A guide to extending your student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System

Transcription

1 Immigration & International Student Advice A guide to extending your student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System 2012/13 Version 2

2 A guide to extending your student visa Any changes that have been made to the Tier 4 regulations since the printing of this leaflet: 1

3 Immigration & International Student Advice Contents: Page 1. Are you eligible to apply to extend your visa? 3 2. What requirements do you need to meet? 4 CAS statement Maintenance requirement 3. What documents do you need to provide? 5 4. How can you apply? 8 5. How long will your visa be issued for? 9 6. What do you need to do next? 9 7. What are your responsibilities under Tier 4? What are the university s responsibilities? Where can you get further information?

4 A guide to extending your student visa 1. Are you eligible to apply to extend your visa? You can apply to extend your visa in the UK if: You have a current, valid Tier 4 student visa; and You need to extend your stay in order to complete your current course or to start a new course that does not start more than 28 days after your current visa expires; and This application will not lead to you exceeding the maximum length of stay under Tier 4 (General). Maximum length of study under Tier 4 (General): Any new Tier 4 application must not lead to you spending more than 5 years on courses at degree level (bachelors and masters), unless: There are a small number of other exceptions to this 5 year cap; however, these are not normally relevant to University of South Wales students. Please ask a member of Immigration & International Student Advice (IISA) staff if you require further information. Dependants Your dependants can only apply to stay with you in the UK if: You are studying a postgraduate level course of 12 months or longer; or You are sponsored by your government and your course is 6 months or longer. Please note that if your visa is issued for less than 12 months your dependants will not be given permission to work in the UK. You have completed an undergraduate course which was at least 4 years long, and you are making an application to study a masters degree, in which case the limit is 6 years; or Your Tier 4 application is to study a PhD, in which case there is no limit while you are studying the PhD. 3

5 Immigration & International Student Advice 2. What requirements do you need to meet? To extend your student visa under Tier 4 of the Points Based System you must obtain a total of 40 points: 30 points for doing a course at an acceptable level with an approved education provider; plus 10 points for having enough money to cover your tuition fees and monthly living expenses - the maintenance requirement. To obtain 30 points you must provide a CAS statement from the university If you are applying to extend your stay to complete your current course, you need to request a CAS from your faculty. If you are applying to extend your stay to start a new course, you need to request a CAS from Enquiries and Admissions in D1. Before the university can issue your CAS you also need to complete a CAS assessment form so that the IISA can confirm your eligibility. Once you have requested your CAS and completed a CAS assessment form, it will be produced and sent to the IISA directly and stored ready for your visa appointment with us. To obtain 10 points you must provide documentation to show that you meet the Tier 4 maintenance requirement In order to meet the maintenance requirement you need to show that you have enough money to cover your tuition fees for one year plus your living expenses. You need to show that you have had this money for at least 28 days and that it is still available to you at the time of application. If you have paid all of your tuition fees, you only need to show money for your living expenses. If you have paid half of your tuition fees, you need to show that you have the other half alongside the money for your living expenses. Living expenses How much money you have to show for your living expenses depends on whether you fall into the higher or lower maintenance category: If you fall into the lower maintenance category, you will have to show living expenses of 1600; If you fall into the higher maintenance category, you will have to show living expenses of 800 per month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months ( 7200)

6 A guide to extending your student visa Higher / lower maintenance categories You will fall into the lower maintenance category if you have a current, valid Tier 4 student visa and you need to extend your stay in order to: Complete your current course, which you have been studying for at least 6 months; or Start a new course, and have completed a previous course which was more than 6 months long within your last grant of leave (visa). If not, you will fall into the higher maintenance category. Maintenance for dependants If you have dependants applying at the same time as you, you will have to show additional funds to cover their living expenses: If you fall into the lower maintenance category then you will have to show an additional 900 for each dependant. If you fall into the higher maintenance category then you will have to show an additional 450 per month of your course up to a maximum of 9 months ( 4050) for each dependant. 3. What documents do you need to provide? All documents must be originals. Scanned copies, faxes and s are not acceptable. If any document is not in English, the original must be sent with a fully certified translation by a professional translator. This must be signed and dated by the translator and include: Details of the translator s credentials; Confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document; The translator s contact details. You need to provide the following documents for yourself and for any dependants applying with you: Tier 4 (General) application form (completed online); The relevant application fee, as detailed in the How can you apply? section on page 8; Current passport and any expired passports that have been used to travel to the UK; Two recent passport-sized colour photos; 5

7 Immigration & International Student Advice Biometric Residence Permit (BRP if you have one); Police Registration Certificate (only applicable for certain nationalitiescheck if you require one: up to date with your current address. You also need to provide the following to prove that you meet the Tier 4 requirements: CAS statement, which you need to request as outlined in the What requirements do I need to meet? section on page 4; Original qualifications listed on the CAS (if you are applying for a visa to start a new course); ATAS certificate (only applicable for postgraduate students studying certain Science and Engineering courses- check if you require one: Tuition fee receipts for any fee payments not listed on your CAS; Evidence that you have enough money to meet the maintenance requirement, as set out below. If you have dependants applying with you, you may also need to provide: Your marriage certificate (if you have married since you made your last visa application); Your child s birth certificate (if they have been born since you made your last visa application). Evidence that you have enough money to meet the maintenance requirement You can show that you have enough money to meet the maintenance requirement in one of three ways: Cash in a bank or building society account; A loan in your name; or Official financial or government sponsorship. All evidence of funds must be dated no more than 31 days before you submit your application. Cash in a bank or building society account You need to provide original postal account statements or a letter from the bank showing that you have held the required balance for the full 28 days. The account must be in either your name or in the name(s) of your parent(s). If you use your parents account you also need to provide: An original letter from them confirming their financial support; and Your original birth certificate. Joint account statements are acceptable as long as you are one of the named account holders

8 A guide to extending your student visa The account statements / letter must include the date they were produced, the account holder s name and account number, and the name and logo of the bank. If you can t access original postal bank statements, you may be able to use electronic printed statements. However, as well as containing all the details listed above these must be stamped on every page by the bank to prove authenticity. A loan in your name If you are relying on a loan to fund your studies, you must provide 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 are an American student who is relying on funding from the Direct Loan Program, you will need to provide a Notification of Student Loan letter which will be issued to you by the university s Student Money Service once you have completed your application for funding. If you have obtained a loan from a different source (such as a bank) then you must transfer the funds into your own bank account, wait 28 days, then use your own statements to show you meet the maintenance requirement. Official financial or government sponsorship If your studies are wholly funded by an official financial sponsor you do not need to provide any bank statements. You must instead provide an original letter from them confirming: Your name (and those of any dependants included in the sponsorship); The date; The name and contact details of your official financial sponsor; The length of sponsorship (including start and end dates); The amount of money they will give you or confirmation that they will cover all of your tuition fees and living expenses. If your sponsor only pays some of the costs, you will need this letter plus evidence that you have enough money to meet the rest of the maintenance requirement in the form of either a loan in your name, or cash in a bank or building society account (as above). If you are no longer sponsored but have been within the last 12 months you must include a letter from your sponsor confirming that they are in agreement with you remaining in the UK for a further period. 7

9 Immigration & International Student Advice 4. How can you apply? All students are expected to submit their visa applications via the IISA; the university will not usually issue you with a CAS statement to enable you to apply independently. This is to ensure that your application has the best chance of success. We can help you to apply in one of two ways: By post at a cost of 406 (plus 305 for each dependant). Applications submitted by post are usually processed within 14 weeks; In person at a cost of 781 (plus 680 for each dependant). Applications submitted in person at the Public Enquiry Office in Cardiff are usually processed within 3 weeks. Whichever you choose, you must attend a visa appointment with the IISA at least one month before your visa expires. Please bring 10 cash with you to cover printing and postage costs. You will not be able to book a visa appointment with the IISA until you have first attended a visa workshop, so you must ensure you book on to one of these as early as possible and at least 8 weeks before your visa expires. Completing the Tier 4 (General) application form If you are applying by post you will need to complete the Tier 4 (General) application form online; We will help you set up your account and get started during the visa workshop. When you then come for your visa appointment we will complete the final details and submit the application on your behalf. If you are applying in person, you will need to complete a paper version of the form, which we can provide to you. Providing your biometric information You need to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) as part of your visa application. If you apply by post, within 6 weeks of submitting your application you will receive a letter requesting you give your biometrics at a location in Cardiff and detailing how to do so. If you apply in person, this information will be taken from you at your PEO appointment and you do not have to arrange anything independently

10 A guide to extending your student visa 5. How long will your visa be issued for? If your course is a pre-sessional course which is less than 6 months long, your visa should be issued for the length of your course + 1 month. If your course is between 6 and 12 months long, your visa should be issued for the length of your course + 2 months. If your course is more than 12 months long, your visa should be issued for the length of your course + 4 months. If you are financially sponsored and your sponsor limits the time you may study in the UK, your visa will be limited accordingly. 6. What do you need to do next? 1. Book on to and attend a visa workshop; 2. Ensure you have the relevant funds in the bank; 3. Apply for your ATAS certificate if applicable; 4. Request your CAS statement and complete the CAS assessment form; 5. Collect together all the other required documents; 6. Decide whether to apply by post or in person; 7. Book to attend a visa appointment with IISA at least one month before your visa expires; 8. Fill in as much as you can of the Tier 4 (General) application form online, ready for completion and submission during your visa appointment. 9

11 Immigration & International Student Advice 7. What are your responsibilities under Tier 4? It is important that as a Tier 4 visa holder, you comply with the immigration regulations during your stay in the UK. Your responsibilities are to: Think ahead and make a note to organise all the documents you need to extend your visa at least 8 weeks before your current visa expires; Provide the university with up to date copies of your passport and BRP; Keep the university up to date with your current contact details; Register with the police (if applicable) and keep your Police Registration Certificate up to date; Follow university procedures and leave the UK if you decide to suspend your studies or withdraw from your course. An advisory leaflet is available for students who make a change to their course such as a transfer to a different course/ institution, suspension of study or withdrawal. This can be accessed on our website: /withdrawal/ Enrol for your course when you are expected to; Study at the institution for which your visa was granted (ensuring that you have good attendance on your course and no significant gaps or absences); Work no more than the permitted hours as stated on your visa (10 or 20 hours a week during term time depending on your course level);

12 A guide to extending your student visa 8. What are the university s responsibilities? The Home Office requires that the university complies with certain responsibilities/ duties as a Tier 4 sponsor. These are to: Take and keep up to date copies of students passports and BRPs; Keep contact details up to date (and keep a record of any changes of address). The university is required to report to the Home Office when students holding a Tier 4 visa: Enrol but do not attend and miss 10 expected interactions; Discontinue their studies (including suspensions of study); Make significant changes to their circumstances (such as transferring onto a different course of study or successfully completing a course earlier than expected); Break the conditions of their permission to stay e.g. working illegally. Do not enrol within the enrolment period; 9. Where can you get further information? If you have any questions that are not answered by this guide or you are not clear about any of the information provided, you can get further assistance from the following places: Immigration & International Student Advice: Drop in to B68 with quick queries between 10-12am or 2-4pm Monday- Friday. Telephone: international.support@southwales.ac.uk UKCISA: The UK Council for International Student Affairs: Student advice line: (Monday- Friday 1-4pm) Home Office: yingintheuk/adult-students/ 11

13 Immigration & International Student Advice Notes

14 A guide to extending your student visa Notes 13

15 Immigration & International Student Advice

16 Disclaimer: The information provided in this booklet is given in good faith and is correct at the time of writing (May 2013). It has been carefully checked with UKCISA and the UKBA; however the University of South Wales accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Immigration law is subject to change. Please ensure that you have the most up to date advice by checking the websites listed above and by attending a Tier 4 student visa extension workshop. Immigration advice and services regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner