Guide to Completing the Tier 4 (General) Student Online Application Form (Last updated 6 July 2017)

Transcription

1 Guide to Completing the Tier 4 (General) Student Online Application Form (Last updated 6 July 2017) Tier 4 Application Overview When you apply in your home country for a Tier 4 student visa you need to register for and complete an online application form (with the exception of applications made in North Korea where a paper form VAF9 and an Appendix 8 need to be completed). You must have your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number from St Andrews before you apply for your visa. For information see the CAS webpage. At the end of the process you will receive an with your CAS number. You cannot apply for your visa more than 3 months before your course start date and you must submit a visa application within 6 months of the CAS issue date. If your CAS was issued more than 6 months ago, you need to contact the University to get a new one. We recommend that before you start the application process you read the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) Tier 4 Policy Guidance which sets out the exact requirements for a Tier 4 application. You will need to follow these instructions very carefully. If you are a national of, and are applying in, one of the countries listed below, you are classed as being low risk and will not have to send documentary evidence of your qualifications and funding with your application. However, you must make sure you have the required documents ready to send if you are asked for them later in the application process. Your application could be refused if you do not provide the specified documents within the requested time limit. UKVI designated low risk countries: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (holding Taiwanese passport which includes identification card number), Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA, and BN(O)s. NOTE: If you apply in a country other than your country of nationality you cannot use the low risk provision and must submit all supporting documents with your visa application. Your visa could be refused if you do not include these documents. Letter of parental consent (Tier 4 (General) students under the age of 18 only) If you are under 18 at time of making your visa application you must provide letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) confirming the relationship between you, that they give consent to the visa application, consent to you living in the UK independently and consent to your independent travel to the UK. You must also provide evidence of your relationship birth certificate, certificate of adoption or a court document naming your legal guardian. GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 1

2 Completing the Online Application Form This is a guide only. It does not cover every section but rather sections we are frequently asked questions about. Please refer to the UKVI Tier 4 Policy Guidance which sets out the exact requirements for a Tier 4 application. Do save the application as you progress through it and make a note of your application reference number and passwords so that you can return to it at a later date. Complete Applicant Details Under Select Visa Type : Reason for visit study Visa type - PBS Tier 4 Student Visa sub type - Tier 4 (General) student. Passport/Travel Document Please note that you need one blank page, front and back, in your passport/travel document to avoid the processing of your application being delayed or rejected. Write your name exactly as shown in your passport and CAS statement. Include middle/other names with your Given name(s). If you only have one name, write it in the Family Name AND Given Name boxes. Travel Information Are you travelling with anyone? If family are travelling with you enter their details. Date of planned travel to the UK: Include your intended date of travel to the UK. Please note that this is the date that your 30 day visa vignette will be based on and you will only be able to travel to the UK within the specified dates on the vignette that is issued. How long do you intend to stay in the UK? This question is referring to the length of course i.e. 4 years for undergraduate & PhD, 1 year for a Masters course. What is the main address and contact details of where you will be staying whilst in the UK? You may not have been allocated your accommodation when completing the visa application form so you can use the main University address: College Gate North Street St Andrews Fife Scotland UK KY16 9AJ Primary Contact No.: (Secondary contact number and address are not mandatory so can be left blank) GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 2

3 Personal Details What is your permanent residential address and contact details? Please note this is the address where documents (passport, etc.) will be sent back to you. Travel and Criminal History The answers will vary for individual students. Questions 1 9 are straight forward Do you have a UK National Insurance Number? If answer Yes to any add, in the details Unless you have worked in the UK previously the answer will be no to this question. Questions are straight forward If we need to interview you, what language would you like to use in the interview? Questions straight forward If answer Yes to any, add in the details Enter your first language here If answer Yes to any, add in the details Family Details Please do complete all sections. Medical Treatment We suggest that you include details and dates of any medical treatment received in the UK. Our understanding is you are not required to include details of appointments with a General Practitioner (GP) or minor illnesses, but if you have received hospital or longer term treatment for injury or a medical condition you should supply the information requested. Sponsor The information you need for this section will also appear on your CAS Tier 4 Sponsor Licence Number: V63Q719H2 Name of sponsor: University of St Andrews Address of sponsor: College Gate, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ Primary Contact No.: (Secondary contact number and address are not mandatory so can be left blank) Studies This section is asking for information from your CAS about your course, details of the title, level, etc. If you do not have a CAS number, you cannot proceed with your application. To be valid, your CAS must not be more than six months old at the time you apply for your visa. If you are reapplying GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 3

4 after a visa refusal, you will need a new CAS. CAS Number Title of course Level of course Start date of course As given on CAS be careful to make clear the difference between any 0 s and O s and 1 s and I s. This should match Course Title on CAS . This should match Acad Crs Level on CAS SCQF level 10 (undergraduate) or SCQF level 11 (masters) or SCQF level 12 (doctorate) If you are starting a new course, use Course Start Date from your CAS . If you have already started your course at St Andrews and you are applying for a visa to resume or continue, use the original start date of course as stated in the Evidence used to obtain box on your CAS End date of course Have you already started studying this course? Address main site of study Confirm which of the following options apply Have you been assessed by the sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork? Please indicate how you meet the minimum English language requirement relevant to your course Include the Exp. course end date as per the CAS . If this is your first visa for your course of study the answer will be No. Same as address of sponsor Studying Answer No to this question Please refer to the English Language section of this guidance below. English Language Look at your CAS under the heading English language qualification to find out which option you should choose. If SELT required as per CAS, enter details. If NO SELT required see below: Option on the form Information on CAS GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 4

5 National of a majority English speaking country Academic qualification equivalent to UK degree, taught in majority English speaking country English Language Test Previous study as a child student (or under the student rules that were in force before 31 march 2009) Your sponsor is a Higher Education Institution (HEI), and has made its own assessment of your English language ability Your sponsor is an HEI, considers you to be a gifted student and has waived the English Language requirement Studying short-term study abroad programme in the UK as part of a university course in the USA If you are a national of one of the countries listed in Appendix B (6.10) of the Immigration Rules, as shown in the passport listed on your CAS that you will use for your visa application, choose this option and pick your nationality from the drop-down list provided Include the title of your qualification and the country it was taught in if this is included under the heading Documentation Evidence used to obtain on your CAS . You will need to include an original transcript/certificate for this qualification, unless you are classed as a low risk national. If a test result is mentioned on your CAS include details of the awarding body, title, level, date of the award and reference number If your CAS confirms that you have completed a course in the UK as a child student include information requested If the CAS states Higher Education Institution (HEI) sponsor has made assessment choose this option. DO NOT include language test certificates or results with your visa application. Your CAS will confirm if this is the case. If less than 6 months in duration you will not be required to obtain a Tier 4 visa Maintenance and Fees You must ensure you enter the correct information in this section and have the specified documentation as evidence of your funding as set out in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. If you come under the low risk category and you are applying in your home country, you do not have to send documentary evidence of your finances with your visa application, but you must have the documents available in case they are requested during the processing of your visa. Note that the GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 5

