TIER 4 VISA GUIDE Last Updated 19 th October 2016
Contents Introduction to Tier 4 (General) 3 What is a UK Visa?.... 3 What is a Tier 4 (General) Visa?... 3 Do I need a Tier 4 visa for the FIE Programme?.... 3 Students who are not undertaking an internship, service internship or volunteer placement 3 Students who hold a European Union/ European Economic Area/Swiss passport 3 Can I apply for a Tier 4 visa after I arrive in the UK? 3 When should I start my visa application?... 4 How long does it take to receive the visa? 4 Requirements for Tier 4 (General) 4 Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Number 30 Points.. 4 English Language Requirement... 5 Maintenance 10 Points..... 6 Tuition Fees..... 6 Living Costs... 6 Accommodation Fees............ 7 Submitting Evidence for the Maintenance Requirement.. 7 Differentiation Arrangements.... 7 Permitted Financial Institutions..... 9 Completing a Tier 4 Visa Application 10 STEP 1 Receive CAS Statement Email from FIE..... 10 STEP 2 Complete Online Application and Arrange Biometric Appointment 11 STEP 3 Attend Biometric Appointment 14 STEP 4 Submit Application Materials to British Consulate/Embassy... 16 STEP 5 Receive Visa in the Mail........ 19 Coming to the United Kingdom.. 20 Visa Application Checklist... 21 Where Can I Get More Help?..... 22 2
Introduction to Tier 4 (General) What is a UK visa? A visa is a certificate which gives you permission to enter the UK. To receive a visa, you have to submit an application to the British Consulate or Embassy in your country of nationality, or where you are officially a resident. If your application is successful, your visa will be inserted into your passport as a sticker and give your status and purpose for being in the UK. What is a Tier 4 (General) visa? A Tier 4 (General) visa is for those who want to study in the UK. It is granted on points based system and to make a successful application you have to score 40 points: 30 points for a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number and 10 points for meeting the maintenance (financial) requirements. Do I need a Tier 4 visa for the FIE Programme? You will need to apply for a Tier 4 visa if any of the following statements apply to you: You will be undertaking an internship, service internship, or volunteer placement as part of your FIE programme; OR You will be studying in the UK for 6 months or more. What about if I am not undertaking an internship, service internship or volunteer placement? You will come to the UK under a different immigration category Short Term Study. Please see our separate guide for Student Visitors on the FIE website. What about if I hold a European Union/European Economic Area/Swiss passport? European Union/European Economic Area/Swiss passport holders are not subject to UK immigration control and so do not need permission to work or study in the UK. Therefore, you do not need a visa for the FIE programme. Please bear in mind the following: You must travel to and enter the UK on this passport; AND Your passport must be valid for the entire duration of your studies. Can I apply for a Tier 4 visa after I arrive in the UK? You cannot apply for a Tier 4 visa within the UK. The application must be made in your country of nationality or official residence. You also cannot enter the UK under a different immigration category (for example, General Visitor or Student Visitor) and then change into Tier 4. 3
When should I start my visa application? You should start your visa application as early as possible. However, you cannot start your application any earlier than three months before the start date of your programme. If you submit your application before then, it will be rejected by the British Consulate/Embassy. How much does it cost to submit my visa application? From 18 th March 2016, the visa application fee will be 328. How long does it take to receive the visa? The processing time for visa applications varies and so we urge you to complete all of the steps in this process as quickly as possible. You can check the visa processing times on the following webpage by selecting your country of residence and then Visa processing times. Requirements for Tier 4 (General) Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) Number 30 Points In order to apply for a Tier 4 visa, you must have a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) number issued by a licensed education provider. A CAS is a unique reference number which confirms that you have been accepted on a programme of studies in the UK. To generate you a CAS, FIE submits mandatory information about you and your programme to the UK Visas & Immigration. We then receive the CAS number and send this to you in an email called Your CAS Statement. This email also contains guidance on how to complete Tier 4 Student section of your online visa application (see STEP 2 below). To be issued with a CAS, you must do the following: Submit your programme application via FIE s online admin system and be accepted. Complete the Passport Questionnaire in your application. Complete the Transcript Questionnaire in your application. Complete the English Language Requirement Questionnaire in your application if this applies to you (see below for further information). 4
