Instructions for using the Tier 4 Student online application form UK based applications only

Transcription

1 Instructions for using the Tier 4 Student online application form UK based applications only Step 1 Read our guidance notes on the visa application process and then go to the visa website ( to begin your visa application, using the sample questions and guidance notes below. Step 2 Before the IHS section, print the draft PDF form by going to the options in top right hand corner of each page Step 3 See an advisor to have the visa application form checked. Bring your draft printed visa application form, documents and your CAS checking document to the Visa and Immigration Team. If you are a current student, we will check your financial evidence before we assign your CAS number. We do this to ensure that your visa application is likely to succeed. If you want the Visa and Immigration Team to send your visa application we can do. If you intend to post your visa application yourself or if you intend to use the Premium Service (inperson) we encourage you to still use our visa checking service. Step 4 - Await your CAS number by , if applicable. Once you have your CAS number and you have had your visa application for checked, you can complete the visa application form online and pay the visa fee online using a credit or debit card. The UKBA have stated that you will have15 working days to post your application or 45 days to attend an in-person appointment from the payment date. We suggest that you post or attend in person as soon as possible. Step 5 - Once you have had your visa application form checked and once you have been advised that you can proceed and pay for the visa fee online, you must bring the final Cover Sheet (summary) of visa application form and hand it in to the Visa and Immigration Team, ideally by the Thursday immediately following your visa payment, by 4pm. Your printed confirmation of application will then be matched with your documents and posted on the Friday morning of each week. Failure to submit your paper application form by the Thursday 4pm deadline means that you may have to post the visa application yourself, or if you are outside the 15 days since payment, you may have to re-start your online application and pay the fee again

2 You can access the Tier 4 (in-country) online visa extension application here: (see: 'how to extend your visa') We advise that you have your CAS information to hand for completing the majority of this visa application form and that you also read our detailed guidance notes on extending your Tier 4 visa in the UK: visaimmigration/extending-your-tier-4-student-visa-in-the-uk.pdf Your CAS will confirm if you need ATAS The IHS will cost 150 per year, and 75 for any partial year. The calculation is done on the basis of the expected visa end date (not the end date in the CAS) Priority service is still a postal service. It may take 20 days to receive the visa. If you choose the Standard service, you will do the biometric process (fingerprints) at a local Post Office. After you submit the online visa application you will be able to download your Biometric Enrolment Letter, which you should print and take to the relevant Post Office within 3 weeks. If you choose the Priority service, you will still do your fingerprints at the Post Office, but you will only have 2 days.

3 You must be in the UK to complete this visa application form. If not, you should be referring back here: You would only select 'yes' if you are using an immigration solicitor / lawyer for your visa application.

4 Note at the top of the page where you can manage your application. From here you can print a PDF of your application at any time, in order that the Visa and Immigration team may check it. You can also log-out and resume the application later if you need to.

5 You will get the opportunity to add dependants to the application again later, after completing questions about the main Tier 4 student applicant. Please note, you are eligible to bring dependants if: - you are studying a postgraduate course that lasts 12 months or longer at a higher education institution - you are a government-sponsored student on a course that lasts six months or longer

6 If you have ever been known by any other names you should answer 'yes' and you will be asked for further details. If you have been known by another name in the past but you are not sure if you declared this in previous UK visa applications, please contact the Visa and Immigration Team for further advice. If you are using the Visa and Immigration Team at the University to check and send your visa application, or you would like your documents returning to our office, please tick the box here and enter our address as follows: FAO: Hong Sun Student Services Development E Floor, Portland Building University of Nottingham University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD

7 Even if you are not applying for this visa with a current partner, please give your current relationship status Your place of birth may not be stated with your passport, in which case; just give the information you know to be true. If unknown, state 'unknown'.

8 Most people will say 'yes'. Please speak to the Visa and Immigration Team if you can only answer 'no' and we will provide further guidance. Enter the information from your passport page here.