6 reduced evidence provision (low risk) does not apply if you are making your application in a country that is not your country of nationality. Course Fees Copy the figure for Tuition Fees due given on your CAS under the heading, Financial/Accommodation. Note that this figure will represent your tuition fees for a maximum of one year, not the total fees for your course if your course lasts for more than one year. Have any of your course fees been paid? This means payments that have been made towards the amount show as Tuition Fees due and which are either shown on your CAS as Tuition fees (paid to date) or for which you have an original paper receipt from the University. Choose Yes Paid to UK Education Provider if you have paid any and include the amount underneath. If you are a Study Abroad Student who is not required to pay any course fees direct to St Andrews because your home institution is paying St Andrews, and you have 0.00 for Tuition Fees due on your CAS, choose Yes - Paid to Overseas Higher Education Institution and then choose Shown on CAS. You might have to include with your visa application a letter from your home institution confirming the arrangement. If you answered No and none of the Tuition Fees due have been paid, you must state that you can cover this amount by answering Yes to the question Do you have sufficient funds to cover remaining course fees? For part payment of fees, you have to include the total amount already paid and then choose the option from the drop down menu which evidence you are providing. If you are a national who comes under the low risk category you should choose the last option Evidence is not required but held by applicant If you DO NOT come under the low risk category and you have paid a sum of money towards your tuition fees, either ensure the payment is recorded on the CAS (which the University can update electronically even after your CAS has been issued) or provide an original paper receipt from the University. Have any of your accommodation fees been paid to your sponsor? (The University of St Andrews) You can only state an amount paid towards accommodation if you will be or are staying in University accommodation, money has been paid to the University and: o this amount is shown on your CAS as Accom fees (paid to date), or o you have an original official paper receipt from St Andrews for the amount paid In both cases choose Yes - Paid to UK Education Provider, enter the amount below and choose how this will be evidenced. Note that, even if you have paid a higher amount to the University for accommodation, you are only allowed to offset a maximum of 1265 towards the amount you may need to show GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 6

7 for maintenance. If you are a Study Abroad Student who is not required to pay any accommodation fees direct to St Andrews because your home institution is paying St Andrews, and this is explained on your CAS, choose Yes - Paid to Overseas Higher Education Institution. If you are not in University accommodation answer No. Do you receive support from a financial sponsor that meets the UK Visa and Immigration definition of a financial sponsor? Financial sponsor means a body who is funding your studies (tuition fees or living expenses or both), who is the UK government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or an independent school. You may be receiving funding from another source, but it will not count as an official financial sponsor. Note that if you are funding your studies using a student loan, you should give this information in a different section. If you have an official financial sponsor, you will need a stamped, original, headed-paper letter from them about the sponsorship (scholarship, award, bursary or equivalent) which meets the requirements in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. If your financial sponsor is an international organisation or company we recommend that the letter makes it clear that they operate on an international basis. If the University (St Andrews) or your school is your official financial sponsor this information may not be included on your CAS, and you will need to make sure you have a letter. Include the full name of the official financial sponsor and the amount they are giving you in total, followed by a breakdown of the amount for fees and living expenses. For partial scholarships or more than one official financial sponsor put the total amount (there does not appear to be an option to add more than one sponsor). If your financial sponsor is paying all of your tuition fees, you have to state the amount you will receive. If your financial sponsor is paying all of your living expenses, or as much or more than the amount already stated, write the total amount in the next box. If you are only partially funded for either tuition fees or maintenance, write the actual figures as shown in your financial sponsor letter in the boxes. Do you have any remaining fees and maintenance still due for payment? Unless you are fully sponsored student the answer to this question will be yes. For course fees use the figures shown on your CAS, tuition fee due minus any that you have already paid to the University i.e. deposit UKVI are looking for you to have maintenance of 1015 per month (maximum of 9 months), so a total of If you are to be in University accommodation and you have paid money towards this you can deduct a maximum amount of 1265 from the 9135 i.e. you would have remaining maintenance of 7870 still due for payment. For the total remaining to be covered, add the figures for Course fees and Maintenance together. You will need to be able to show you have this amount of money in a bank account or have a loan to cover it, or that your parent or legal guardian has the amount required in a bank account for 28 days prior to date of application submission. Do you have money in your own name? GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 7

