on +44 (0) during office hours (our opening times are listed on our website) Outside of our office hours, please leave a message on our answer phone with the following information: Your name Your QMUL student number A contact telephone number The airport and terminal number (E.g. Heathrow Terminal 5) We will review your message and try to help you when our office opens on the next working day. Alternatively, you can use the search facility on the Immigration Law Practitioners Association website to find an immigration solicitor: Applying in the UK The Home Office has requested that I send them more information/documents. What should I do? You are required to submit mandatory documents within 15 working of submitting your online application, if you are applying by post. If you fail to send all of the mandatory documents, the caseworker should contact you, in writing, to give you one opportunity to correct any omission or error you have made which could make your application invalid. The caseworker should give you 10 working days to respond to their request. If you don t respond within that timeframe, your application should be refused. Please note that caseworkers only have to contact you about missing mandatory documents: the caseworker is not required to ask you to provide more documents simply because the ones you have sent don t meet the requirements, for example if your bank statements don t show enough money. Therefore it is essential that your check all your documents carefully before sending them, to ensure that they meet the requirements. If the Home Office contact you to ask for more documents so that they can decide your application, it is important to get advice from the to ensure that the documents you now submit to the Home Office meet the requirements, as this will usually be your last opportunity to do so. 46 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

47 welfare.qmul.ac.uk If you are using the Tier 4 Student online application form, the Home Office will automatically send you a letter reminding you to send your passport and photographs. This letter is sent out if the Home Office haven t received and scanned your documents onto their system within 8 days. During busy periods it make take the Home Office some time to scan your documents, so you may receive this letter even if you can see from your postal tracking information that the Home Office have received your documents many days before the letter was sent. If your postal tracking information shows that the Home Office received your documents, you can ignore this letter. Once your documents have been scanned, the Home Office will send you a letter inviting you to register your biometric information. My application has been returned to me as invalid. What should I do? If your application is returned to you as invalid, the Home Office will return your documents to you, with a letter telling you why your application was invalid, for example you failed to provide a mandatory document, or your passport photographs do not meet the Home Office requirements. If you were not contacted by a caseworker to give you an opportunity to submit a missing mandatory document before your application was returned as invalid (see previous section) please contact a Welfare Adviser in the. If your current immigration permission has not yet expired you can make a new immigration application. If it has taken the Home Office some time to return your application, you may need to provide updated documents. For example, you may need to provide new bank statements if the ones you originally submitted are now more than 31 days old, or new photos if yours are now more than 1 month old. You should also check to make sure that you are using the current version of the Tier 4 guidance. Normally, your CAS should not have been used by the Home Office if your application was returned to you as invalid. As long as it has not been used and is now not more than six months old, you can use the same CAS for a new immigration application, and you do not need to apply for a new one from QMUL. You should also confirm with the Academic Registry ( casinfo@qmul.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) that the Home Office caseworker did not use your CAS, just to be sure. If it has been used, you will need to request a new one from QMUL as a CAS can only be used once. If the Home Office has taken the application fee, they will usually post you a cheque as a refund. If your immigration permission has now expired, see the section, Have you overstayed in the UK? below. If your application has been incorrectly returned as invalid If your application is returned as invalid, but the reason given is not correct or not clear, you can contact a Welfare Adviser in the who may be able to seek clarification from the Home Office. Refusals: if you have made an in time application, which has been refused, see the section My application has been refused, what can I do? below. Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 47