9 'Leave to remain' simply refers to a visa granted in the UK 'Leave' means visa. We expect most people will have their most recent visa in the Tier 4 or student category. A small number of applicants may be switching from Tier 1 or Tier 2, for example. You need to check if you can make the switch here in the UK by referring to the Tier 4 policy guidance. 'Leave to remain' simply refers to a visa granted in the UK

10 If you have finished a previous course earlier than expected, or more than 4 months before the end of your visa, or if you have withdrawn from a previous course, you need to check that you have not received a curtailment notice. A curtailment is where the Home Office write to you, or you to let you know that the visa has been shortened to reflect a change in your circumstances. *visa Say 'yes' if your most recent visa was a Tier 4 student visa. At this point, certain nationalities may be asked if they have register with the police before. This should be a straight forward yes or no answer. It would be stated on your visa document (letter, sticker or BRP) if this applied to you. Please ask the Visa and Immigration Team if you have any questions about this.

11 If you are answering 'yes' to this question, you need to mention the reference number on the top right of the BRP card. You should only have a National Insurance number if you have worked (even in part-time) the UK previously.

12 Please note: students from a majority English-speaking country are not asked about English language, so not all students will see the questions below. This is a specific type of student visa for 16 and 17 year olds. You should know if you've had this before. If you are a degree level student at Nottingham (note: not studying Foundation or English pre-sessional) then you meet the English requirement under the next section (English language assessment) and will not be required to send any evidence of English. In this case, you may select 'no' to the question about 'Degree from an English speaking country', even if you have one. You can tick yes if you have a degree from a one of the following countries, but then you will be asked to show the original degree evidence with your visa application: Antigua and Barbuda Australia The Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United Kingdom United States of America

13 All degree level students (Bachelor, Master and PhD) should select 'yes' since the CAS will confirm that English ability has already been assessed. You will not need to show any English evidence. Foundation and CELE (pre-sessional English) students, please select 'no' you will be asked for English evidence later - you will also need to show your IELTS for UKVI test with your visa application. Student visa holders should not be claiming public funds (welfare/benefits), so most students should tick "no". Please speak to an advisor if you think you have been claiming public funds. Please note that Council Tax exemption which students are entitled to is not a public fund.

14 Please make sure that you are honest in this section as it can harm your visa application if you are later found to have withheld information.

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16 RFDX42DB2 - COPY this number It will be confirmed on your CAS Checking Document. The name of your Tier 4 sponsor is The University of Nottingham COPY the address shown here. Use this address EVEN if you study at another campus of the University of Nottingham

17 If you study on University Park, just tick 'yes' as your study address will be the same as already stated on the previous screen. If you study at Sutton Bonington, Jubilee campus or at another site such as the QMC, tick 'no' and you will be asked to write the alternative address in here. This is noted as your MAIN site of study in your CAS. Please note that this is based on the location of the home school. This should only be 'yes' for students who are taking some Undergraduate courses.

18 If you need ATAS, this will be confirmed on your CAS and you will need to apply online for ATAS before you can apply for your Tier 4 visa. An official financial sponsor can be the UK Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or an Independent School.

19 If you are in receipt of a scholarship from The University of Nottingham this information should be confirmed on your CAS. Please ensure this is the case. If you are in receipt of any other official financial sponsorship, you should have an original letter confirming this arrangement to present with your visa application. If you are fully funded* by an official financial sponsor, you can select 'no' to this question (and to the next question about your parents accounts) If you are in receipt of any other official financial sponsorship, you should have an original letter confirming this arrangement to present with your visa application. *What does fully funded mean? To qualify for the Tier 4 visa you need to show that your full tuition fee for one academic year (as shown in the CAS) is covered, PLUS living expenses of 1015 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months). If an official financial sponsor does not cover ALL of this, you may need to show personal bank statements and you should select YES to this question.

20 Here, refer to your CAS and enter the Academic Level of study showing on your CAS UG = RQF 6 / Masters = RQF 7 / PhD = RQF 8 Doctorate Extension Scheme = RQF 8 For CELE courses, this could be CEFR level B1 or B2 This information is on your CAS. If you are a continuing student, please put the start date referred to in your CAS which might not be your actual true course start date, but it your the start date of your next visa period. The end date of your course should also be reflected on your CAS This is a specific working visa for those who have completed a PhD in the UK If you are a PhD student, you must have had your viva and have a special type of CAS.

