Applicant receives Conditional offer letter. Applicant supplies all documents listed on Conditional offer letter. AA issues Unconditional Offer Letter

Transcription

1 Undergraduate International Tier 4 Student Information Applicant receives Unconditional offer letter Applicant receives Conditional offer letter Applicant supplies all documents listed on Conditional offer letter AA issues Unconditional Offer Letter Please note this flow chart is a guide to assist applicants with the visa process and is subject to change. It is the applicant s responsibility to check the UKBA website for up-to-date information The earliest we can begin to process CAS is the end of June All applicants Applicant returns signed Admissions Form and Deposit receipt. We must receive confirmation that you have paid at least the initial deposit for your chosen course (if not the full fees for one academic year) Show AA the financial evidence you will be submitting to UKBA Full fees for your course + 9,000 maintenance. This amount must be held in your account for 28 consecutive days prior to your visa appointment or submission of your application to the UKBA (ending no more than one week before your application). Bank letters must show Your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian The account number The date of the letter The financial institution s name and logo The money in the account for a consecutive 28-day period That there is enough money in the account to cover your course fees and living costs Bank statements must show Your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian The account number The date of the statement The financial institution s name and logo The amount of money available for a consecutive 28-day period Funded through parents bank account Funded through your personal bank account or building society. (Your name must be on the account as sole account holder) Submit birth certificate bearing yours and your parents name Submit parent consent letter Submit bank letter and bank statements (check financial institutes not accepted by UKBA) Submit bank letter and bank statements (check financial institutes not accepted by UKBA) Submit TB screening medical certificate to the AA (if applicable to your country) Submit visa appointment confirmation to the AA CAS ISSUED BY THE AA

2 INTERNATIONAL TIER 4 STUDENT INFORMATION Please note that the UK Border Agency is now part of the Home Office. For the purposes of the information below please regard the UK Border Agency and the Home Office as the same thing. Entry conditions for international applicants from outside the EU or European Economic Area are governed by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Tier 4 General Points Based System. Applicants are expected to gain 40 points before they are entitled to a student visa. It is absolutely vital that applicants provide all the documentation and fulfil the exact UK Border Agency requirements or their visa application will be refused. For full details about what is required you should read the Border Agency policy guidance The Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) will provide you with a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This is an electronic reference number which confirms that you are applying to study at an institution which is an approved education provider, and also that your course is at an acceptable level. The AA has a Highly Trusted Sponsor status and its license number is 66RH3QNT0, which you will find on your CAS letter. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED The AA cannot issue applicants with a CAS number (required for your Visa application) until we receive the following: 1. All documentation listed on the conditional offer letter; 2. A signed admissions form; 3. Confirmation that you have paid at least the initial deposit for your chosen course (if not the full fees); and 4. A copy of the same financial evidence required by the UKBA for the visa application (refer to financial evidence section in this document). You must keep all original documents to submit with your Visa application. Please ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the time of your CAS/Visa application. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS The deadline for receipt of your English Language test results is 31 st May For full details of acceptable English Language Qualifications, please refer to the Important Information for all applicants document. Please note: 1. You are required to meet the scores in each category and overall we cannot accept lower scores. 2. IELTS and TOEFL English Language Certificates have a two year validity period. The certificate must bear a date no longer than two years ago at the time of CAS/visa application. The Cambridge Certificates do not expire. 3. The Pearson Test of English has a two year validity period. Pearson does not issue paper certificates. Applicants are required to print out their online score report and send a copy to the AA in addition to submitting it to the UK Border Agency online. 4. Please send your Original English Language Certificate to the AA. Applicants applying for a Visa must request an additional Original Certificate for Visa application from the test centre. 5. UKBA requirements are subject to frequent changes and all visa applicants should check with the UKBA for up-to-date details.

