Guidance to the online Tier 4 application (for students applying from outside the UK only)

Please note the application will save automatically as you go through. You can sign out and return to the form later. This guide will give you an idea of what information you need to provide. You need to ensure to provide accurate details relevant to your own circumstances. The questions will alter depending on your answers so you might see different questions/screenshots to the ones in this guide when completing your application.

Completing the online Tier 4 application from overseas

You can access the Tier 4 online application form here: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier4

Click on ‘Tier 4 (General) Student visa’ (unless you have a Chevening, Marshall or Commonwealth Scholarship). Then click on the ‘Next’ button.

Start typing the name of the country where you will be applying from. You can only apply in the country where you usually live or have the legal right of residence. You can’t apply for a Tier 4 visa if you are in another country as a visitor (e.g. if you are on holiday).

In the next screen you will need to confirm if you can attend an appointment at one of the available options. The screen will show you a list of cities in your country where you can attend a visa appointment. Some countries do not have an application centre (if this is the case, you will be shown a list of application centres in neighbouring countries).

Once you have confirmed ‘I can go to an appointment at one of these visa application centres’, click on NEXT

Read the information on the following page and click on Apply Now

1. Start Section

Ensure that your email address is correct and that it is an email account that you use and check regularly. Choose a password that you will remember easily. Please note that if you need to return to the form later, you will receive an email which contains a direct link for you to use to access your application again.

2. Application Section

This is the section where you will be providing all the required information regarding your visa application.

In this first screen, you need to enter your name as it is written on your passport.

Given name= your first name

Family name= your surname

You need to put your first name in the ‘Given names’ box. If you have any middle names, enter those in this box as well.(If you only have one name-you don’t have both a first name and surname- click on the link ‘I am not sure how to enter my name’ and select “I do not have both a given and family name”.

You will then be asked if you have any other names. You can answer NO if you have never changed your name or YES if you have (for instance your maiden name if you changed your name after you married). Once you complete the name screen, you’ll move to the next where you will be asked to confirm if you have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number. You will find this number on the CAS statement sent to you by the University of Roehampton’s UKVI Compliance Team. You cannot complete your visa application without a CAS number.

You will then be asked to provide your home address and phone number. This is the address you are currently living at overseas. It is important that you provide an accurate telephone number where you can be contacted easily (the UKVI might need to call you for a credibility interview). This can be your home (landline) number or your mobile number. You can provide more than one telephone number if you wish

You need to enter the approximate time you have lived at your home and the status of your home

The next question refers to your assigned biological sex as shown on your passport

In the next field, you need to enter your nationality information. If you hold more than one nationality, you should enter the nationality of the passport you are using for your Tier 4 visa application as your main nationality. Then you can add any other nationalities that you might have. You need to enter your place of birth as it is shown on your passport. If your passport does not state your place of birth, then you can enter the country you were born in

You must enter accurate details of the valid passport you are going to use to make your Tier 4 visa application

If you don’t have any other passports, select NO to continue to the next screen. If you have another passport (i.e passport for other nationalities or old passports), you should answer YES and provide details.

Some countries issue National Identity Cards. If you have one, you can select YES and enter the card number. Otherwise, select NO

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The next screen will only appear if you are applying in a country where you are NOT a national!

In order to apply for a Tier 4 visa in a country other than the one of your nationality, you must have residence in that country. This means you are there lawfully for a reason other than a short-term visit.

The next screen will ask you about the date you plan to arrive in the UK. Please note that your Tier 4 visa won’t start any earlier than 1 month before your course start date (if the course is longer than 6 months), or 7 days before the date you plan to travel to the UK, whichever is later. You need to enter the course length to indicate how long you intend to stay in the UK for. So for instance, if you are doing a Master degree, the length is 1 year. For an Undergraduate course is 3 years. If not sure, check the start and end date of your course as stated on the CAS statement.

