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Making a Tier 4 Visa Application Outside the UK

This information explains how to apply for a Tier 4 student visa from outside the UK. If you are applying from inside the UK or applying for a Student Visitor Visa (for students studying a course of less than 6 months, and some distance learners and resit students) please visit the relevant links on the left hand side of this page.

Do I need a visa (entry clearance)?

All non-EEA students are required to obtain entry clearance (a visa) to enable them to enter the UK and, in most cases, you will have to get this before you travel. You should apply for a Tier 4 general student visa if you intend to work while you are in the UK, or your course will last longer than six months. To be able to travel to the UK on a Tier 4 general student visa (also known as an adult student visa), you must pass a points based assessment by scoring 40 points before you arrive. You score:

• 30 points for Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed sponsor (please note that the university has Highly Trusted Sponsor status). A CAS is a unique number which is issued to you by the University and confirms that the University has permission to 'sponsor' your Tier 4 student application; and
• 10 points if you can show you have enough finances to cover your course fees (for the first year or in full if the course is less than a year) and monthly living expenses for up to nine months (known as maintenance).

How and when will I receive my CAS?

Our admissions office will email you with your CAS number after your offer is unconditionally confirmed. CAS' are valid for 6 months from the date of issue, but you cannot apply for your visa more than three months before your course start date. If your visa application is refused you need a new CAS number each time you apply.

Please contact the relevant office if you have questions concerning when your CAS will be issued:

Undergraduate applicants: ug.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Postgraduate applicants: pg.applicants@sussex.ac.uk
Visiting & Exchange students: international@sussex.ac.uk
English Language students: efl@sussex.ac.uk
Continuing students: spaenquiries@sussex.ac.uk
International Summer School: issoffice@sussex.ac.uk

Your CAS statement will be emailed to you by the relevant office. If you already have a valid visa or immigration permission which permits study (such as a dependant visa, spouse visa, indefinite leave to remain) and do not require a CAS, please let the admissions office know. 

How do I apply for a Tier 4 student visa?

You should contact your nearest British Embassy or High Commission and explain that you would like to apply for student entry clearance, or refer to the Adult Student Tier 4: (General) - visa application guide page on the UK Border Agency website, where you can download the application form and other information. Most countries allow visa applicants to apply online and you should check the procedures specific to your country by using the UKBA country finder tool.

Make sure you apply in plenty of time (you can apply up to three months before your course is due to start), as certain visa centres get very busy prior to the start of the academic year and you may miss the start of term if you have to wait for your application to be processed. The UKBA provide a guide to visa processing times so you can find out how long it will normally take to process your application. Some countries also offer 'priority services' where you pay an additional fee and your application will be processed faster - check the 'additional services' section of your country sepcific site for more information.  

You will need to provide the documents listed below but check the procedure in your country as these can vary. Your application for a Tier 4 student visa will cost £298 in local currency (and for each dependant). If you are bringing your family with you, you should apply on their behalf at the same time. Dependants need to complete application form VAF10 available from the UK Border Agency website. Please also see the 'Advice for families' section of this website for more  detailed information.

What documents will I need to apply and how much money will I need to show?

You will need to complete the application form VAF9 – PBS Migrant. Most countries allow you to complete this form online through the Visa4UK website, but make sure your check the specific procedures of your own country. You will also need to complete Appendix 8 for (General) Student. This is only available as a PDF document and must be completed manually and submitted with your supporting documents. We have produced a Guide to Completing the Appendix 8 form (refer to the See Also section of thie web page) to help answer any questions you might have when completing it. You can download the latest versions of all the forms from the UK Border Agency website.

IMPORTANT Please make sure you are using the most up to date versions of the application forms by visiting the link above. Please also make sure you refer to the UKBA guide to supporting documents when completing your application. It is important you also read and refer to the Tier 4 policy guidance [PDF] when completing your application, as this document sets out the exact requirements for a Tier 4 visa application.

You will also need to include the following with your application:

• a current passport or travel document. Ideally your passport should be valid for the entire length of your course and beyond, to avoid you having to renew it whilst in the UK.

• photos - one passport sized colour photograph. These must comply with the requirements in the UKBA photo guidance.

• a CAS number from a licensed sponsor (see above for more details on this). If you have confirmed your place at Sussex we will provide you with a CAS number, if you require one.

• documents that show you have adequate funds (maintenance) available. For universities outside London (like Sussex), you will need to show the following:

  Length of Course	Money needed - course fees and living costs
  Nine months or less	Course fees and £800 for each month of the course
  More than nine months	First year of course fees and £7200 to cover your first year in the UK

• The only exception to the above calculation is if you qualify for what the UKBA call 'established presence'. You qualify if you have a current Tier 4 or student visa and have finished a single course that was at least six months long within your last visa OR are applying for continued study on a single course where you have completed at least six months of that course. If you have an established presence in the UK you only need to show £800 for each month of your course, up to a maximum of 2 months (£1600).

  You can demonstare this money in a number of ways:

  Money held in account owned by you or your parents

  You need to show evidence that this money has been in your or your parent's account for a consecutive 28 day period before you submit your application and your evidence needs to be less than 31 days old at the time of application. You will also need to sign a declaration stating that the funds are genuinely available for the purpose of funding your study and upkeep in the UK. The UKBA reserve the right to check that these funds continue to be available to you, if they have concerns regarding your ability to support yourself.

  Official financial sponsorship or government sponsorship

  Financial sponsorship is where you are given money to cover some or all of your course fees and/or living costs. The most common financial sponsors are your home government, a international organisation or your Tier 4 sponsor. Please see paragraphs 184-186 of the Tier 4 policy guidance for a full definition. If the University of Sussex is your financial sponsor (as you have been awarded a scholarship or a fee waiver), Sussex will need to include details of this on your CAS. Please carefully check your CAS statement to make sure this information has been included, and if in doubt, contact the office that issued the CAS.

  Money already paid to your Tier 4 sponsor (University of Sussex)

  You may wish to pay some or all of your fees and university accommodation in advance, which reduces the total amount you need to show as part of your visa application. Details of these payments (if made) should be included on your CAS statement. If they are not, you will need to download a new CAS statement from your online application account, or request one from the relevant office if you did not apply online. Please note, a maximum of £1,000 paid to the University for accommodation can be deducted from the amount of maintenance required.

  Acceptable evidence of maintenance includes: personal bank or building society statements; building society passbook; letter from a bank; letter from a regulated financial institution confirming funds or loan will be released to you when you get your visa; letter of official financial or government sponsorship. You can find full details of these requirements in paragraphs 187-204 of the Tier 4 policy guidance. Please read these requirements very carefully as incorrect financial documentation is the most common reason for visa refusal. Note the additional documentation that is required if using money held by your parents.

• documents used by your Tier 4 sponsor when they accepted you onto the programme. You will need to show your original qualification certificates or any other education documents you used to obtain your offer of a place at Sussex. When we produce your CAS we will include the list of qualifications used for admission, which you will need to show when applying for your visa.

• translations - if a doucment is not in English it must be accompanied by a fully certified translation. Please see paragraph 14 of the tier 4 policy guidance for full details of what the translation must include.

• your biometric details. As part of your application, you will need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') at a visa application centre. Details on how to do this will be on your country specific UKBA pages.

• non-EEA students who intend to study in certain science or technology-based subjects are required to obtain a clearance certificate through ATAS before they can apply for a visa or a visa extension. If this applies to you, and you are a new student, details about this UK Government scheme will be sent with your offer letter. In order to obtain the certificate, you will need to complete a short online application form prior to submitting a visa application (at no charge). For more information about ATAS, refer to the ATAS section in the menu to the left.

Low Risk Nationals

Nationals of some countries do not need to provide evidence of their qualifications or their money when they apply for a Tier 4 visa. The UKBA calls this the "differentiation agreements" for "low risk students". You need to refer to the UKBA list of low risk nationals, and if your country is on this list and you are applying for your visa in the country of your nationality, you will not need to submit educational and financial documentation with your application. When completing the appendix 8 form you will have to choose the option 'Evidence not required under guidance but held by applicant' at various points.