English Language Requirement In order to make a successful Tier 4 application, UK Visas & Immigration requires that applicants possess a certain level of English. This is known as the English Language Requirement. The required level for your programme is the equivalent of level B2 on the Common European Framework (CEFR). The only applicants that this requirement does not apply to are the following: Nationals of a majority English speaking country: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; The Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Canada; Dominica; Grenada; Guyana; Jamaica; New Zealand; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; Trinidad and Tobago; United States of America; OR Those who have completed the equivalent of a UK bachelor s degree which was taught in one of the majority English speaking countries; OR Third country nationals applying under a Tier 4 (General) to participate in a study abroad programme in the UK as part of their bachelor s or master s degree at a Higher Education Institution in the US. For third country nationals, please consult appendix 2 using the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-v-visitor-rules Please note: This exemption DOES NOT apply for Freshman programmes. If you are exempt from the requirement, we will record this in your CAS so that you do not have to provide any supporting evidence. You can skip the rest of this section and continue to the next section - Maintenance. If you are subject to the requirement (i.e. not exempt), you must provide evidence of your English language ability. The only acceptable evidence is to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) that has been approved by the UK Visas & Immigration. Since 6th April 2015, only the IELTS Academic Test for UKVI is accepted as SELTS for immigration applications from overseas applicants. An updated list of test locations can be found on the below links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applying-for-uk-visa-approvedenglish-language-tests For tests in the USA only - https://registration.ieltsusa.org/tests For tests in other parts of the world - http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/book-your-test/booknow 5
Once your test results are available, you will need to submit them to FIE to receive your CAS. You can do this by logging into your application on FIE s Study Abroad system and accessing the English Language Requirement Questionnaire. You can upload your test results in the following format: A scan of the original test certificate showing the UKVI test reference number. This should ideally be in PDF format. Under UK Visas & Immigration rules, FIE cannot issue you a CAS until we receive a copy of your English language test results and confirmed you meet the English Language Requirement. When you make your visa application using this CAS, you do not need to provide a SELT certificate with your application. Instead, you must quote the unique UKVI Number on your application, which must match the one noted on the CAS. 6
When should I take the English language test? You should arrange to take a test as soon as possible, as it can be difficult to secure a place on one of the tests during busy periods. If you find that you cannot secure a place with one test location, you should try another. What about if I have already taken one of the approved tests? You do not need to take the test again and can submit the test certificate you already have with your visa application. However, the test must still be valid on the date that you submit your visa application. My home institution has already assessed my English language ability. Do I still need to take a test? Even if your home institution assessed your English language ability, you are not exempt from the English Language Requirement. The UK Visas & Immigration will not accept any assessments or waivers made by an overseas institution. You must take one of the approved tests. I have taken an English language course or test that is not on the UKVI approved list. Can I use it as evidence of my English language ability? The UK Visas & Immigration will only accept an approved English language test. They will not accept any other assessment or course. This includes programmes such as the International Baccalaureate Diploma or English courses taken in high school. Maintenance 10 Points The UK Visas & Immigration also requires you to possess sufficient funds (maintenance) to cover the duration of your studies. The maintenance you are required to have is for your tuition (course) fees and living costs. Tuition Fees The CAS that you will be issued by FIE will state that you have paid your tuition fees to your home institution or to FIE. Therefore, you do not need to show additional evidence that you have paid your tuition. You will also declare that your tuition has been paid on your online visa application. Living Costs In addition to your course fees, you must also demonstrate that you have sufficient living costs for your studies. You are required to have 1,265 for every month that you will be in the UK. For example, for the Fall semester you will need 5,060 in your account for the 4-month semester. 7
