Guide for Tier 4 (General) Visa applications made Overseas

This application guidance is for University f Warwick students applying for Tier 4 Entry Clearance (overseas).

If applying with Dependants or as a Lone Dependant joining a student in the UK, please refer to separate guides.

The Tier 4 visa application form includes the most up to date advice about the current situation with covid-19, including information about how to check whether a visa centre has re-opened and about travelling to the UK. Please ensure that you read this information carefully and take appropriate action where necessary. Thank you.

• The Immigration Service have created these guidance notes to assist with the Tier 4 (General) visa application process for Students applying using screen-shots from the Home Office website and online form. This guidance is not endorsed by UK Visas and Immigration

THIS GUIDANCE SHOULD ONLY BE USED BY UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK

STUDENTS FOR VISA APPLICATIONS MADE OUTSIDE THE UK

• This guide is best used with the information available on our website www.warwick.ac.uk/immigration and the most recent version of the Home Office Tier 4 Policy Guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student.

• The information shown here is correct at the time of writing but immigration regulations are subject to change at short notice, as can the visa application form - always contact the Immigration Service if you are unsure of something relating to your visa application or if the application form you are using appears different to the version shown here

• This guide was last updated on 24 March 2020

• The Immigration Service cannot guarantee the successful outcome of any application as this decision is made by the Home Office

• Answer truthfully to all the questions and provide as much as details as possible. Failure to declare the information will result in a visa refusal + a ban from the UK due to using deception in the application.

Please note

University of Warwick Immigration Service For more details about applying for your Tier 4 visa and the services available from the Immigration Service , please visit our website: www.warwick.ac.uk/immigration

If your CAS will state that you will be making your visa application from overseas, do not attempt to apply from inside the UK as your application may be refused on grounds of academic progression

The guide screens are in the following order so please follow it accordingly

1

2

3

4

Access the form via https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/apply

Click this link to apply from overseas

[Please note, students in North Korea cannot use the online application platform and should follow alternate UKVI instructions for applying using a paper version of the form]

Self-funded students or those with University funding should choose the option highlighted here.

Do NOT choose ‘Tier 4 (Child) student visas

Only students in receipt of Chevening, Marshall or Commonwealth scholarships should select the last Tier 4 option.

Click the green ‘next’ button to continue

As you start typing, a drop down list of countries will appear – select your home country from the list.

You will not normally be permitted to apply from a country where you are not ordinarily resident, or where you hold immigration permission as a

‘visitor’ only.

Click the green ‘next’ button to continue

You will then be asked to confirm that you can attend an appointment at one of the visa centres in your country (a list will be displayed) – select your response and click the green ‘next’ button to continue

After reading the information onscreen, click the green ‘apply now’ button to continue

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Use an email address you can access easily from a computer because a link will be sent that will allow you to get back into a partially completed application form.

Create a password that you will remember. It must be 8 characters or longer and include a letter and a number or symbol.You will need this password to access your partially completed application form.

Whenever you complete a section, remember to click the green ‘save and continue’ button.

Throughout the application you will have the option to review and change your previous answers, or to log out and return to the form at a later date.

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Please make sure that the email address you mentioned in the previous screen belongs to you and you have daily access to it. The UKVI will contact you on that email address if they need to speak to you about your application or if they require further information

If you want, you can add another email address however the UKVI will only contact you on the primary email address (the one you used to make the application account)

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You cannot submit your Tier 4 visa application without a valid CAS number.

You should only use a CAS number that has been assigned to you for study at Warwick, on the course you intend to join. If you want to change course before enrolling, you should contact your admissions team as you may require a new CAS.

ALWAYS copy and paste the CAS number to avoid mistakes.

The names should be exactly the same as your passport. Do not mention additional names which are not in your passport

If you have ever been “OFFICIALLY” known by another name then tick “Yes” and add in other names known by.

If you have never been known by another name tick “No”

(please do not mention pet / nicknames)

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You should provide details of the address in your home country where you ordinarily reside.

The UKVI will use this address to contact you, if required.

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Enter the details of the passport number included in your CAS.

Your passport does not have to be valid for the full duration of your course of study, however, if you know that you will need a new passport you may prefer to obtain one before applying for your UK visa.

If you do receive a new passport after receiving your CAS but before submitting your visa application, please contact Admissions to add a ‘sponsor’s note’ to your CAS to update the UKVI with this information.

This is not a mandatory document for the visa application hence if you do not have access or do not have an ID card / National identity card, then you can select NO and Continue

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If contacted by the Home Office you will usually be expected to answer questions about your visa application in English.

The caseworker will expect you to be able to talk widely about your course of study and how it fits within your career aspirations. You may be asked about your accommodation, how you will pay for your studies or why you chose Warwick.

Select YES for this question

If you are coming to study an Undergraduate or a Postgraduate course, then the answer is YES! . This information is also provided in your CAS.

If you are coming to study a standalone pre-sessional English course OR a foundation course, then select NO! and the continue.

If you have successfully completed a course of study in the UK as a Tier 4 (Child) you will not be asked the questions on the next screen.

If you had a previous study visa for UK then check that visa to confirm this. it will mention the word (child)

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This guidance is for STUDENTS ONLY. Please refer to other guidance notes if applying with Dependant family members or if applying as a Lone Dependant to join the main applicant (student) in the UK.

If you do have family members who rely on you financially (such as a spouse or children) then you should answer ‘Yes’ and provide more details over the next page(s) even if they will not accompany you or join you in the UK.

Providing details of Dependant family members are part of your own Tier 4 visa application does not constitute a dependant visa application - there is a different application form for that.

You are asked to provide information about two of your parents by answering all the questions fully.

If you do not have this information then you can tick the box ‘I do not have my parent’s details’ and you will not be asked for any more information.

If either parent had a different nationality then select ‘No’ and provide their country or nationality at the time you (the student) were born.

Once you have completed the details for your first parent a further screen will ask for information about your second parent.

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You should answer this question to the best of your ability. Failure to disclose information about a relative in the UK may negatively affect your visa application.Include family members who are studying in the UK.

You will need to provide more information according to the option you select, such as their passport number or information about their immigration status in the UK.

If you have difficulties completing this section or the options do not fit the situation you may provide more details in the free text section towards the end of the application form.

You should normally answer ‘No’ to this.

Select option from list

If someone other than a partner or child will travel to the UK with you, for example a parent, then you will need to give their name and state their relationship to you.

If more than one person will travel with you, you only need to give the name of one person.

If you will travel to the UK on your own, then answer ‘no’ to this question.

If you cannot contact your UK based relative then you will be asked to explain why not.

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It is okay if you have not confirmed the final details of your accommodation yet. Give as many details as you can about:• if you are going to stay in a hotel or other paid

accommodation• Addresses of friends or family you will be staying with• towns, cities or areas you plan to visit

You can enter more than one address so if you intend to stop in a hotel/with a friends before moving to your term time address, you should provide details of that along with the address you will stay at while at University.

If you have applied for University housing but do not yet know the exact address or have not booked any accommodation yet, then use the generic campus address: UK postcode: CV4 7AL Click find UK address and select the address same as below

University of WarwickGibbet Hill RoadCoventry

If you are going to temporarily live somewhere before moving into proper accommodation then please mention the details of temporary accommodation here.

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If you have previously visited the UK, then you will have to mention all the visits in the 10 years regardless of the length or the type of visa you used.If you have studied a full-time course on a TIER 4 visa then you only need to mention the first time you entered the UK on the TIER 4 visa and the last time you exited the UK on the TIER 4 visa . You do not have to mention every single holidays you took in the middle.

If you have previously held any kind of visa issued for the UK (including visit visas) you will need to answer ‘yes’ and give details. If you have not been issued a visa for the UK before then you can answer ‘no’.

Declare every single visit (if applicable)

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Declare every single visit (if applicable)

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This information is very important as your “UK entry visa” will be granted based on this date. Carefully consider your plans before you put a date in here. The UKVI will grant you a visa which will be valid for 1 month and that month will be during this date.*You cannot travel to the UK anytime earlier than 1 month of the course start. For example: If your course starts on 30 Sep 2020 then the earliest you can travel would be the 1st of Sep and not allowed anytime before this hence your travel date should be within 1st Sep 2019 and latest course start date on your CAS. * From June 2020 until the end of the year, travel visas will be issued for a period of 90 days. You must still travel to the UK within the validity of the temporary travel visa.

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If your visa application has ever been refused then please provide as much as details as possible (even if it was years ago and you cannot remember the exact details)

If you ever had a refusal, then please make sure that you provide as much as details as possible. Failure to declare the refusal will result in a visa refusal + a ban from the UK due to using deception in the application.

Answer truthfully to all the questions and provide as much as details as possible. Failure to declare the information will result in a visa refusal + a ban from the UK due to using deception in the application.

Read these questions carefully, answer fully and honestly.

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Read these questions carefully, answer fully and honestly.

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Read these questions carefully, answer fully and honestly.

Read these questions carefully, answer fully and honestly.

Read these questions carefully, answer fully and honestly.

Enter the details exactly as shown here.

Answer should always be Higher Education Institution because the University of Warwick is a Higher Education Institution

Answer should always be YES and your application form should have this same address.

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NEXT PAGEIf you are coming to study an undergraduate course then you will most likely have an UCAS number. Please contact admissions team if you do not have one or do not remember. The following would not have UCAS number: • Postgraduate / Masters students• PHD or Research students• Student coming just for a study abroad year

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Only a certain courses require an ATAS permission. If you already have unconditional offer and a CAS then either you already have an ATAS or you never required one in the first place. Please read information on: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/atas

If you are going to be sponsored then please select the appropriate option.

Even if your CAS mentions the sponsorship, Please make sure that you submit the sponsorship letter when you submit the rest of the documents.

Low risk students / TIER 4 pilot students do not need to submit the documents. Please refer to the links below

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/t4pilot

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/warwick-ukba

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Check your CAS for the RQF Level. The NQF level mentioned on your CAS is the same as RQF.

For:Pre-sessional English courses – Refer to the CASUndergraduate studies: RQF6Undergraduate Masters: RQF7Postgraduate / Masters: RQF7PHD: RQF8

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Please provide the dates the same as your CAS and not your offer letter

For continuing students (student who are returning to Warwick to resume the same course): should enter the course start date as stated in the EVIDENCE USED box in the CAS.

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You should only select YES , If you have University on campus accommodation provided by the University of Warwick. If you have a place then your CAS will mention the accommodation paid amount.

If you have private student accommodation then the answer is NO

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Check your CAS for your tuition fees.

If you or your parents’ have paid any tuition fees, then it will be mentioned on your CAS. If any fees paid (including tuition fee deposit) then please select YES and choose the my Sponsor has confirmed this information on my CAS. If your CAS is not updated with fees paid , then please contact: studentfinance@warwick.ac.uk

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If you are getting loan for your studies then please make sure that the loan meets the UKVI requirements: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/money/#Loans

Even if you are fully sponsored this page will still appear – you should answer the first question ‘yes’ because the scholarship/sponsorship award is in your name. The other questions should then not appear.

If you are using bank statements in your own name then you should answer the first question ‘yes’. The other questions should then not appear.

If you are using bank statements in a parents’ name then you should answer the first question ‘no’. You will then be asked if you are using a parent or legal guardians money and if you have their permission; answer ‘yes’ to both. When using funds from a parent/legal guardian you will need to provide original evidence of your relationship as per one of the documents listed – indicate which you will including with your visa application.

Please refer to the UKVI policy guidance and the information on the University of Warwick Immigration Service website for information on how to calculate your maintenance and ensure that your documents meet formatting requirements. All documents submitted with your visa application need to be original.

Low Risk nationals: If you are a low risk national you can opt to apply under the differentiation agreement which means that you do not need to submit any academic qualification, financial evidence or English language certificate with your visa application. However, Home Office UKVI may request evidence of your finances so you should ensure that you have the required documents.https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/warwick-ukba/

Tier 4 pilot: If you will be joining a Postgraduate Masters programme of 13 months duration or shorter, you will be part of the UKVI Tier 4 pilot which the University of Warwick has recently joined. This means you will not be required to provide evidence of finances, academic qualifications or English language certificate with your visa application. However, you may still be asked for this information so you should ensure that you have sufficient funds and can provide documentary evidence which meets UKVI guidance if asked.

The following are NOT eligible for the Tier 4 pilot and must provide evidence of qualifications and funds which meets UKVI formatting requirements:• Foundation, Undergraduate and PhD students • Students issued a CAS for a Pre-sessional English course only• Students applying for an extension of Tier 4 leave for a course started before Sept 2018

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If you do not have any of these 3 documents then the alternative would be to get any official government document which would confirm your and your parents details and also confirm your relationship with them.

It could be; family registration certificate / FRC / household registration certificate or another kind of certificate or document issued by your government An affidavit from a lawyer/solicitor is not acceptable

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You can use this free text section to add any additional information which you think might be relevant to your visa application; for example, if you do not require a TB certificate because you have recently resided in the UK for more than 6 months and have not been away for more than 6 months as evidence by immigration stamps on your passport.

Or if you previously had a visa refusal and want to explain something to the UKVI caseworker, this is your time to provide details and information. This could also include “you cannot remember the exact details of the refusal however you had one few years ago”

If you ever received hospital treatment (In the UK) while holding a visa which gives you entitlement to free hospital treatment, explain here that ‘I answer ‘No’ to the question about NHS treatment because I am entitled to hospital treatment whilst holding a valid Tier 4 visa. Further information is available upon request.’

Continuing students (returning to resume the same course) ONLY– those returning from a period of temporary withdrawal, or those applying for further leave following an extension to their registration, e.g. after adding a year of study or because they require additional time to complete a course of study or resits/retakes – should add the following note regarding their original course start date:“Please note, the original course start date is [add the date taken from the ‘evidence used’ section of your most recent CAS - it will be the date which you first enrolled at Warwick]”

On this page you will have the option to review your answers and make changes if needed. If all information is correct then continue to next page

Make sure that you check your answers carefully as once the application has been submitted online you will not be able to amend any of the information.

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Provide the name of the bank where you or your parents hold an account. This should be the same as the statements you will be submitting for your visa application.

If you have multiple documents from different banks, you will be able to add more names on the next screen

Please make sure that your bank documents meet the UKVI requirements. Please see:

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/money/

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/warwick-ukba

Only for new students coming to study a new Masters course: https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/t4pilot

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If you have multiple bank accounts which you will use for the visa application then please provide their details

Once you have confirmed all the information you have entered is correct, you will see a list of supporting documents which you should provide as part of your visa application. Please note that the document check list is merely for information and may not reflect all the documents you need to submit in support of your application. The form has not been updated under the Tier 4 Pilot Scheme and so you will still see full documentation in the document checklist. Check https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/immigration/tier4/applying/entryclearance/carefully to ascertain what supporting documents you must submit with your visa application.

If you do not provide the all documents required, your visa application may be delayed, rejected as invalid or refused

https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa

The application form will prompt you to include your TB results, if needed. If you are ensure whether you need to have a TB test before coming to the UK, click the link to the Home Office website for more information.If you need to provide a TB test and fail to do so, your visa application will be refused.

You may get an additional message on this screen “You do not need to provide evidence of your qualifications or finances as you are a national of a country mentioned in Appendix H of the Immigration Rules. Occasionally, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may request this evidence while your application is being considered. If the evidence is requested, your visa application may be refused if you do not provide it” See further information by clicking here

Confirmation of all the information you have provided. If all correct then continue

Low risk nationals may see a different screen

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The Immigration Health Surcharge must be paid before you can complete and submit your visa application. You will need to pay online using a credit or debit card.

Click the green button “Go to IHS Website”, read the instructions carefully and follow the instructions. Some of the information will pull through from the application form but you will need to answer some other, simple questions as well.

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The amount that you need to pay for the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) will be

automatically calculated.

You will need to pay this before going any further in your application

Examples of how much you will need to pau:

For 12 months Masters course, the IHS will be £450

For 3 year Undergraduate course: £1050

For 4 year Undergraduate course: £1350

For 4 year PHD: £1500

Returning students (coming back to resume the same course): the amount will be

calculated £300 per year and pro rata if you are required a visa for more than a year

You can use the calculator as well: https://www.immigration-health-

surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/Type - Use the course start and end dates mentioned on

your CAS

If you are eligible to apply for the Tier 4

Pilot Scheme it will state this on your CAS.

You can read more information about the

Tier 4 Pilot Scheme on our website:

https://warwick.ac.uk/study/international/im

migration/tier4/applying/t4pilot

Pre-sessional students with

combined CAS, please make sure

that you put the full course dates

mentioned on your CAS (Pre-

sessional course + the main

degree course date)

For the NQF Level, please check

your CAS

Select University of Warwick

After your payment has been processed, you will be directed to this screen where you will see your IHS payment reference number (this will also be sent to you by email). Keep this information safe.

If you are coming to the UK for more than 6 months you will receive a visa sticker (vignette) inside your passport which is valid for 30 days. You will then collect a BRP (biometric residence permit) when you arrive in the UK – see the following page for more information.

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You will have to select the application route you intend to use before paying; the fees and processing times will be displayed. Please ensure that you choose the option which is likely to result in you getting a decision before your course start date. You will need to allow sufficient time to receive your documents back and travel to the UK in time for the start of your course.

Information about visa processing times in your country can be found at https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Once you have selected the type of application you will need to select the application centre you wish to attend and then book a date for your appointment.

Please make sure that you are 100% sure about the type of service you want to use because once you have made a payment for a visa application, you will not be able to change the type of service.

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Make sure you provide the correct details here, otherwise the card payment will not work . You should be proving the address which is registered with the card you are using to make the payment

• Once you have made the payment, you will then be allowed to book an appointment at the visa application centre.

• After booking the appointment you will have a chance to upload all of your documents. You will have to register an account for it as well.

• If the upload website is not working or you cannot upload documents, then try the following

• Use a different browser• Log out and login back in • If you still cannot upload documents then the only option would be to use

the visa application centre’s scanning service. All application centre provide this service and this will be the only to upload your documents.

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• If the UKVI needs to contact you then they will do so via email. • The UKVI will not call you and never ask you for additional money. If you have paid less

immigration health surcharge