21 This question is asking if you have paid any money to the university (your Tier 4 sponsor) for accommodation. In most cases, students should tick "no". If you live in University halls, payments up to 1265 can be included in your CAS. You will need to provide your original accommodation receipts to the Visa and Immigration Team for this information to show in your CAS. Please note that Derwent Living, Unite and Opal are not considered as University accommodation Your CAS should show the amount that your tuition fees are (for the current academic year) and also any money that you have paid. *Immigration sponsor (i.e. UoN) If you/your parents or any University of Nottingham scholarship has paid all or part of your fees, we advise you to tick these boxes since any payments should be reflected on your CAS. Please speak to a member of the Visa and Immigration Team if this is not the case.

22 For information on obtaining your CAS, please see here: obtaining-your-cas Current students continuing on their current course can only obtain the CAS number once they have been to show their financial evidence to the International Office. Here is a chance to check your answers if you wish

23 If you have dependant family members, this is when you should add them into the form. If you don't know exactly how much money you need to show, check with the Visa and Immigration Team before completing this visa application form. The general rule is that you need to show that your full tuition fees for one academic year (as shown in the CAS) are covered, PLUS living expenses of 1015 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months*). *where the course or period on the CAS is less than 9 months, you should calculate from the date on the CAS (should be date after visa expires) to the end date on the CAS, rounding any partial months up to a full month's living cost (e.g. 31 July to 5 December would be 6 months). If you are self-funded (or partially self-funded) enter the name of the bank here. If you are fully sponsored for all fees and living costs, you may enter 'N/A fully sponsored' and select the letter option

24 You only need to say 'yes' if you are using more than two pieces of financial evidence (i.e. two different bank accounts) Where applicable, this section can also ask you to provide: - Bank statements/letter or evidence of relationship if using parents accounts - Financial sponsor letter / consent to the application - ATAS - IELTS certificate (for CELE or foundation courses only) - Previous academic qualification (if you are starting a new course) If you are applying together with your spouse/partner (dependant) you will be asked to show one piece of evidence that the relationship is subsisting. A council tax letter or utility bill showing both names and the address or a joint bank account statement showing both names and the address will be required. If you are under 18, you should show a letter of permission from your parent/ guardian which gives consent to your care arrangements / accommodation in the UK. You are required to provide your: - passport; - BRP (if applicable); - police registration (if applicable) and; - 1 x NEW photo This should read as 'within 15 working days The Premium service appointment must be booked to attend within 45 calendar days. Providing you have applied online before the visa expiry date, you can attend the Premium service appointment even after the visa has expired. Under the differentiation arrangements, some evidence (e.g. financial document/ previous qualification) will not be required for submission at all for "low risk nationals" from the following countries: Argentina Australia Barbados Botswana Brunei Canada Chile Hong Kong Japan Malaysia New Zealand Oman Qatar Singapore South Korea Taiwan Trinidad and Tobago United States of America British Nationals Overseas Note that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) could ask for the evidence from low risk national at any time - so you must still have the evidence to hand (e.g. the funds in place in the correct format) in case you are asked, until the visa decision is made. The Visa and Immigration team will always check the financial evidence of all current students before assigning the CAS. Even those covered by the differentiation arrangements.

25 This is a legal declaration (even though you are not required to sign anything). Take care that your answers have been truthful throughout the visa application form. Please don't click this button until you have had the form checked by the Visas and Immigration Team Later, once you have had your visa application checked, you will be directed to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge fee. This is followed by the visa application fee which will either be: a). Standard application 448 (apply by post via the Visa and Immigration Team if you wish) or by yourself, or; b). Priority application 823 (more information about this service is given online here: or; c). Premium application 948 (apply in person) and book an appointment When you reach this stage, please STOP so that the Visa and Immigration Team can check your application. If you proceed beyond this point, you cannot make amendments to your form. Please PRINT your draft application form from the options in the top right of the form.

26 Once you have completed the payment for the visa service that you want, you are prompted to print 2 x PDFs as shown here. If you are sending your visa application via the Visa and Immigration Team (standard service), providing that we have checked your visa application form, you may send these documents to us by immigration-support@nottingham.ac.uk