The next question will ask you what language you prefer to use if UKVI need to speak to you (for instance, if they need to call you over the phone for a credibility interview). As one of the Tier 4 visa requirements is that you speak English to the required level according to the course you are applying for, you should be able to select English.

You should answer NO to the next question (unless you have previously attended school in the UK as a Tier 4 Child visa holder)

Answer YES to the first question below as the University of Roehampton is a higher education institution (HEI).

For the second question, you need to answer YES if you are applying to study at degree level or above. If you are applying to study a pre-sessional English course or a standalone International Foundation course, then answer NO and continue. Check the “Other Evidence” section on your CAS statement if unsure

Answer NO if you have no people financially dependent on you Answer NO if you have no one who is financially dependent on you. If there are people who depend on you for financial support, you should answer YES. You need to answer these questions for anyone financially dependant on you, even if they are not travelling to the UK with you

If you answer YES, then you will need to enter your dependents’ details. If you intend to bring family to the UK as your dependants, then please note that you will have to complete a separate application for each one. Please note that only students who are studying a postgraduate course that is at least 9 months long or government sponsored students who are studying course that are over 6 months long are eligible to bring family to the UK as their dependent

If YES YEYES

You’ll need to provide details of your parents in this section. If you don’t know your parents’ details (because you do not know your parents), please click on the heading ‘What if I do not have my parents’ details?’

The next question will ask for details of any family you have who live in the UK. Simply answer NO if you don’t have any. If you answer YES, then you will need to give details about them in the next screen

If you answer YES, then you

If YES

The next questions will be about your travel and accommodation plans. The University of Roehampton students do not usually travel to the UK as part of an organised group, so your answer to the next question would be NO.

This refers to anyone who is travelling to the UK with you. If you answer YES, you will need to provide details of their name, nationality and relationship to you. If you plan to travel to the UK by yourself, you should answer NO and move to the next question.

If you have previously answered that you have family in the UK, then you will see their name next to the box in the following screen. You can click on it and provide further details of the arrangement. You can also declare if you are staying with a different family member in the UK. If you don’t intend to live with them while you’re in the UK, you should just click ‘Save and continue’

The next question will ask for more information about your accommodation arrangements in the UK. If you don’t have any accommodation arrangements yet, then you can click NO (there is no requirement for you to have confirmed accommodation at the point that you apply for the visa)

If you selected NO, then the following screen will appear. In the free text box, you can explain your plans. If you have applied for university accommodation, but have not yet received an allocation, you can explain that here. Or if you are still searching for private accommodation or if you intend to stay in a hotel arriving in London. Please note that not having accommodation arranged yet is not a reason for refusal

If you selected YES to the Accommodation in the UK question, then the following screen will appear. You will have to state where you are planning to stay and provide an address and how long you are planning to live there. If you are staying at the University of Roehampton student halls and do not know the exact address, you can use the university of Roehampton address as shown on your CAS statement

In the following section, you will be asked questions about your travel and immigration history

You’ll need to declare previous travel to the UK in the last 10 years. If you have travelled a few times but do not remember dates, you should check your passport for UK entry stamps that you would have received at the UK border.

If you travelled to the UK more than 10 years ago, you

do not need to declare that.

If you’ve been to the UK within the last 10 years, then you will need to provide further details of the purpose and dates of the visit. If you’ve been to the UK more than once in the last 10 years, you may need to provide the same details in this section about some other previous visits too.

The next question will ask if you have ever receive

The next question asks about medical treatment in the UK. If you answer YES, then you will need to provide details

If YES

The next question is asking if you have applied for another UK visa from within the UK. Leave to remain refers to a visa application made in the UK. It doesn’t apply to applications made from overseas (outside the UK). If you answer YES, you will need to give details of the applications (dates and outcome)

If you received a visa refusal within the UK, you need to declare it here.

