International support

You must not make your Tier 4 application before you have a CAS from the University. If you make your application without a CAS, the UKBA will refuse it.

A CAS is a unique reference number which is 14 digits long and confirms that:

• You have accepted an unconditional offer in order to study a new course, or
• You are enrolled at the University and making satisfactory progress towards the successful completion of your current course.

You must have a new CAS every time you make a Tier 4 application. You cannot use a CAS more than once including if your application is refused. You need to write your CAS number on the Tier 4 application form, however, you do not need to provide a paper CAS statement with your application.

If you are making the Tier 4 Student application in order start a new course at the University

Once you have accepted an unconditional offer to study a course at the University of Brighton, the Student Visa Compliance team will send you a CAS by email, provided that you have given the University your passport details. You do not have to request your CAS but if you have a question about it please send an email to CASenquiries@brighton.ac.uk.

If you are making the Tier 4 Student application in order to complete a course you have already started

If you are already a student on a course at the University, to request a CAS you must fully complete the Registry Student Immigration Tier 4 Sponsorship form (CAS request form), which is also available from the Visa and Immigration section of Studentcentral. When you have completed the form you must take it with your passport to one of the Registry’s University Student Offices (USOs). Once the Registry Department Student Visa Compliance team receives your fully completed request it will make a decision within approximately seven working days.

Why make an ‘in-time’ application?

You must make your Tier 4 application - either post your application to the UKBA or apply in person at the UKBA on or before the date that your current visa expires. For example, if your visa expires on 31 October you must send your application to the UKBA at the latest on 31 October. This is because if you make your application before your existing visa expires you will remain in the UK legally while the UKBA processes your application, even if the UKBA does not make a decision on your application until after your current visa expires, which is nearly always the case.

If you do not make your application before or on the date your visa expires you will ‘overstay’ your visa and you will continue to overstay during the time it takes the UKBA to process your application. If you overstay by more than 28 days and then make a Tier 4 application, the UKBA will automatically refuse the application, even if you meet all the other requirements of the application. As you can see if you overstay it can have a serious impact on any application you make and future applications so you should ask for specific advice from the International Student Advisers.

If you have a current Tier 4 Student visa which was issued for you to study at another University or College (Tier 4 sponsor).

If this is the case you must make your Tier 4 application - either post your application to the UKBA or apply in person at the UKBA - using the University of Brighton’s CAS before the date the visa expires and before the start date of your University of Brighton course. This is because the law says you cannot enrol and study at the University until you have made the Tier 4 application.

In all cases you must start to prepare your application approximately two months before your visa expires or you are due to start the course because it can take several weeks to obtain all of the documents required and as you will see in Section 7 you will need to have a certain amount of money for at least 28 days before the date of application in order to make a successful Tier 4 application.

The maximum length of time you can stay in the UK with a Tier 4 Student or Student visa in order to study at degree level is 5 years.

If you make a Tier 4 application to study a degree level course, which will result in you spending more than 5 years in the UK with Tier 4 Student or Student visas, the UKBA will refuse your application.

However, the 5 year limit does not apply if one of the following three exceptions applies to you:

• You are making a Tier 4 Student application in order to start or complete a PhD.
• You are making a Tier 4 Student application in order to start or complete a degree in Architecture; Medicine; or the CPE PGDip Law.
• You are making a Tier 4 Student application in order to start or complete a Master’s degree and you have successfully completed a degree level course which was four or five academic years long (not a three year course which you took four or five years to complete due to re-sits. If this is the case the time limit for you is six years and not five.

The maximum length of time you can stay in the UK with a Tier 4 Student visa in order to study at below degree level is 3 years.

If you make a Tier 4 application to study a below degree level course, which will result in you spending more than 3 years in the UK with Tier 4 Student visas, the UKBA will refuse your application.

You will need to obtain a new ATAS certificate every time you make a Tier 4 Student application if you are studying or going to study one of the following courses:

• A PhD or MPhil in: Pharmacy; Biomedical Sciences; Healthcare Professions; Physiotherapy; Occupational Therapy; Engineering; Environment; Geography; Computing; Mathematical and Information Sciences; or Information Technology; or

• A Masters in: Aeronautical Engineering; Automotive Engineering; Industrial and Product Design; or Product Innovation and Development.

For details about the scheme and how to apply for your ATAS certificate visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) information about ATAS.

Your CAS statement will confirm if you need to apply for an ATAS certificate but if you don’t have your CAS yet and you’re not sure whether you will need one please send an email to CASenquiries@brighton.ac.uk.

You can make your Tier 4 Student application in the UK if:

1. The type of your current visa is:

• Tier 4 Student;
• Student;
• Tier 1 Post Study Work;
• Tier 2 Worker;
• Prospective Student;

And;

2. If you are applying to stay in the UK in order to study a new course at the University, the start date of the course (on your CAS) is less than 28 days after the date your current visa will expire.

You cannot therefore make a Tier 4 Student application in the UK if you are applying to stay in the UK to study a new course and the start date of the course is more than 28 days after the date your current visa will expire; or you have a visa which is not a Tier 4 Student; Student; Tier 1 Post Study Work; Tier 2 Worker or Prospective Student visa, e.g. you have a Student Visitor, Spouse, or PBS Dependent visa.

If you do make the application in the UK, the UKBA will refuse it. You will, therefore, have to leave the UK before your current visa expires and apply for a new Tier 4 Student entry clearance visa in your home country.

The Points Requirements

The Immigration Rules state that in order for a student to make a successful application to extend their visa as a Tier 4 Student she or he must ‘score’ 40 points. This is known as the Points Requirements:

• You will score 30 points if you provide with your application a valid ‘Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies’ (CAS) and the original copies of your certificates for all of your educational qualifications which are listed on the CAS. If you do not provide the certificates of the qualifications which are listed on your CAS, the UKBA will not award you 30 points and therefore refuse your application.
• You will score 10 points if you meet the ‘maintenance requirement’. The ‘maintenance requirement’ is the amount of money that the Immigration Rules state you must have to be able to pay for your studies and living costs in the UK. The amount of money you must have to score 10 points depends on your situation (see Section 7 ‘Calculate how much money you will need to have’).

General Grounds for Refusal

The UKBA can also refuse your application for ‘general grounds’, even if you score 40 points for your CAS and maintenance. General grounds for refusal include if you have previously breached the conditions of your visa (for example, you have worked more than 20 hours per week during term time, or claimed public funds), or have previously attempted deception or made false representations to the UKBA in a previous immigration application.

If you have overstayed your previous visa by more than 28 days and make a Tier 4 application it will also be refused automatically by the UKBA even if you score 40 points for your CAS and maintenance.

If you receive official financial sponsorship from your own government, the University or an international organisation which covers all of your tuition fees and living costs please go to Section 8. If you or your family pay for your studies (you are ‘self-funding’) in order to score 10 points for ‘maintenance’, you will need to show the UKBA that you will have held for a consecutive 28 day period an amount equal to:

• Your outstanding tuition fees (for the first year of the course if you are making an application to start a new course, or for the current academic year if you applying to complete your current course

+ PLUS

£1,600 or up to £7,200 for your living costs (depending on your circumstances)

You will need to have £1,600 for living costs (known as an ‘established presence’) if:

• You have a current Student or Tier 4 visa, and

• If you are making the Tier 4 application in order to start a new course, your previous course was 6 months or more and you completed it during the validity of your current visa; or

• If you are making the Tier 4 application in order to complete your current course, you have already been on the course for 6 months or more.

You will need to have an amount equal to a maximum of £7,200 (£800 per month)* if:

• You do not have a Student or Tier 4 visa i.e. you have a Post Study Work visa etc.; or your visa has already expired;
• If you are making the Tier 4 Student application in order to start a new course and your previous course was less than 6 months long.
• If you are making the Tier 4 application in order to complete your current course, you have already been on the course for less than 6 months.

* If you are making the Tier 4 Student application in order to complete your current course and you have less than 9 months remaining on your course (check the CAS) or your new course is less than 9 months long, you will only need to have an amount equal to £800 multiplied by the number of months remaining. E.g. if you have 6 months left of your course you will need to show £4,800 (£800 x 6 months) for living costs.