It is very important that as a "low risk" student you still obtain the evidence of your qualifications and your money, even though you do not need to send them. This is because the UKBA can request this evidence as part of their decision process and they will refuse your application if you are unable to provide it within a specified timeframe.

List of unacceptable financial institutions

The UK Border Agency has published its lists of financial institutions that do not verify financial statements to the satisfaction of the UK Government. The UK Border Agency has also published lists of institutions in those countries that do satisfactorily verify financial statements. If your money is with a financial institution in a different country, this information does not apply to you.

If you apply with financial documents issued by these institutions, the UK Border Agency will refuse your application. You should ensure that your funds are in an account with one of the institutions that is acceptable to the UK Border Agency before you make your immigration application.

Health screening

Health screening is now a prerequisite for some students applying for a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK for six months or more. Students from the required countries will need to show a certificate stating they are free from infectious tuberculosis (TB) at the time of making an application to the embassy or High Commission. You should refer to the 'more information' section on the UKBA website to check if your country is one that requires this certificate and for full details.

The certificate is obtained by visiting an International Organisation for Migration (IOM) clinic in your home country and having a chest x-ray. Details of these clinics are available on the website of the British Mission for your country. Nationals of other countries may be required to undertake this compulsory screening at a later date. If you are not a national of one of the countries mentioned above and you have been screened for TB, you are advised to bring your certificate or x-ray with you.

Interviews

It is possible you could be called for interview as part of your application if you are not a 'low risk national'. The UKBA intends to interview Tier 4 applicants from most countries by the end of 2013, and following a pilot scheme, has been introducing interviews in the Philippines, Thailand, India, China, Nigeria and Pakistan.

If called for interview the UKBA should send you an email stating this. Interviews will normally take place via video-conferencing when you attend a visa application centre to give your biometric information. An interviewing officer based in the UK will ask you about your course, where you want to study and your reasons for studying in the UK. The report of the interview will be sent to the Entry Clearance Officer who makes the decision on your Tier 4 application. The Entry Clearance Officer must be satisfied that you are a genuine student, and that your English language ability is at the correct level, otherwise you might be called for a further in-depth interview.

What length of visa should I get and when will I be able to come to the UK?

For a course of 12 months or longer your visa should be the length of the course plus four months. If your course is six months or longer but under 12 months your visa should be the length of your course plus two months. If you course is less than six months your visa should be the length of the course plus seven days. For pre-sessional courses which are under six months long your visa should be the length of your course plus one month.

Your course start date is the date given on your CAS. If you are doing a course that is six months or longer, or for a pre-sessional course that is less than six months, you will be able to come to the UK up to one month before the start date of your course. If you are doing a course that is less than six months in length (and is not a pre-sessional), you will be able to come seven days before your course start date.

Check your visa is correct (name, length, work conditions and sponsor number) as it is difficult to alter it once you have left your home country. If you are successful in obtaining a visa you should still bring the documents listed above with you as you may need to show these upon entry.

What if my application is refused or rejected?

You should email immigration@sussex.ac.uk with your notice of refusal/rejection. We will then be able to advise on whether it might be possible to request an 'administrative review', where your application is reconsidered. Please refer to the 'problems with your visa application' section of this website for more information.

Can I bring my family?

You can bring your family with you if you are taking a postgraduate course which lasts 12 months or more, or you are a government-sponsored student taking a course of more than 6 months. Please see the 'advice for families' section of this website for more information.

Further information

As your application progresses, we may email you from time to time with important information relating to your admission to Sussex and visa arrangements. If you have any immigration questions you should contact the immigration advice team at: T +44 (0)1273 67 8422 E immigration@sussex.ac.uk

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) also publishes a range of information for international students, including immigration advice, which you may find helpful. Refer to the UKCISA website - their information sheet 'Making a Tier 4 (General) application' gives a detailed description of the visa application process and required documentation.