3 FINANCIAL EVIDENCE You will need to show you have enough money to: 1. Pay the full fees of your course; and 2. Support yourself for nine months. As the AA is based in inner London, you will need to show 9,000 for living costs. You will need to provide evidence from your bank that the money has been in your bank account for a consecutive 28 day period, ending no more than one week before your application. If possible, we strongly recommend making the payment for the full course fees to the AA before requesting your CAS. You will then just need to provide evidence of having 9,000 in your account for 28 consecutive days, ending no more than one week before your application. The Financial Evidence must be ed to us as PDFs, with the subject header Financial Evidence for CAS: [Name]: [Membership number]:[application year] to undergraduateadmissions@aaschool.ac.uk Important for all applicants: You must accompany your financial evidence with the following documentation: 1. A summary letter from you stating: o The totals required in your case; o Exactly where these totals appear on the documentation you have provided and for what period of time, including dates; and o The totals in your currency converted into British Pounds 2. Print-out(s) from the OANDA currency converter of the totals you are providing converted into British Pounds: 3. A letter from a bank or building society showing*: o Your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian; o The account number; o The date of the letter; o The financial institution's name and logo; o The money in the account for a consecutive 28 day period; and o That there is enough money in the account to cover your course fees and living costs. 4. Personal bank or building society statements must show the following*: o Your name, or the name(s) of your parent(s) or legal guardian; o The account number; o The date of the statement; o The financial institution's name and logo; and o The amount of money available for a consecutive 28 day period. If your fees are funded through YOUR bank account* Your name must be on the account as sole account holder or joint with a parent, guardian or other person. If your money is held in a savings account, you must have instant access to this, and must provide a letter from your bank stating as such. If your fees are funded through your PARENTS account* If bank statements come from your parents or legal guardian, they must be accompanied by both: 1. A letter from your parent or legal guardian stating their relationship to you, that they will be supporting you for education and living expenses throughout your studies, and that the funds will be instantly accessible to you, and

4 2. Your birth certificates bearing yours and your parents names or adoption certificate or legal guardian certificate if this applies. Please refer to the UKBA website. * For more detailed information from the UKBA, including the financial institutes that are not deemed acceptable, please visit Please note we cannot accept: Letters from the bank without accompanying bank statements; or Credit statements HEALTH REGULATIONS You may be required to submit a Tuberculosis Screening Test. Please check the following link: to see if this screening applies to you. It is your responsibility to arrange a screening and submit the relevant to documentation to the AA. VISA APPOINTMENT Prior to CAS issue, please send us your Visa appointment booking confirmation. CAS ISSUE BY THE AA The earliest we can issue a CAS is the end of June Your CAS will be sent out as an attachment with a covering letter. Please ensure that you check the details carefully. Disclaimer It is important you study all the information above carefully. Please note that this document is to be used as a guide only. The UKBA regulations are regularly updated and it is therefore up to the applicant to ensure that they meet all the UKBA requirements. Please note: Although the AA checks Tier 4 General Student Visa s documents as far as possible before issuing CAS numbers, it is the responsibility of individual applicant to ensure that they supply the correct documents required for visa processing. We strongly advise that you thoroughly read all the relevant information on the UKBA website: and that you contact your local Embassy for further information.

5 Useful Information/Links You can seek advice from the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) ( who can offer help and advice for students planning to study in the UK. Please find below links you may take a look at regarding UKBA Tier 4 Application Forms. Tier 4 (General) Visa - Applying for Entry Clearance ( Applying for a Tier 4 (General) student visa in your home country. A Tier 4 visa allows the holder to come to the UK to study full time at the AA for graduate and undergraduate courses. A Tier 4 visa is normally issued for the full length of your course plus a few months as per UKBA regulations. Tier 4 (General) Visa - Extension in the UK for students currently studying in the UK ( If you are already in the UK on a student visa, you may be able to apply for a Tier 4 General student visa extension: to continue your course at the AA, or to start a new course at the AA. Please note: in order to study at the AA you will be required to complete a new visa application form and receive a new CAS confirming that you will be sponsored by the AA for the remainder of your studies. Please read the section on academic progress below. This option only applies to students registered on the Five Year ARB/RIBA recognised course in Architecture. A Tier 4 visa will normally be issued for the remainder of an existing course/full length of a new course plus a few months extra time as per UKBA regulations. Tier 4 (General) application form & guidance notes Please look on the UKBA website for all the application forms and guidance notes. ACADEMIC PROGRESS Please note if you have a CAS and you previously had permission to stay as a Student or a Tier 4 (General) Student then your Tier 4 Sponsor can only give you a CAS for a new course, if your new course represents academic progress from your previous studies. In order for your new course to represent academic progress from your previous studies, it must: Be above the level of your previous course for which you were granted leave as a Tier 4 (General) Student or as a Student, or Involve further study at the same level, which your Tier 4 Sponsor confirms that it complements your previous course for which you were granted leave as a Tier 4 Tier 4 Policy Guidance version 12/2012 page 11 of 73 (General) Student or as a Student, for example, you may be moving from a taught masters degree to an MBA or research-based masters degree. Please ensure to inform the AA School of all changes to your contact details (address/ telephone/ etc) and any changes/updates to your passport/visa.