If your programme includes a part of a month, the UK Visas & Immigration will round the time up to the next month when calculating maintenance funds. For example, if your programme is eight weeks and four days, you are required to have maintenance for three months. Accommodation Fees If you are living in FIE housing during your programme you can deduct up to a maximum of 1,265 of your accommodation fees from the required living costs. For example: Student is participating in the fall semester programme AND staying in FIE accommodation Living costs = 5,060 (15 weeks = 4 months X 1,265) 5,060 1,265 for accommodation fees Total Maintenance Funds = 3,795 The CAS you will be issued by FIE will state that you are staying in our housing. You will have to demonstrate that you have the remainder of the required maintenance funds available to you and may need to provide evidence of this. The next section explains if you will need to submit supporting evidence with your application and the types of evidence that are acceptable. Submitting Evidence for the Maintenance Requirement All Tier 4 applicants must have the required maintenance funds for their studies. However, the UK Visas & Immigration has set out differentiation arrangements for some applicants. Those who qualify for these arrangements do NOT have to provide supporting evidence that they meet the financial requirement. To qualify for these arrangements, you must meet all of the following criteria: Be a national of one of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong (SAR passport), Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (ROC passport), Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, or United States of America or a British National Overseas; AND Apply for your Tier 4 visa in your country of nationality. Those who qualify for the differentiation arrangements You do not submit any supporting evidence that you meet the maintenance requirement. Instead you will declare that you meet the requirement on the online visa application. The CAS statement you will receive from FIE will include instructions on how to do this. Please note that the UK Visas & Immigration reserves the right to request additional evidence at any time during the application process. If this evidence cannot be provided, the application will be rejected. Applicants will be contacted by the Consulate/Embassy if they need to provide any additional documentation. Please go to the next section Completing a Tier 4 Visa Application 8
Those who do not qualify for the differentiation arrangements You must submit supporting evidence with your application otherwise it will be rejected by the British Consulate/Embassy. You can submit evidence in one or more of four ways: 1) Funds from an account in your name You can submit a bank statement(s) or letter confirming that you hold the required funds in a bank account in your own name. The statement(s) or letter must show: That you have had the required funds in your account for at least 28 days prior to making your visa application. The account balance has not dropped below the required amount during the 28-day period. The date of the statement or letter. This must be within 1 month of making your application. Your name, account number and the financial institution s name and logo. The funds must be cash funds, held in a regular current/checking account or a savings account. Salary, stocks, shares portfolios, property value or other non-cash assets are not acceptable. 2) Funds from an account in a parent/guardian s name You can submit a bank statement(s) or letter from an account in a parent or guardian s name. In addition to the above criteria, you must also submit the following: Your original (or a notarised copy) birth certificate, adoption certificate or court document confirming legal guardian status; AND A signed and dated letter from the parent(s)/guardian(s), confirming your relationship to them, the funds available, and they give their consent for you to use these funds to study in the UK. 3) Official Financial Sponsorship An official financial sponsor is a company or organisation that is giving you money to cover some or all of your course fees and/or living costs. This can be your national government, your home institution or any international company or organisation. You will need to submit a letter of confirmation from your sponsor stating the following: Your name The name and contact details of the sponsor The date of the letter The length of the sponsorship The amount of money your sponsor is giving to you, or a statement that they will cover all of your fees and/or living costs. 9
4) Student Loans You can also use student loans from a financial institution or organisation in your home country. The financial institution must be regulated by the official regulatory body in the country where they are based. You will need to submit a letter from the financial institution stating the following: Your name The financial institution s name and logo The date of the letter The amount of money available as a loan That the money is provided by your national government, a government sponsored Student Loan Company or part of an academic/educational loans scheme. Permitted Financial Institutions The UK Visas & Immigration had created a list of financial institutions which they consider do not verify financial information to their satisfaction. Students will receive no points for maintenance funds if they submit documents showing that their funds are held in one of these financial institutions. You can find list of these institutions here. 10
Completing a Tier 4 Visa Application There are several stages in the visa application process that need to be completed. You should read about all these steps before you start your application. STEP 1 Receive CAS Statement Email from FIE FIE will send you an email called Your CAS Statement which will contain your CAS number and guidance on how to complete the Tier 4 section on your online visa application (see STEP 2 below). This email will be emailed directly to the address you provided in your Profile on FIE s Study Abroad system. Once you receive the email, you should check that all the information listed for you is correct. What should I do if I find an error on the CAS Statement? Please send FIE an email describing the error. We will then update your information on the UK Visas & Immigration s system. What about if any of my information changes (for e.g. I renew my passport)? Please send FIE an email stating the changes to your information. We will then update your information on the UK Visas & Immigration s system. It is your responsibility to let FIE know of any errors on your CAS statement or any changes to your information. Please let us know immediately if you have renewed or are going to renew your passport after your CAS has been issued. Your passport number is an important detail on your CAS and we will need to amend it if you have a new passport. Your visa application may be refused if your CAS has the different passport number than the one you submit with your application. 11
STEP 2 Complete Online Application and Arrange Biometric Appointment If you are applying from outside the United States, please make sure that you check any specific requirements for visa application from your country of residence. You can find more information about your nearest visa application centre at this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre All applicants for a Tier 4 Visa must complete an online application. You will pay the visa application fee as part of this process and book an appointment to have your biometrics taken. a) Register an Account Go to the following website and select the option to Register an Account http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk You will need to submit your personal details and choose a username and password to use the website. You will then receive an email confirming your account has been created and asking you to click on a link to unlock your account. b) Creating an Application Once you have logged in, select the option Apply For Myself to start creating your visa application. When you are asked to Select Visa Type you should select the following options: Reason for Visit Study Visa Type PBS Tier 4 Student Visa Sub Type Tier 4 (General) Student c) Completing Your Application MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAVE YOUR APPLICATION BEFORE LOGGING OUT OR CLOSING YOUR INTERNET BROWSER. Passport and Travel Information You will need to enter the details of your current passport and any other passports you have held in the last 10 years. The travel information you enter should match the dates and duration of your FIE programme. 12
When asked for the main address and contact details of where you will be staying in the UK, enter the following: Metrogate House 3-7 Queen's Gate Terrace London SW7 5PE United Kingdom 020 7808 0130 admin@fie.org.uk Personal Details and Travel History Make sure you answer all questions honestly. Family Details You will need to enter the details of your parents, including their dates and places of birth. Medical Treatment Enter the details of any medical treatment (if any) you have received in the UK. Tier 4 Student This section asks for details of your course of studies and finances. It is completed using your CAS Statement. You should not complete this section until you receive your CAS statement, as your responses must match the details sent to you by FIE. The CAS statement will also include guidance on how to complete this section. Additional Information You do not have to enter anything in this section. (However, you can use this section to input any additional information you wish to be considered as part of your application.) Once you have completed all the sections, click on the button Confirm Application. Make sure you check your completed application. You cannot make any changes to your information once you have confirmed it. d) Sign Declaration Click on the Sign Declaration button on the My Applications screen to sign your application. e) Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) Collection Location Click on the BRP Collection Location button to complete this section. The BRP collection requirement does not apply to programs less than 6 months. BRP s are issued for Tier 4 visa applications for programs over 6 months only. Your full visa will be issued in your passport. The question about BRP collection, however, is still asked to applicants and the UKVI recommends 13
you select the default allocated post office and continue with the application. If you are not allocated a default post office, please enter the post code for your residential address while in the UK or the post code for the sponsors address. You can find these post codes in this guide and in your CAS statement email. f) Book Biometric Appointment Click on the Book Appointment button on the My Applications screen to book your biometric appointment where your fingerprints and photo will be taken (see STEP 3 below). If you want to change your biometric appointment, click on View Appointment on the My Applications screen. You can then change or cancel your appointment. g) Pay for IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) Click on the Pay for IHS button to complete this section. As with the BRP, the IHS or Immigration Health Surcharge is not applicable to programs under 6 months. So, you are not required to pay anything towards the IHS. However, you will be directed to the IHS payment page and will be required to complete the questions to get an IHS reference number. At the end of this process, you will be re-directed back to your application and the IHS reference number will be added to your application. You can then proceed to the next step and pay for your application. h) Pay for Application Click on the Pay for Application button to pay the visa application fee of 328 in your local currency. On the Supporting Documents screen select By Mail from the dropdown menu which asks how you would like your documents returned. If you are paying by credit card, we recommend you advise your credit card company that you will making this transaction before doing this. Otherwise, the payment might be blocked. i) Print Application You must print out the whole application, including the confirmation page containing a barcode. This must be taken to the biometrics appointment where the barcode is scanned. The confirmation page is then stamped to show your biometrics have been taken. 14