The next screen will ask you about the National Insurance number (NINo). If you have previously worked in the UK you should have one. If not, please select NO and continue. If you do have a NINo from the UK, then select YES and declare it here and enter the following details

The following question will ask you about your international travels. You must declare if you travelled to any of the countries listed in the screen below in the last 10 years.

Not all European countries are part of the Schengen area. The Schengen area countries are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

If you have been to any of these countries, you’ll be required to provide more information about the country, purpose of the visit, date of travel and duration on the next page.

If YES

If YES

In the next screen, you will have to provide the same information if applicable but for all other countries.

In this section, you need to provide details of travel to other countries within the last 10 years. If you have travelled to other countries, again you’ll be required to provide more information about the country, purpose of the visit, date of travel and duration on the next page. You should attempt to provide information as accurately as you can.

The next questions relate to any immigration problems you might have had with UK immigration only. If you have never had any issues, then select NO and continue

If you select YES, it is very important that you declare any immigration issues you have had with UK immigration rules (please note that “required to leave the UK” means that you have been formally required to leave the UK by the UK government. It does not mean if you left because your visit has ended.

You will then be asked the same about immigration problems related to any other country in the world. Select NO if you have never had any problems. If you select YES, then a new screen will appear where you will have to enter the details. Again, you must be honest with your answers as UKVI may choose to check them

If YES

The next question is about any crimes or civil penalties you might have in the UK and other countries, including your own. If you don’t have any, then select “No, I have never had any of these” and continue.

(If you answered YES, then a new screen will appear where you have to provide further details (type of conviction, details about your sentence, dates and country), so please ensure that you have that information to hand).

You will then be asked if you have ever been involved in war crimes, terrorist activities, if you have been part of terrorist organisations or have ever had terrorist views. You should answer honestly. If you never had any, click NO and continue

This last question will ask if you have ever worked in any of the industries listed on the screen. If you haven’t, click the last option (I have not worked in any of the jobs listed above) and continue. If you have worked in any of these industries, click on the relevant box and a free text box will appear where you can provide details (you should provide information about your job title, scope of work, dates). In this last section, you will be asked questions about your course at the university. You will need to refer to the CAS statement in order to accurately complete this section. The next screen will ask you about the university of Roehampton sponsor licence number and address. Please type the information as filled in below:

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The University of Roehampton is a Higher Education Institution so you should only tick this

In the next screen, the University of Roehampton address will appear as below. Click YES

If you are studying an undergraduate degree (Bachelors), then you have been required to apply though UCAS. If you have, then you should have a UCAS identification number. If this is the case, click YES and enter the number. If you have not applied thorough UCAS (Pre-Sessional courses, Foundation, Post-Graduate courses), then click NO and continue

The University of Roehampton does not offer any courses that require an ATAS certificate. Therefore, click NO to this question and continue

The next question is about official financial sponsorship. A financial sponsor is a government, a university, an international company or organisation who are providing financial sponsorship to cover your course tuition fees and/or living costs. American students: US Federal loans are not official financial sponsorship. Please note that parents, family members, family business are NOT official financial sponsors. Therefore, if they are funding your studies, you need to select NO to the following question.

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Wholly sponsored means that all living costs and tuition fees for your studies are paid by an official financial sponsor. If you are not being wholly sponsored for all of your tuition fees and living costs, then you should click the “I am not being wholly sponsored” option. If you select this option, you will be required to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the remaining living costs and/or tuition fees which are not paid by your official financial sponsor. If you are receiving an International Scholarship from the University of Roehampton (i.e. International Excellence Scholarship, Alumni Referral Scholarship) to help towards your fees, then it does not count as official financial sponsorship. It would only be counted as financial sponsorship if you are receiving a full scholarship from the University of Roehampton.

The next question asks about whether you have the correct financial evidence for this visa application (assuming you don’t have an official financial sponsor). If you will use money held in a bank account in your name (including joint bank accounts where you are named along with another person), answer YES and continue.

If you are reliant on funds held in your parent’s (or legal guardian’s) name, you should answer NO and the questions below will pop up. You can only use funds held in your parent/s or legal guardian’s name. You can’t rely on financial documents in somebody else’s name (funds held by grandparents, siblings, spouses, other relatives and friends will not be accepted for Tier 4 visa purposes). You cannot use a business account (this includes if your parent’s have a bank account for a family business). You’ll need to confirm that you have your parent’s permission to use their money and also that you have evidence of the relationship (you’ll need to provide l documentary evidence of this with the bank statements for your application).

If YES

For the next question, you will need to refer to the information on your CAS statement. The course name, qualification and start and end dates of the course should be entered here the same as on your CAS. The level of the course will be stated on your CAS statement. As a guide:

RQF6/SCQF10 is Bachelors degree level

RQF7/SCQF11 is Masters degree level

RQF8/SCQF12 is PhD level

You will also be asked the following question. You should answer NO and continue

You can only answer YES if you have paid money to stay at the University of Roehampton students’ halls (and you have sent us proof of payment). Please note that even if you have paid money towards university accommodation, it will only count for up to £1,265 to have an effect on your maintenance requirements. Therefore, unless we have stated any accommodation payments on your CAS, please select NO and continue

Check your CAS statement and enter the amount of course fees as it is shown on the CAS statement.

It is fine if you have not yet paid any fees yet, you will just need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the unpaid tuition fees. If you have paid any fees, then select YES and state how much you have paid. Any tuition fees paid should also be shown on your CAS statement. Tuition fee payments can only be claimed here if they are shown on your CAS or if you have an official receipt from the University of Roehampton

You can use the following section to add anything else about your application that you may want the UKVI to know and was not covered within your application. This section is not compulsory. Therefore, if you have nothing to add you can leave it blank and click on Save and Continue

Once you click on Save and Continue, you will be given an overview of your application so far. We would advise you to check all of the answers you have provided within your visa application. If there are any errors, you can change the answer by clicking on CHANGE on the right side of the screen. Once you are confident that the answers you have provided are correct, you can click CONTINUE.

The next section asks you to list the financial evidence you are sending to support your application. If you are considered to be a low-risk national under the differentiation arrangements, then you will see the following screen. You need to select YES and continue. If you are not considered to be a low-risk national, this screen would not appear

Click on the hyperlink for a list of ‘low-risk’ nationality countries.

If you answer YES because you are a low-risk national, it means that you do not need to submit evidence of your finances and qualifications for your visa application. However, you must still declare that you hold the required financial documents as UKVI might request to see them at any stage during the application process.

If you are not a low-risk applicant, you must provide evidence of your finances and qualifications with your visa application. You will be required to answer the following questions about maintenance funds (living costs) and select which documents you will provide for your visa application.

If you are using more than one financial document (e.g. if you are relying on funds held between several different bank accounts), you will be given the opportunity to give that information on the next page. You can do this multiple times. You’ll need to do it for each financial document you will be relying on. Once you have entered details of all financial documents you will submit for your application, click NO and continue.

The next page will show a list of documents that you should be required to provide based on the answers you have given in your application. Remember that this checklist does not always show you every document you must provide. If any of your answers were incorrect for your circumstances, it may have affected this list. You should know what documents you need to provide if you have read our guidance for applications made outside the UK and the Tier 4 Policy Guidance. Tick the boxes and continue

By agreeing to this declaration, you are confirming that all information you have provided is correct. Providing incorrect or false information can have serious implications.

REMEMBER: YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR ANSWERS ONCE YOU GO PAST THIS POINT

DO NOT SUBMIT AND PAY FOR YOUR APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE PREPARED YOUR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. YOU MUST PROVE THAT YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS ON THE DAY YOU APPLY (THE DATE YOU SUBMIT AND PAY FOR YOUR APPLICATION ONLINE) NOT ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT

Once you have submitted your declaration, you will be directed to the payment section for the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS). This is a mandatory payment and the amount you pay depends on how long the visa will be (if your course is 6 months or shorter, no IHS is payable). You need to click the GO TO IHS WEBSITE link to make the payment. On the next page you will just need to read some information about the healthcare surcharge and how it is calculated (the cost is currently £300 per year of the visa).

The application will calculate the charge for you but if you wish to know how much you need to pay at this stage, you can use the IHS calculator: https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/checker/type

Once you click CONTINUE, you will see a screen with some missing details. You will have to answer the questions in red.

You’ll need to enter the information about where you are planning to stay and your course dates. When you click on the ADD WHERE YOU ARE PLANNING TO STAY link, you’ll see this screen. Answer NO to both questions.

You will then need to answer the following questions about your course, like the start and end date, the level and length (please refer to your CAS statement for these details). NQF 7 is Masters degree level so you should only answer YES to the first two questions if you are studying a Masters degree and your CAS states that your programme level is RQF7. The University of Roehampton is not one of the universities listed in the third question so you need to answer NO. The 4th question is regarding your programme duration.

You will then be asked to review your answer in the next screen and confirm the details are correct. You will then have to agree to this declaration before you can make the payment.

Once you agree to the declaration, the next screen will show how much you have to pay, click on next to make the payment.

You will be directed to an online payment portal to pay the agreed amount. Once the payment is complete, you will see a confirmation screen with your IHS reference number. Click on RETURN TO MY VISA APPLICATION to proceed

You will then be prompted to pay for your visa application. Select CONTINUE to proceed with payment.

Before you pay for the visa application form, you will be asked to select your BRP (biometric residence permit) collection location. This will be your actual visa and you must collect it from a Post Office within 10 days of arriving in the UK or from the University of Roehampton. Please note you are only eligible for a BRP if your visa will be longer than six months.

We advise you to select the COLLECT FROM AN ALTERNATIVE LOCATION option and enter the University of Roehampton ACL code. This way, your BRP card will be delivered to us directly and we’ll give it to you when you attend your registration session Our ACL code is: 2HE792

Type this code in the ENTER YOUR ACL CODE box and click on CONFIRM LOCATION. The University of Roehampton address will appear. Select SAVE and CONTINUE to proceed with the application payment

Alternatively, if you know where you will live in the UK and you wish to collect your BRP from a post office, you can select the COLLECT FROM POST OFFICE option above, type the postcode of your accommodation in the UK to find the Post Office nearest to that address

You will then proceed to the payment for the visa application. At this stage, you can book optional services if you wish. We cannot provide specific guidance on the payment screens as it varies by country. Normally, the standard service option will be fine if you are applying in good time. However, if you are applying a bit late, then you might wish to book a priority service. You need to ensure which services are available in the country where you are applying from as some countries might not offer a priority service.

Once you have selected a service, you will have to book an appointment with the application centre. This appointment is where you will submit all of your documents and register your biometrics (fingerprints and photograph). You will be shown a list of application centre/s available in your country. If there is no application centre in your country, you will be shown a list of application centre/s in other countries that you can go to. Once you select the application centre location, then click SAVE AND CONTINUE and choose a time from the ones available

You will then be presented with the payment screens. Complete payment as instructed.

Congratulations! You have now officially applied for your Tier 4 visa. At the end of this application, you will be prompted to do the following:

1. Save a copy of your online application form (this is a copy for your own records, you do not need to print this for your visa application

2. Print a copy of the UKVI Checklist. You need to print this checklist and take this to your visa appointment along with the rest of the documents. This Checklist is very important and will remind you of all the documents you need to take to your appointment

This is the end of your application process. You now just have to:

Pay for any priority fees if you are instructed to do this separately

Take all of your documents to the appointment and submit them with your biometric information

You may also have to conduct a video/telephone interview at the appointment. Be prepared for that and any follow up interviews that are requested of you. These are to test if you are a genuine student (please prepare using the Credibility Interview Guidance notes on our website)

Wait for a decision