What are the other requirements I have to meet in order to score 10 points for maintenance?

• You will have to show that you have had the required amount of money for at least 28 days before the date of application, and
• Have had the required amount of money on every day of the 28 day period, and
• Will have the required amount on the date of the application, and
• Have the amount in bank accounts where the money is cash funds or savings which are available i.e. not in investments or bonds or credit cards.

Please note that if you have dependents (husband, wife and/or children) who want to apply to extend their visas at the same time as you the amount of money you will need to show will be much higher. Please contact the International Student Advisers for advice.

You must provide the originals (not copies or scans) of all of the following:

1) Proof that you have enough funds in the form of either:

• Your Bank Statements

In order to be accepted by the UKBA they must be:

a) For a period of at least 28 days
b) Less than 31 days old when you make the application
c) In your name or joint names or in the name of your parent(s) (but see below)
d) Dated, show the bank’s name and logo; your name; and the account number
e) From either one account or from a number of accounts
f) From an account held anywhere in the world
g) In English or if not accompanied by official translations (see below)
h) In Pounds Sterling (GBP) but if not you must use the OANDA website to convert them

If you do not normally receive bank statements in the post you should call your bank and ask them to send you a statement. If you do wish to rely on online statements or statements printed in the bank, which we do not recommend, you need to make sure that the bank stamps every page of the statement.

• Or your Parent(s)’ Bank Statements

It is much easier if you use your own statements and if necessary ask your parent to transfer the required funds to you at least 28 days before you have to make your application. If you use your parent(s)’ bank statements they must also meet the requirements above and you must also provide:

a) Your original birth certificate (and translation if not in English), and
b) An original signed letter from your parent(s) giving you permission to use his or her or their funds
c) Section N(a) of the Tier 4 General application completed and signed by your parent(s)

• Or if you receive Official Financial Sponsorship

If your government, the UK government, the British Council, an international organisation e.g. the UN or an international company pays for all of your tuition fees and living costs all of your fees and living costs you must provide:

a) An original letter from your sponsor on official letterhead confirming the sponsorship. The letter must be stamped, dated and confirm your name and the sponsor’s contact details.

If your sponsorship does not cover all of your tuition fees and living costs of at least £800 per month, you will also need to provide bank statements showing the remaining amount.

2) The Originals of the Certificates of your Qualifications listed on your CAS (if any)

3) The English Language Certificate of the English qualification listed on your CAS (If any)

4) Your Passport and the previous passports you have used to remain in the UK

5) Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (if you have one)

6) Your Police Registration Certificate (if you are required to have one). This must include details of your latest address, educational institution and visa

7) An ATAS clearance certificate (if you are required to have one)

8) Two passport-sized photographs

You must provide two recent passport sized photos of yourself which are no more than one month old and which meet the requirements of the UKBA’s Photograph Guidance, which is on the UKBA website. You must write your name on the back of both photos and place them in a small envelope, which you must attach to the ‘Applicant’s details’ section of the application form.

Translations

If you provide a document which is not in English you must also provide a fully certified translation of the document which has been translated by a professional translator. For more information including the information the certified copy must include see the sections on translations in the UKBA’s Tier 4 of the PBS - Policy Guidance.

Low-Risk Nationals

The UKBA has the defined holders of the following passports as ‘low-risk’ in terms of Tier 4 applications:

Argentina; Australia; Botswana; British Overseas National (BNO); Brunei; Canada; Chile; Croatia; Japan; Hong Kong; Malaysia; New Zealand; Singapore; South Korea; Taiwan; Trinidad and Tobago; and the United States of America.

This means that if you hold one of the passports above and you are making a Tier 4 Student application in the UK, you do not have to provide your educational and financial documents with your application (just your passport; BRP, photos and payment). However, you must still collect all of the documents as the UKBA can request them at any time.

The Tier 4 General Form

Download and print the most recent version of the Tier 4 General Application Form (pdf).

You must complete all of the relevant sections of the form fully and sign and date it using black ink and capital letters. If you do not complete the form fully, the UKBA will reject your application as invalid.