STEP 3 Attend Biometric Appointment The biometric appointment is where your fingerprints and a photo will be taken. These are security measures for the UK that all visa applicants must fulfil. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR VISA APPLICATION TO THE BRITISH CONSULATE/EMBASSY WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF COMPLETING YOUR BIOMETRIC APPOINTMENT. OTHERWISE, YOUR BIOMETRICS WILL BECOME INVALID AND YOUR APPLICATION WILL BE REJECED. You will have to physically travel to the biometric centre in person to complete this step. You will select the date; time and location of your appointment when you complete your online application (see STEP 1 above): Select the state/region that you live in and from there you will automatically be given location options. Once you choose the location you prefer, you can then choose a date and time for your appointment from those available. You will want to write this information down. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU BOOK YOUR BIOMETRIC APPOINTMENT FOR A DATE AFTER YOU WILL RECEIVE YOUR CAS STATEMENT. You can see a list of biometric centres in your country of residence by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre Once you have selected your country, you should choose the following options: Applying for a UK visa Application Support Centre or Visa application centres You will need to bring the following to your biometric appointment: Your passport; AND A printout of your entire online application, including the appointment confirmation page with a barcode. You do NOT need to bring your CAS Statement. Do not forget your passport, the online application printout and the appointment confirmation page. Otherwise, your biometrics cannot be taken and your application will be cancelled. This will mean that you will have to start the application process again, including paying the fee. At the appointment, please ensure that the appointment confirmation page with the barcode is stamped as you will need to send this with your application for processing. 15
Credibility Interviews In December 2012, the UK Visas & Immigration introduced credibility interviews for those applying for a Tier 4 Visa. The purpose of these interviews is to confirm that the applicant is a genuine student with legitimate reasons for coming to the UK. If you are a national of what the UK Visas & Immigration considers to be a low risk country, you will NOT be routinely asked to attend a credibility interview. These countries are currently: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong (SAR passport), Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan (ROC passport), Trinidad & Tobago, UAE, or United States of America or a British National Overseas. If you hold a passport from one of these countries, you can skip the rest of this section. There are two types of credibility interview. The first will take place at the same time as you have your biometric appointment and is four to five minutes long via video link with the UK Visas & Immigration in the UK. The interview will be recorded and a summary will be sent to the Entry Clearance Officer who will be processing your application. It will be conducted in English and therefore your ability to communicate in English will be assessed. You may be called for a longer face to face or telephone interview if the Entry Clearance Officer needs more information. If you are requested to attend an interview, notification will be sent to the email address you provided on your online application form. What types of questions will be asked at the credibility interview? Here are examples of some of the questions you may be asked: Why do you want to study in the UK? Why did you choose to study with FIE? How did your studies fit into your career plans? Where will you be living during your studies? What is the level of your course? Are you planning to work while you are in the UK? What happens if I cannot attend the interview? Attendance at the interview is mandatory. If you do not attend without a satisfactory explanation your visa application will be automatically refused. What happens if my visa application is refused? If your application is refused on the basis of your credibility interview, you can request that the decision is reviewed by an Entry Clearance Manager. You have 28 days from the date of the refusal notice to submit a request for reconsideration. The request should be made in writing and should state why the reasons given in your refusal notice are incorrect. If your visa application is refused, please let FIE know immediately so that we can advise you further on this process. 16