48 welfare.qmul.ac.uk Have you overstayed in the UK? Overstaying in the UK means being in the UK without immigration permission. Overstaying may have implications for all future immigration applications, both within the UK and overseas. You cannot work if you are an overstayer, and you will have to pay for any non-emergency NHS hospital treatment. You may have overstayed if: You did not make a new immigration application on or before the date your current immigration permission expired or was curtailed (cut short by the Home Office), or You made a new immigration application on or before the date your current immigration permission expired, but it was returned as invalid, and your permission has now expired, or You made a new immigration application on or before the date your current immigration permission expired, but it was refused and you did not submit an appeal or request an administrative review by the relevant deadline. When did I start overstaying? If you did not make an immigration application on or before the date your immigration permission expired you are considered to be overstaying from the date your immigration permission expired If you made an immigration application on or before the date your immigration permission expired, but your application was returned as invalid, you are considered to be overstaying from two business days* after the date on the letter from the Home Office informing you that your application was invalid. If you made an immigration application on or before the date your immigration permission expired, but your application was refused and you choose not to appeal or submit an administrative review, you are considered to be overstaying from the day after your appeal or administrative review deadline. I have overstayed in the UK but I need to continue my studies at QM. What are my options? QMUL will not issue a CAS for an overstayer to make a Tier 4 application in the UK. You will need to leave the UK Return home and make the Tier 4 application in your home country. If you have overstayed in the UK for more than 90 days, you cannot make any new application overseas within 12 months. You will need to show QMUL that you have returned to your home country before the university can issue a CAS for a new application. It will take some time to travel to your home country and make the new application. You will need to check if your academic school will approve this absence from your studies, to go home and make * Business days are any days which are not a Saturday, Sunday or a UK bank holiday. 48 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

49 welfare.qmul.ac.uk a new immigration application. If not, you might need to consider an Interruption of Studies ( If you are overstaying because your application was returned as invalid, you should also confirm with the Academic Registry ( casrequest@qmul.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) ) at QMUL that the caseworker did not use your CAS. If your CAS has been used, or is now more than six months old, you will need to request a new one as a CAS can only be used once. If you have overstayed for less than 90 days, you may be eligible to make another kind of immigration application in the UK, for example as a dependant, or a work-based application. You may wish to seek immigration legal advice about this. My application has been refused. What can I do? Your application will be refused if it does not meet the requirements of the immigration rules, for example, if you do not provide evidence of adequate funds, or if you do not have a valid CAS, or if there was more than 28 days between the end of your most recent immigration permission and the start date of your new programme of study. If you are in the UK and your application has been refused, you have the following options. If your application was not in time see the section Have you overstayed in the UK?. It is your decision which option you choose. Please be aware that if you want to formally challenge a refusal, you must do so within 14 days: Option 1: You can get legal advice by contacting an immigration solicitor. Make sure that the immigration solicitor you choose is authorised to provide immigration advice and services by the Office for the Immigration Services Commissioner. You can find an immigration solicitor by using the directories listed in the section of this advice guide called Where can I get further information and assistance, under Other regulated immigration advisers at the end of this advice guide. You will normally need to pay for legal advice. Option 2: You can bring all of the following documents to the Reception: A copy of your Tier 4 (General) application form (you should be able to print this from your account on the UK Visas & Immigration website) A copy of all the documents that you sent with your application (but do not include any documents that you did not submit with your application, as this may confuse the advice you receive) A copy of the pages in your passport that contain your personal details and the stamps or stickers relating to your studies in the UK A copy of the refusal letter that the Home Office sent you One of the Welfare Advisers in the will look at these papers and we will you or call you within five working days to advise you whether you have grounds to Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission 49

50 welfare.qmul.ac.uk challenge the decision to refuse your application. It is unlikely that you will be able to successfully challenge a decision if you: have not completed the application form correctly have not provided all of the specified documents or they do not include all of the specified information do not meet the specified requirements in order to score the required points e.g. you have not had the specified maintenance funds for the specified period If you do not have valid grounds to challenge the refusal, you will normally have to make a new immigration application (see above) but a Welfare Adviser will send you a Client Care Letter by detailing all of your available options. Option 3: You can telephone UKCISA, the UK Council for International Students Affairs, for advice about your situation. UKCISA staff are experienced in advising students about the UK s immigration regulations and can give you advice by telephone. The service is free. We advise you to have the documents listed above with you when you telephone, so that you can refer to them. The UKCISA advice line is open Monday to Friday, 1-4pm: +44 (0) For more information, see their website: My application has been refused and the Home Office have kept some/all of my documents. What can I do? If your application is refused, and your immigration permission has expired, the Home Office will normally keep your passport. They will normally return any other documents you sent. If they have retained any other documents, call the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre on * If you apply for an Administrative Review of the decision to refuse your application, and if this is successful, your passport will then be returned to you. If you decide to try and make a new immigration application (if you still have current leave to remain), the application form allows you to indicate that your passport is already at the Home Office. Select Already with UK V and I on the online application form. * This is a national rate number and you can use any call allowance included in your phone contract. 50 Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission