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Tier 4 Online

Application Guide

USE ONLY IF YOU ARE APPLYING

IN THE UK

This should be used in conjunction with the Tier 4 Policy Guidance

and the online guidance provided on the UKVI website.

Produced by the International Student Advisory Service (ISAS):

Ground Floor, Roland Levinsky Building

International.advice@plymouth.ac.uk

Tel: 01752 587740

Updated 13/05/2015

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Do not pay or submit your application online until

You have had an appointment with ISAS to check

through all your documents

ISAS will check your application and documents and will complete the payment

Screen and submit it to the Home Office for you

NEW – NHS Surcharge As part of your visa application you may need to pay a healthcare charge –

please check and register using the link https://www.immigration-health-

surcharge.service.gov.uk/payment/start

It is a criminal offence to provide information which you know to be false, or which you do

not believe to be true, it may also result in your application being refused.

There are different Tier 4 visa services:

1. Standard service: If you choose the Standard Service the date of your application will

be the date we submit your application online to the Home Office. Usually, this

service can take up to 2 months (occasionally longer) to process your visa so you

cannot travel during this time. The cost is £439 (plus £439 for each dependant).

2. Premium Service:

In-Person Service: The date of your application will be the date we submit

your application online to the Home Office. We will book an appointment for

you at a Public Enquiry Office (Cardiff is the closest) where you go in person

with your documents. You will do your biometric and get your decision on

the same day, although your new Biometric Residence Permit will take up to

10 days to produce. The cost is £839 (plus £839 for each dependant).

Super Premium Service: The fee or this service is £6000 plus the premium

service fee for your application type. You can use this service for 4 main

applicants and a maximum of 10 people per visit. Please refer to the UKVI

website for details.

Please note: There is an additional £19.20 charge for each person to do

biometrics.

Please apply BEFORE your current visa expires!

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1. REGISTER TO PAY THE UK IMMIGRATION HEALTH

SURCHARGE – DO NOT PAY

Applications for leave to remain (visa) to stay in the UK for a period longer than 6 months

submitted after 6th April 2015 are subject to immigration health surcharge. You will need to

register to pay this charge. Please follow the link:

www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/payment/start

REGISTER ONLY, please do NOT pay the surcharge on your own. You will pay the surcharge

once your application has been checked by an advisor who will also make sure that correct

dates are used in order to calculate the amount of the immigration health surcharge. You

will need to remember your log in details to be able to log in to pay the charge when you

come for your appointment.

After you successfully register, click ‘New application’

Please tick ‘Yes’ and click ‘Save and continue’

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Fill in the personal details section

Please fill in: PBS Tier 4 Student, Tier 4 (General) Student; do NOT fill in the course start and

end dates. Your advisor will inpt the dates during your appointment

Log out of the account

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2. START YOUR TIER 4 APPLICATION ONLINE

Go to the UKVI webpages. Follow this link:

https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal

Click ‘Register’ in the top right corner

If you have ever registered on the Home Office website before, you can log in here. Most

students will not have previously registered. Click the ‘Register’ link

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Register in the UKVI website to create an account. We are only showing you the first page

here but you should follow the instructions to complete your registration. This will involve

logging into your email to confirm your details.

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Once you have completed the registration process, the UK Visa & Immigration website

will take you to this page. DO NOT BOOK AN APPOINTMENT. Instead, click the ‘Apply

online’ link on the left side

Find the Tier 4 Application form. Click ‘Forms A-Z’

You will need this memorable

word and your password each

time you log in so keep them

safe

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Click ‘T’ and choose the following:

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Tier 4 Student Online Application – online application for leave to remain

(permission to stay) in the UK as a Tier 4 Student or as a dependant of a Tier 4

Student

The following screen will show up next. Press ‘Log in to apply online’.

You will need to log in now using your username and password:

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You will need to fill in all the required information

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You will be asked to change your temporary password. Please complete the process.

When the password has been changed, click ‘Apply online’

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Customise:

Next page will show up. Click ‘Customise’ tab

These questions make sure that you get asked the right questions in the rest of the

application so make sure you answer them correctly. Click ‘Next’ when you’re done.

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You are now ready to complete the application form.

Dependants: If you are studying a postgraduate course of more than 12 months, then you

should tick ‘Yes’, otherwise tick ‘No’. If you have dependants applying with you, extra

screens will show up for you to complete.

Representative: ISAS will help you with your application but it is not an official

representative, tick ‘No’.

Biometric residence permits: This is when your visa is issued on a card instead of a sticker in

your passport. If your current visa is on a card tick ‘Yes’, if it is a sticker tick ‘No’.

You will need to click on each of these sections and complete them as much as you can.

Make sure that you click the ‘Save’ button often. Clicking the ‘Check’ button on individual

sections will make sure that you have answered all of the questions and you are required

to, it will not tell you if those answers are right.

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SECTIONS

Personal Details:

Family name: your last name

Given names: your first name

Previous names you have been known by: only previous names that have been changed

officially

Contact details:

The postcode must be typed in capital letters. We use our office address for

correspondence. Please complete with your UK home address but then answer ‘No’ to the

question: ‘Is this also your correspondence address?’ and complete with our address as

below:

Reference Numbers:

If you applied outside the UK, you may have a reference number from your Visa

Application Centre. If you did not receive a number, you can type in the number on your

current Tier 4 visa (normally 9 digits long in red ink).

If you have previously applied for a visa within the UK you can use one of the following

numbers:

The number on your acknowledgement letter

The number on your biometrics invitation letter

Your case ID on your decision notice

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If you can’t find any of these, please type in the visa number/s off the visa in your

passport/Biometric Residence Card

Press ‘Save’ and then ‘Next’ button when complete.

Travel Document:

Complete the questions.

Previous Addresses:

Complete the questions, input all previous UK addresses over the last 5 years.

Personal History:

Answer very carefully. If you are not sure, please ask an ISAS advisor. You must always be

truthful.

Immigration History:

Current immigration status is normally: I have leave to enter/remain for a limited period.

Leave Category (please read the list) is normally: As a Tier 4 (General) Student or As a PBS

Dependant of a Tier 4 (General) Student

Were you required to register with the police as a condition of this leave? This will be

stated on your visa. If yes, you will need to supply your police certificate.

Did you have a visa/entry clearance when you last applied to come to the UK? Type in

details of your last entry clearance visa.

Public funds:

‘Public funds’ refers to a specific list in the immigration Rules of benefits and other

payments and it is unlikely you will be able to claim these.

Course details:

When you reach the course details page, fill in the sponsor licence number: RQ2UGKJY7 and

press the LOOK UP button. Plymouth University name will pop up. Complete our address:

Plymouth University

Drake Circus

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 8AA

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If you have your new CAS, please complete T4 course details.

The level of qualification and title of your course is on your CAS

The course start and end dates must match up with the dates on the CAS

If you have been told that ISAS has your CAS, please leave T4 course details blank: we will complete these details for you when you come in to have your form checked

Is your sponsor a Higher Education Institution? Yes

How can you demonstrate your English language ability? Choose the relevant option. ISAS will check your answer.

Maintenance:

If you have your new CAS please complete your course fees as stated on your CAS.

If you have been told that ISAS has your CAS, Please leave your course fees blank: we will complete these details for you when you come in to have your form checked.

How much are your course fees? This will be on your CAS. Type in the whole of your fees

Have you or your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) already paid any of your course fees? Type in any tuition fees you have already paid. You will need to provide a tuition fees receipt if the CAS needs to be updated.

Have you already paid any money to your sponsor for accommodation? You can only state money that is used to pay for University Halls accommodation, not for private accommodation.

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Are all the funds in your name? If you are using your own personal bank account or if you are officially sponsored, press YES. If you are using your parent’s funds, press NO (you will then need to gain written permission to use their money)

General Attributes:

The level of your course is stated on your CAS. When you press the NEXT button you will be taken to the Check your application screen. Press the CHECK APPLICATION to see if you have missed any questions.

The next screen may state: ‘Some sections have errors, or are incomplete. Return to the Home page to review this’ in red writing. Press the Home button and review your answers. Press the Check button again and this screen will show up if all is ok:

‘Your application has not yet been submitted. The next screens will tell you how to submit your application’.

NOW STOP! DO NOT GO ANY FURTHER

SAVE YOUR APPLICATION (you can press the PREVIOUS button to get the save button)

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When you have all your supporting documents (see Document Checklist) and you are ready to submit your Tier 4 application, come to the International

Student Advisory Service to book an appointment or email international.advice@plymouth.ac.uk or phone 01752 587740. Bring your log

in details, the credit or debit card you intend to use to pay for your application and all of your documents to the appointment. We will check

through your application at the appointment.