STEP 4 Submit Application Materials to British Consulate/Embassy You have to submit your application to the British Consulate/Embassy in your country and include the following documents: Document Information Who Does This Apply To? Passport You must submit your original passport (not a copy). 1 X Colour Photograph This is in addition to the photo taken at your biometric appointment. It must meet the following criteria: Less than 6 months old EU passport-sized (45mm x 35mm) Taken against a light-coloured background Full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but the face must not be covered) Financial Evidence Transcript Online Application Printout Biometric Appointment Confirmation Page IELTS Academic Test for UKVI Test Certificate Return shipping Evidence that you meet the maintenance requirement for Tier 4 (see above). This must be an official transcript from your home institution. This is the application you completed at the visa4uk website. You must include ALL the pages, including the one that shows payment for your visa. This is the page with a barcode that was stamped at your biometric appointment. Evidence that you meet the English language requirement for Tier 4 at CEFR Level B2. You must quote the unique UKVI Number from your test certificate on your online visa application, which must match the one noted on the CAS. Prepaid electronic shipping label and appropriate packaging from an approved provider. All applicants All applicants Applicants who qualify for the differentiation arrangements do NOT submit financial evidence. All other applicants must submit financial evidence. Students whose institution has a partnership with FIE do NOT need to submit a transcript. Students who applied to FIE as an independent applicant must submit a transcript. All applicants All applicants Applicants who are nationals of a non-majority English speaking country as defined by the UK Visas & Immigration. All applicants 17
Return shipping To have your documents returned, you must provide a fully addressed prepaid electronic shipping label and appropriate packaging from UPS or DHL (no ground services and no nonelectronic waybills). It is recommended to buy courier services from VFS Global as they are officially partnered with the UKVI more information available at http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/index.html. Please include your return shipping label and envelope with the application package, and keep a copy of the waybill for your records. Please note that FedEx shipping labels and US Postal Service (USPS) shipping labels are no longer accepted. If you do not provide a shipping waybill and envelope with your application the British Embassy/Consulate is unable to return your documents to you. You are advised to buy a waybill that can be tracked and we recommend you purchase insurance. If you choose to provide a pre-paid USPS shipping waybill that cannot be tracked, this will be used for return shipping but the Embassy/Consulate cannot accept responsibility once the package has been collected by USPS. Where to Send If you are applying from outside the United States, documents must be sent to the British Consulate/Embassy in your country of residence. Please ensure you are sending your documents to the correct address. You can find more information about your nearest visa application centre at this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre For all applications from the United States, documents must be sent to: UK Visas and Immigration British Consulate General 845 Third Avenue New York 10022 When to Submit Everything must be submitted within 2 weeks of completing your biometric appointment. You should send all your documentation as soon as you have completed your biometric appointment and collected all mandatory supporting documents. How to Submit There are two different services for visa application processing: Regular Processing Additional UK service fee: $0 Processing time: typically, 15-30 working days Means of submission: applicant mails documents 18
Priority Service Additional UK service fee: Approximately $190 (depending on the conversion rate) Processing time: Typically, 5 working days (excluding posting time) Means of submission: applicant mails documents along with the Priority Processing receipt Where to send: all priority applications must be sent to the UKVI in New York Super Priority Service New York Additional UK service fee: Approximately $950 (depending on the conversion rate) Processing time: Typically, 24 hours (collection next working day) This service is available to eligible Tier 4 applicants who are or can be in New York. Please see the below website for more information on how to apply for this service. Further Information about the Priority and Super Priority Service can be found at: http://www.vfsglobal.co.uk/usa/user_pay_services.html It is strongly recommended that you post your documents using a registered mail service that gives you a tracking number. You must include all supporting documents as originals including your passport. Remember to make copies of everything before posting your application. These copies are kept by you in case your application is misplaced. The UKVI will charge applicants a fee of 80 for an application that is rejected as invalid or withdrawn before a decision is issued. In practice, this will mean that 80 of the fee for an application that is rejected as invalid will be retained, and only the outstanding amount will be refunded rather than the full fee as at present. So we encourage you to ensure that you send all documents as required by the application. 19