8 If yes you will be asked: What original documents have been supplied showing evidence of funds for the fees that still need to be paid? Bank statement, loan letter etc. If no you will be asked: What evidence have you provided that shows both the amount of funds available and your relationship to your parents or legal guardians? Bank statement, birth certificate and a letter from your parents confirming the relationship and that they will be supporting you while studying in the UK. Note that you cannot show funding in the form of a loan in the name of a parent or legal guardian and you cannot show funding from any other family member or individual. If you do not have the money you need to show in your own or joint names, and want to show evidence of funding from your parent or legal guardian, you must obtain a letter from them, provide your original birth or adoption certificate or court document for guardianship. See Tier 4 Policy Guidance. In addition they must also provide a bank letter or bank statement which meets the requirements as stated in the guidance. Remember that if any of these documents are not in English you will have to obtain a translation which meets the requirements in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. If you are showing evidence of money held in either your own or a parent/guardian s account, you must be able to show (as set out in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance) that you have held the required level of funding for 28 consecutive days prior to application; any documents must also be dated within 31 days of the date you submit and pay for the application, otherwise your application is likely to be refused. If you come under the low risk provision you can type in Applying under the Differentiation Agreement as a low risk national. Evidence is not required but held by applicant, and you will not have to provide supporting documents but remember you must have the documents available if UKVI asks for them at a later date. Note that the low risk provision does not apply if you are making your application in a country that is not your country of nationality. If you do not come under the low risk provision, list the documents you will be providing as evidence for your funding for example Personal bank statements or Student Loan. If you are funded by a US Federal Student Loan, ensure you have proof of the loan and Notification from the University s US loan office. Send this with your visa application unless you come under the low risk provision. Note that the low risk provision does not apply if you are making your application in a country that is not your country of nationality. If you need further information about this, us.loans@st-andrews.ac.uk. Remember that if the loan is partial you may need to provide other documents as specified in Tier 4 Policy Guidance to show that you have the balance. Points Claimed 30 points for having your CAS GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 8

9 10 points for maintenance TOTAL 40 points required Additional Information A free text box for any other information you wish to be considered as part of your application. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION Supporting documents evidence of academic qualification Look at the heading on your CAS , Documentation Evidence used to obtain If any qualifications are listed here and you DO NOT come under the low risk provision you are required to send in an original certificate or transcript for the award(s) listed. If you DO come under the low risk provision you are not required to send the original certificate or transcript but make sure you have them available to send if UKVI request them. You must have completed any qualifications listed; UKVI will not accept provisional documents. Look at the Tier 4 Policy Guidance to ensure your documents fully meet the requirements. If any of these documents are not in English you must also send a translation in the required format. Only send evidence for qualifications listed on your CAS . Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Once your application has been processed you will be issued with a short 30 day travel vignette inside your passport which is based on the intended date of travel you include on your application form. You are then required to collect the full length visa once you arrive in the UK which is your BRP card. At this point in the process you have to choose where to collect your BRP within 10 days of arrival in the UK (this will also include any BRPs for your dependents who are travelling with you). The University of St Andrews (your SPONSOR) can receive Biometric Cards on behalf of students but YOU MUST enter the University of St Andrews Alternative Collection code (ACL) 2HE357 on the form. You can nominate a Post Office based on your residential address or an alternative address postcode. Please follow the instructions although we strongly encourage you to use the second option for SPONSOR. Further details about how to collect your BRP will be provided by the Home Office when your travel visa is issued. Biometric Appointment The next step is to book an appointment to give biometric information at a Visa Application Centre GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 9

10 (VAC). Please follow the instructions from the front page of the application. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) All applications for a visa longer than 6 months will be required to pay an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This will give you access to the NHS in the UK for the duration of your course. You will pay the IHS at this stage of the online application process. Further information about this is available on our webpage. And Finally Keep a copy of the application and any documentation you submit for your own reference. You must send in all required documents which will include your passport, passport photograph and biometric receipt. We hope your application goes smoothly. If you follow the instructions carefully to show you meet the requirements you should not encounter problems. However if you do experience difficulties or your application is refused, contact advint@st-andrews.ac.uk as soon as possible. NOTE FOR STUDENTS APPLYING IN THE USA Please note that the information about where to send your application pack from within the US is sometimes unclear. UKVI in the US has produced a guide which includes the address in New York (do not send your documents to the UK!) where the application pack has to be sent. You are also required to provide a return shipping waybill and envelope. This must not be hand written but electronic. For full details: GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT ONLINE APPLICATION FORM 10