You should use the details on your CAS Statement to answer some of the questions on the form.

You should also use UKCISA's guide to completing the Tier 4 General Application form to help you complete the form.

Payment

We strongly advise you to pay the UKBA by ‘Bank Draft’ or ‘Postal Orders’ only. This is because the UKBA has problems processing debit and credit card payments and it will reject your application as invalid if it does not process your payment. You can obtain a ‘Bank Draft’ from your bank and buy ‘Postal Orders’ from any Post Office. The UKBA charges £394 to process a Tier 4 Student application made by post so you should ask for a Bank Draft or Postal Order payable to the Home Office (not UKBA) for £394.

Photocopy

The main page of your passport, your existing visa or residence permit, your certificates, your bank statements and keep the copies in a safe place (you must send the original with your application to the UKBA).

Get your application checked by an International Student Adviser

When you have completed the Tier 4 General application form and have all of the documents you should make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser to check your application. You can make an appointment either by calling the Student Advice Service on 01273 642 888 or by coming to come to the Student Advice Service, which is on the second floor of the Tithe Barn, on the Moulsecoomb campus, between 10–3 Monday to Friday. During your appointment an International Student Adviser will check your application form and documents and advise you whether your application meets the immigration rules and whether you need to provide any further evidence.

Please do not come to the Student Advice Service for your application to be checked unless you have completed the Tier 4 General form and have the necessary documents. If you have a query about making the application, please contact the International Student Advisers in the first instance.

The Student Advice Service is not able to send your application to the UKBA for you through what is called the ‘Student Batch Scheme’ apart from in exceptional circumstances. You should be aware that the UKBA processes Tier 4 applications in exactly the same way whether the student or University sends the application.

We strongly advise you to send your application to the UKBA by Special Delivery post. This costs approx. £6 but means that you can track your application online and it will be delivered the UKBA the day after you post it.

Important: Travel Abroad

The UKBA can take two months or more to process a Tier 4 application and it will keep your passport until it makes a decision. Therefore, you must not book any non-refundable travel abroad until you receive your passport and your BRP.

If you do have to travel urgently within 3 months of making your application, you will have to make your application ‘in-person’ at the UKBA (the nearest to Brighton is in East Croydon). In order to do this you must book an appointment for the ‘premium service’ online. The application fee to apply ‘in-person’ is £716 and the UKBA aims to make a decision on the same day but this is not guaranteed. You should not apply in person if your application is not straightforward.

What happens after your application is sent to the UKBA?

Approximately one week after you make your application you should receive a letter from the UKBA, which confirms that it has received your application. After another three weeks you should receive another letter (a biometric letter) from the UKBA which will ask you attend a participating Post Office to provide your biometrics. Once you have provided your biometrics the UKBA will usually make a decision on your application within 4 weeks. Please note all of these timeframes are approximate and at busy times of year (between August and November, and around public holidays) processing times can be significantly longer.

The Biometric Appointment

This is a walk in service and you do not need to make an appointment. You will need to give your biometrics even if you have done this when you applied for your previous visas. There is an additional fee for this service of £19.20 which you pay to the Post Office when you attend. You can find out which Post Office to use on the Post Office website.

The UKBA’s Decision

If your application is successful the UKBA will send your passport and the Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) to you separately and they should arrive within 7 days of each other. The BRP acts as your visa (nothing will be put in your passport). Check the BRP carefully for any mistakes and then keep it in a safe place (you do not need to have it with you at all times and you should not use it as form of ID for going out etc.). If you travel out of the UK you will need to have both your passport and BRP to leave and re-enter the UK. If the UKBA refuses your application it will send you a letter giving the reasons why. If your application is refused you should contact us straight away by calling 01273 642 888

If having read this guidance, you have a question about making a Tier 4 Student application in the UK then please contact the International Student Advisers.

This guidance is for the sole use of University of Brighton applicants and students. It is a guide only and must be used in conjunction with the UKBA's Tier 4 Policy Guidance. The information in this guidance is given in good faith and has been carefully checked. However, the University of Brighton accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.