STEP 5 Receive Visa in the Mail Once the British Consulate/Embassy has finished processing your application, they will return your passport containing your Tier 4 visa. This will be a sticker inserted into your passport. You should check that the following information on the visa is correct: Valid from date this should be seven days before your programme s start date. Valid until date this should be seven days after your programme s end date. Number of entries = MULT Type = TIER 4 (GENERAL) STUDENT Sponsor Licence Number (after Type) = the same as on your CAS Statement If any of the information on your visa is incorrect, you should let FIE know immediately. It is particularly important that you check the valid until date. My visa application has been returned because I did not submit all the required documents. What should I do? You will have received a letter from the British Consulate/Embassy explaining why your application was returned. The letter will also state if you can re-submit your application with the missing document(s). You should do this immediately and return your application to the Consulate/Embassy by registered mail. If you are not sure why your application has been returned, you should scan the letter you received and send it to FIE in an email. We can then advise you further. My visa application has been refused. What should I do? You will have received a letter from the British Consulate/Embassy explaining why your application was refused. You should scan this letter and send it to FIE in an email. We can then advise you further. 20
Coming to the United Kingdom When can I come to the UK? You will only be able to come to the UK on or after the valid from date on your visa. This is typically seven days before the start of your programme. You cannot enter the UK before this date and will be refused entry by UK Border Control if you attempt to do so. When you arrive in the UK, please make sure that you have your visa endorsed with a stamp by the UK Border Force Immigration Officer. It would be helpful if you have your passport already open on the visa page when you present it to them. We strongly recommend that you do not travel to the UK via the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has a Common Travel Area with the UK, which means there is no immigration presence when arriving in the UK from Ireland. Therefore, your Tier 4 visa will not be validated with an immigration stamp and you will be unable to prove that you entered the UK legitimately. The only way to then document legitimate entry is to travel to a location outside of the Common Travel Area (Amsterdam, Paris for example) and then return to the UK. Do I need anything else besides my passport? You will receive a Tier 4 Letter from your home university prior to your departure (independent students will receive this from FIE) confirming that you are a student in the UK and giving details of your programme. This letter can be presented to UK Border Control if they ask for additional proof you are coming to the UK to study. How long can I stay in the UK? You must leave the UK on or before the valid until date on your visa. This is usually seven days after the end of your programme. If you stay in the UK once your visa has expired, you will be considered an overstayer by the UK Visas & Immigration. This will be recorded on their systems and may prevent you from visiting the UK in the future. Can I extend my visa so that I can stay in the UK longer? It is not possible to extend your visa in the UK; you must leave the UK before your visa expires. I want to travel after my programme and then come back to the UK. Is this possible? You can return to the UK after your Tier 4 visa has expired and ask permission to re-enter as a General Visitor (Tourist). However, UK Border Control has the discretion to refuse you entry to the UK. If you attempt to re-enter as a General Visitor, we recommend you carry proof of your return flight to your home country; evidence of where you will be staying in the UK; and proof that you have funds to support yourself. You should also be prepared to explain why you are returning to the UK so soon after your visa has expired. If you hold a passport from one of the countries listed on this page, you CANNOT re-enter the UK as a General Visitor without making a visa application in your country of residence. 21
Visa Application Checklist Have you included the following with your application? Passport your original passport and NOT a copy Photo see STEP 4 for further information Online Application Printout Stamped Confirmation Page from Biometric Appointment Return Shipping Label see the Return Shipping Section above Also Financial Evidence see the Maintenance section above Official Transcript see STEP 4 for further information English Language Test Certificate see the English Language Requirement section above REMEMBER TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION BY REGISTERED MAIL 22
Where Can I Get More Help? If you are facing issues with your application, you should see the FAQ section of the visa application website. Most common issues and their solutions are updated on this website: https://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/home/viewfaq You can also get in touch with the UKVI using the international enquiry service at the following website: https://ukvi-international.faq-help.com/ The latest guidance for applications from within the Unites States can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/usa-apply-for-a-uk-visa/apply-for-a-uk-visa-inthe-usa NAFSA UK Visa FAQ Page: http://www.nafsa.org/find_resources/supporting_study_abroad/ea_visas/uk_visas/uk_visa_ FAQs/ 23