NOTES-ON-COMPLETING-THE-TIER-4-FORMv00912

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This information was correct at the time of writting 20/07/2012; please ensure that you check the UKBA web pages for current application form, Policy Guidance and Help Text Leaflet when making an application to ensure you have the most up to date information. You are responsible for your application at all times and the Advice Centre accepts no responsibility or liability for your application. 009/12

NOTES ON COMPLETING THE TIER4(GENERAL) FORM (STUDENT RENEWALS)

Form version 04/12, Policy Guidance Version 07/12 (09/07/2012)

ALWAYS read the relevant Policy Guidance, the Help Text Leaflet and the Photo Guidance for the application form carefully before completing and sending any form to the UKBA. All documents can be downloaded from the UKBA website:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/applying-inside-uk/

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR APPLICATION AT ALL TIMES AND THE ADVICE CENTRE ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR THE CONTENT OF YOUR VISA APPLICATION

AND CANNOT GUARANTEE THE OUTCOME OF YOUR APPLICATION.

Using this guide:

These notes are intended to help you when filling in your Tier 4(G) application form to extend your leave to remain as a student. If you have any questions please visit the Students’ Union Advice Centre or email [email protected] to book an appointment with an adviser. These notes are provided by the Advice Centre, not the UKBA and are not intended to replace the UKBA guidance. You should only use these notes in conjunction with the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, Help Text Leaflet, Photo Guidance and the Immigration Rules, these are all available to download from the UKBA website.

Please note you must answer all the mandatory questions on the form. In the information below there may not be guidance for some questions (for example questions that are very straightforward and do not require any further explanation), you should still complete these questions and they should not be left blank unless the form directs you otherwise. Sections in green font will link you to a different part of this document, where as text in blue will link you to a relevant website.

If you wish to send your application via the Student Batch Scheme please bring your completed application form, Postal Orders, supporting documents and 2 photocopies (on coloured paper) of your completed application (this includes the form, any documents, your current visa page in your passport or copy of your Biometric Residence Permit, plus the photo page of your passport) to your appointment with the Students’ Union Advice Centre.

Please ensure you contact the Advice Centre in advance to book an appointment. Appointments are offered on a first come, first serve basis. Appointments will last 45 minutes unless otherwise stated, and appointments may be limited to two per client at busy times (particularly September, October and November). The Advice Centre is only able to send completed applications that meet the Immigration Rules, Tier 4 Policy Guidance and Help Text Requirements. We reserve the right to refuse any application that does not meet the UKBA rules and requirements, or Advice Centre terms and conditions.

The following information is not exhaustive. For further information and guidance please check the UK Border Agency website (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk) or contact UKCISA (www.ukcisa.org.uk)



mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/applying-inside-uk/

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/

http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

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Contents Part A Part B Part C Part D Part E Part F Part G Part H Part J Part K Part L Part M Part N Part O

Payment Details Personal Details Passport or travel documents and Biometric Residence Permits Immigration History Personal History (criminal convictions, war crimes, etc) Biometric Enrolment Other Details Tier 4 Sponsor contact details Course Details Attributes Maintenance (funds) Public Funds Consent and Student Declaration Representative Details and Declaration

Summary Sheet

Annexes: Annex for Part B Annex for Part C Annex for Part D Annex for Part G Annex for Part M Annex for Part O

General Advice Making a Valid Application Refusal

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The form must be completed in block capitals and black ink

Part A - Payment Details You must complete the relevant questions in section A in order for your application to be valid. Make sure you read page 5, 6 and 7 of the Help Text leaflet for further information about making payments.

A0 – The University of Essex is on the UKBA Highly Trusted Sponsor List.

A1 – If you intend to send your application by post or through the Advice Centre’s Batch Scheme you should tick the lower fee of £394. If you have booked an in person appointment at the UKBA Public Enquiry Office (PEO) you must pay the premium fee of £716

A2 – If you are intending to use the Student Batch Scheme through the Advice Centre then please leave this question blank and we will fill in the Advice Centre address. If you are sending your application yourself or applying in person at a Public Enquiry Office then you should write your own correspondence address.

A3 - If you are intending to use the Student Batch Scheme through the Advice Centre then please leave this question blank. If you are sending your application yourself or applying in person at a Public Enquiry Office then you should write the contact name for correspondence if it isn’t yours.

A6 - The Advice Centre strongly recommends paying by Postal Order as this is the safest and most reliable method of payment. If you wish to send your application via the Student Batch Scheme, we will only accept Postal Order payments (see our Tier 4 factsheet for further information: www.essexstudent.com/advice).

If your payment does not work, for whatever reason, your application will not be valid and it will be rejected so you must ensure you fill this section of the form in carefully. The Help Text leaflet (pages 6 and 7) gives detailed notes on how to complete this section of the form.

A7, A8 & A9 – only fill these in if you are paying by cheque – see page 5 of the Help Text leaflet for further information on making cheque payments.

A10 & A11 – If you use a credit/debit card payment then you must be sure to write your name and number exactly as they are written on the card. An errors may lead to your payment not being processed. This would mean your application would be invalid and, therefore, rejected which can have serious consequences on both your immigration status and your studies.

A12, A13, A14, A15, A16, A17 & A18 – Make sure you read the Help Text leaflet pages 6 & 7. All these questions must be completed if you have paid by Credit/Debit Card.

A19 – If you have any dependants applying at the same time as you, you should include their details on this page. Each dependant must fill in their own application form and will need to have their own individual payments. Back to Contents Page

http://www.essexstudent.com/advice

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Part B - Personal Details You must complete the relevant questions in Section B in order for your application to be valid. Notes to help with questions in section B can be found on Page 7 and 8 of the Help Text Leaflet.

B0 – As of 4th July 2011, the UKBA has introduced a new concession for those students who are considered ‘Low Risk Nationals’ (a full list can be found in the Immigration Rules Appendix H – this list will be reviewed annually but may also be subject to changes throughout the year). Further information about the arrangements for ‘Low Risk Students’ can be found in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 2 and 3, paragraphs 10 and 11).

For those students who qualify for this concession the UKBA has stated you will not be required to provide evidence of your funds or your qualifications as part of your application (providing you are a student with a Highly Trusted Sponsor licensed institution such as the University of Essex). However, you are still expected to meet all the rules as per the Policy Guidance and be able to show evidence if requested. The UKBA can request these documents from you at any point during the application process if they feel it necessary. With this in mind, the Advice Centre would always recommend you err on the side of caution and provide these documents for the UKBA’s consideration to ensure they can make a fully informed decision and for the application to be dealt with as smoothly as possible. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre’s Batch Scheme you will be expected to provide all the necessary documents as per the Tier 4 Policy Guidance requirements so that we can ensure your application is valid and complete and that you meet the UKBA requirements.

If you qualify as a ‘Low Risk National’ you should tick box B0 to confirm.

B1 - Notes and guidance for the passport photos can be found in the separate Photo Guidance document (see website above). If you do not provide two photographs that meet all the requirements of this guidance, with your full name written on the back of both photographs, your application will be invalid.

B5 – This does not include nicknames. Only fill this in if you have officially changed your name. You should provide the relevant supporting legal documentation. Further information about the types of documents that should be provided as evidence of a change of name can be found in the Help Text Leaflet, page 7.

B11 – All Home Office applications are given an individual reference number. If you have previously made an application you may still have this reference number. It is not mandatory to provide this number so don’t worry if you don’t know it.

B12 – this is only applicable if you were previously in the UK on a work permit. It is not mandatory to provide this number so don’t worry if you don’t know it.

B13 – if you are undertaking any part-time work you should have a National Insurance Number and must include this number on your form. We believe this will be used to check you have not breached your Immigration conditions with regards to working in the UK. If you have not been issued with a National Insurance number and therefore, you are not working in the UK, you can leave this blank.

B14 – if you have made previous applications under the points-based system you will have been given a points-based system reference number. It is not mandatory to provide this number so don’t worry if you don’t know it.

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B15 – if you have been issued with an Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) then you should write the number on the top right hand side of the card here. We suggest when you receive your new Biometric Residence permit you keep a copy of it so you can retain this number for future.

B22, B23 & B24 – this is the correspondence address the Home Office will use. If you are intending to send your application via the Student Batch Scheme please leave these questions blank and the Advice Centre will fill them in. If you are sending the application form yourself, or you are applying in person and your correspondence address is different to the address you listed for B16 you should fill in the details here.

B25 – If you have lived in Northern Ireland, you should answer ‘Yes’ and turn to the annex at the back of the form. Everyone must answer this question for the application to be valid.

Back to Contents Page

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Part C – Passport or travel documents and Biometric Residence Permits You must complete the relevant questions in section C in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with part C on pages 8 and 9 of the Help Text leaflet. For the application to be valid and complete your current passport or travel document must be provided unless it is not available for one of the reasons specified on the application form. If your current grant of leave is on a Biometric Residence Permit you must also provide your BRP (Biometric Residence Permit) for the application to be valid. You should also provide all previous passports and/or travel documents that you’ve used to travel to and remain in the United Kingdom.

C6 – You do not need to provide details of old passports and/or travel documents if you did not use them to travel to or stay in the UK. If you have more than two passports to provide details of you should photocopy page 9 again and enclose with your application. If your passport has been renewed with a stamp it’s a good idea to write which page this stamp is on in the ‘Expiry date’ column e.g. “Renewal stamp on page 6”

C7 & C8 – If your passport is lost or stolen it is important you act immediately and report it to the police. You should then make arrangements to get a new passport. Make sure you read the Help Text pages 8 and 9 for further information about a lost or stolen passport.

C9 – If you haven’t yet been issued with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) then tick ‘No’. By completing the Tier 4 application form you are also applying for a Biometric Residence Permit. This will replace the visa ‘vignette’ in your passport. The BRP contains your fingerprint and perosn details. You can read more about the Biometric Enrolment process and the BRP itself in the Help Text Leaflet (pages 12 – 16).


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Part D – Immigration History You must complete the relevant questions in section D in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with section D on Page 9 of the Help Text Leaflet.

D1 – This question is referring to the first visa you were issued when you came to the UK, i.e. your Entry Clearance visa. The visa page in your passport should be clearly marked ‘Entry Clearance’. You may have renewed your visa in the UK since this time, these visa pages will be titled ‘Residence Permits’ you can ignore these permits when answering this particular question.

D2 – The answers to these can be found on the Entry Clearance visa.

D3 – This is referring to the number in red on the top right hand corner of your Entry Clearance visa

D4 – Should be found on the Entry Clearance visa

D5 – This is your current expiry date, found on your most recent visa (Residence Permit page in your passprot or on your BRP).

D6 & D7 – If either your current passport, or the passport you used to travel to the UK, is missing then you will need to proceed to the Annex for AD1 at the back of the form.

D8 – You can apply to Tier 4 (General) student category within the UK if you have, or were last granted permission to stay in one of the categories listed. If you are not currently in one of these categories you are advised not to apply from the UK as this would result in refusal. You should return overseas and make an Entry Clearance application via the UK visas website. Please see the Tier 4 Policy Guidance (Page 9, paragraph 57) for further information.

If your current student visa was issued AFTER 31 March 2009 you are likely to be on a visa that is under the new Point’s Based System (e.g. Tier4 (General) Student or Tier 4 (Child) Student).

If your current student visa was issued BEFORE 31 March 2009 you are likely to be under the old immigration rules and therefore need to select the catergory of visa you previously applied for (e.g. student; student writing up a thesis; etc.)

D9 – Please check the Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 7, paragraphs 44 – 47) for information on what is considered a ‘Financial Sponsorship’. If you answer ‘Yes’ to this question you should proceed to question AD6 of the Annex at the back of the form.

D10 – D20 – If you answer ‘Yes’ to any of these questions it is strongly recommended that you seek specialist immigration advice regarding your situation. It is possible that the UKBA could refuse your application if you have breached any of the conditions of your visa. The Advice Centre may not be able to send your application through the Student Batch Scheme if you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions. It is important you answer these questions honestly as deception on the application form is also grounds for refusal. You should also be aware that the University of Essex is responsible for reporting students to the UKBA, we would suggest you contact the Advice Centre in the first instance to discuss any possible Immigration condition breaches and potential consequences of having breached your conditions.


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Part E – Personal History (criminal convictions, war crimes, etc.)

You must complete the relevant questions in section E in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with section E on Page 9 of the Help Text Leaflet.

E1 – E8 – Definitions can be found on page 16 of the form. All these questions must be answered for the application to be valid. If you have had a criminal conviction you should contact an Immigration Adviser or Specialist to discuss the matter and any potential issues further. It is important you answer these questions honestly as deception on the application form is grounds for refusal.


Part F – Biometric Enrolment (i) You must complete the relevant questions in section F in order for your application to be valid.

F1 – F3 – give as many details as possible. More information about the Biometric Enrolment Process can be found in the Help Text Leaflet (pages 12 -16).

F4 – please ensure you fill in all relevant parts to the question. If you had your fingerprints taken as part of a previous UK immigration application abroad then you must ensure you fill in the third box as well. Leaving it blank may lead to an invalid application being submitted. You should write at least the month and year your fingerprints were taken. If you have had your fingerprints taken more than once as part of a previous UK immigration application you should copy this page and include it in your application.


Part G – Other Details You must complete the relevant questions in section G in order for your application to be valid.

If you answer ‘Yes’ to either of these questions you should proceed to the relevant part of the annex at the back of the form.


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Part H – Tier 4 Sponsor You must complete the relevant questions in section H in order for your application to be valid.

H1 - The Tier 4 sponsor is the University of Essex. Please do not confuse a ‘Tier 4 Sponsor’ with your ‘Financial Sponsor’ if you are receiving money from a company, government or international agency(etc); further information is required about your financial sponsor in a later question.

The information required to complete H1, H2 and H3 can be found on your CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). Further information about the CAS can be found in the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 5 and 6, paragraphs 26 – 34).

As of 22 February 2010 all students applying under Tier 4 must possess a CAS from the Tier 4 sponsor you are or will be studying with. A CAS is a unique number issued to you by your Tier 4 Sponsor. University of Essex students can request their Tier 4 (General) CAS from the following sections:

- Colchester and Loughton Campus currently registered students (including those re-taking modules or writing up) - visit the Registry (Room 6.116)

- Southend Campus currently registered students (including to re-take modules or for writing up) - contact your Student Support service (2nd Floor, Gateway Building)

- Starting a new Undergraduate or Postgraduate course at the University of Essex (including those currently on a Pre-sessional or Bridging Year) you will be able to obtain a CAS once your offer is unconditional - contact the relevant Admissions department

- For students commencing a new Bridging Year, General English or Pre-sessional English course your CAS will be available from the International Academy

If you are returning to your studies following a period of intermission, or you are resitting exams, you will be able to request a CAS 3 months before you are due to return to recommence your course or take your first resit examination. Important things to know about your CAS:

- It can only be used once – if you have been issued with more than one CAS all other CASs will be made obsolete by the UKBA when you make your application

- If you need to make another application then you must request a new CAS - Using an expired, previously used or invalid CAS will mean your application will be refused - The University will only issue CASs to students in the UK with valid permission to be in the UK (seek

advice immediately if you do not currently hold a valid visa) - Both the UKBA and the University as your Tier 4 Sponsor can withdraw a CAS at any point - You may not be able to make an application from within the UK if your current immigration

permission ends before your new course commences, please contact an adviser for more information.

If you are planning further study at a different institution within the UK you should contact that institution to request a CAS and immigration advice.


http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/offices/registry/

http://www2.essex.ac.uk/stdsup/contact/southend.shtm

http://www.essex.ac.uk/prospective/

http://www.essex.ac.uk/internationalacademy/

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Part J – Course Details You must complete the relevant questions in section J in order for your application to be valid.

The information required to complete J1, J2 and J3 can be found on your CAS.


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Part K – Attributes You must complete the relevant questions in section K in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with section K on Page 9 of the Help Text Leaflet.

K1 – You must provide specific information from your Tier 4 sponsor (University of Essex) in order to be eligible to apply under Tier 4. If this information is not provided then you will likely be refused for not meeting the points requirement. You must have a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) issued by the University in order to complete this section. (see page 5 and 6, paragraphs 26 – 34 of the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance). Once you have been issued a CAS you should ensure you write the number clearly in the box provided. The CAS uses both letters and numbers so it is advisable to underline all the numbers to avoid any confusion (e.g. the letter O can often be confused for the number 0). See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance for further information about your CAS number (see paragraph 111, page 21).

K3 – Check your CAS. If your CAS states that you have needed a certain qualification in order to obtain the letter, you must tick the first option to show you are providing the relevant evidence. You must provide the original certificate or transcript of your qualification listed (as per the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, pages 21 &22, paragraphs 112 – 119) and if necessary the official translation of the document (as per the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, page 3, paragraphs 12 – 14).

If you meet the UKBA requirements of a ‘Low Risk National’ you are not required to supply these qualifications as part of your application and you can tick the second box to confirm this. The UKBA can at any point require you to provide this information so we would strongly advise you to ensure you have this information available to send if required and you could consider submitting the evidence with your application anyway to ensure a smooth application process. If you wish to use the Advice Cetre Batch Scheme to send your application we will still require this information in the correct format as per the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 21 & 22, paragraphs 112 - 119) in order to confirm your application meets the requirements.

If your CAS does not require any qualifications it will state something along the lines of “Academic progress is satisfactory and the student can continue on the programme of study”. In these cases, you do not need to provide any certificates or transcripts from previous courses and can tick the third option for K3.

See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 21 & 22, paragraph 113) for the requirements listing what your Certificate or Transcript must include.

K4 – Only tick ‘yes’ if you are studying an English Language course - See UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 24 & 25, paragraphs 126 – 131) for the requirements of what evidence you should supply.

The minimum level of Study for an English Language course is set at the Common European Framework of Reference for Lanuages (CEFR) Level B2. Please note the new Immigration Rules which came into force on 21 April 2011 included changes to the acceptable level courses that a Tier 4 (General) Student can do and the requirements for English Language ability. If you have any questions we strongly advise you to read the Tier 4 Policy Guidance and to seek further advice if necessary.

K6 – Your CAS letter will state whether or not you are required to have an ATAS certificate. You can apply for the ATAS certificate online at www.fco.gov.uk/atas. Please be aware it can take some time for your application to ATAS to be processed and for your certificate to be sent back to you (your certificate is an electronic document that must be printed). In order to make sure you have your certifcate in time, we

http://www.fco.gov.uk/atas

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would advise applying to ATAS a minimum of 3 months before your expiry date. If you are required to have an ATAS certificate and you send your application without one, your application is likely to be refused. An ATAS certificate is issued for a specific course with a named Tier 4 sponsor and remains valid as long as the Tier 4 sponsor and/or course details do not change, including the length of course. You need to apply for a new ATAS certificate if the length of your course changes, you change course, the area of research changes, you move to another institution or your visa was issued after 30 November 2007 and you need further permission to stay in order to write up a thesis.

Please note if you are applying after the 1st October 2011 the rules for who requires an ATAS will change slightly (see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, pages 23 and 24, paragraph 120 - 125). Please ensure you seek further advise if you have any concerns.


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Part L – Maintenance (funds) You must complete the relevant questions in section L in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with section L on Pages 9, 10 & 11 of the Help Text Leaflet and on pages 23 – 33 of the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance Notes. Please ensure you read the Help Text and Policy Guidance carefully for this section. Evidence is only accepted in certain formats. If the correct information is not provided your application may be refused.

L1 – This will be stated on your CAS and you should write the total amount of your course fees for this academic year (even if you have already paid some of your fees).

L2 – This is how much you have already paid of your course fees. If your CAS does not show all payments you have made you should go to the Finance Office in Square 2 and request an official receipt on University Headed Paper. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 30, paragraphs 168-170) for further information

If you have not paid all of your tuition fees you will need to show you have the money available to pay the remaining fees plus any maintenance you owe (see the UKBA Policy Guidance pages 6 & 7 – ‘Money Needed’ paragraphs 35 – 43).

L3 – You should tick to confirm how you can show evidence of these payments. The information is either on your CAS or you have provided an official receipt (as per the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, page 30, paragraphs 168-170). Alternatively, if you are a ‘Low Risk Student’ you do not have to supply this evidence, however, we would strongly recommend you have this evidence available as the UKBA can request it from you at any point in the application process. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre Batch Scheme you must provide this information in order for us to confirm your application meets the rules.

L4 – See page 10 of the Help Text Leaflet. If you ‘currently have leave to be in the UK in a category other than Tier4 (General) or (Child) student or as a Student under the previous rules’ then you would tick to say you are making an initial application.

If you currently have leave to be in the UK as a Student (under the previous immigration rules) or as a Tier 4(General) or (Child) student then you are NOT making an initial application.

In order to qualify for the reduced maintenance amount you must have had an ‘established presence’ studying in the UK see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 27, paragraphs 147 – 150), for further clarification and page 10 of the Help Text Leaflet).

L5 – You should only be answering this question if you ticked the first or second option for L4.

All University of Essex campuses are classed as ‘Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom’ Therefore, go to question L7.

L7 – If you do not qualify for the reduced maintenance amount (see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, page 27, paragraphs 147 – 150 or page 10 of Help Text Leaflet) then you must show that you have enough maintenance money to cover 9 months of your course i.e. 9 x £800 = £7200 (in addition to any unpaid tuition fees).

If your course has less than 9 months remaining then you must show that you have £800 per month up until the end of the course (in addition to any unpaid tuition fees).

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See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 27 and 28, paragraphs 151 – 154)

L8 – You should only be answering this question if you ticked the third option for L4 and you qualify for reduced maintenance. All University of Essex campuses are classed as ‘Outer London or anywhere else in the United Kingdom’ Therefore, go to question L10.

L10 – If you qualify for the reduced maintenance amount amount (see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, page 27, paragraphs 147 – 150 or page 10 of Help Text Leaflet) then you must show that you have enough maintenance money to cover 2 months of your course i.e. 2 x £800 = £1600 (in addition to any unpaid tuition fees).

See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 27 and 28, paragraphs 151 – 154)

L11 – This is refering to your University Accommodation and not privately rented accommodation (see page 29, paragraphs 162 - 163 of the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance).

L12 – The changes to the Immigration Rules which came into affect on 6th April 2012 have led to changes in the amount of accommodation payment you can offset against your living costs. You can now deduct money you have paid to the University for accommodation fees up to a maximum of £1000 from the amount of money you need to show for living costs (see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance, page 29, paragraphs 162 – 163).

The amount of money you have paid for accommodation fees should be stated on your CAS. If the full amount you have paid is not on your CAS then you should request an official receipt from the Finance Office in Sq 2. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 30, paragraph 170) for further information.

For example, a Tier 4 student, studying outside of London who has an ‘Established Presence’ in the UK would be required to show £800 x 2 months = £1600 for living costs. If this same student had paid £1400 to their University for accommodation fees they can deduct a maximum of £1000 from the living costs. Therefore, the total amount they would be required to show for living costs would be £600 (in addition to any unpaid tuition fees).

If you are unsure of how much money you are required to show evidence please ensure you seek further advice before submitting your Tier 4 application form. You will be refused if you do not show evidence in the correct format of the money you require.

L13 - If the full amount you have paid is not on your CAS then you should request an official receipt from the Finance Office in Sq 2. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 30, paragraph 170) for further information. If you are a ‘Low Risk Student’ you do not have to supply this evidence, however, we would strongly recommend you have this evidence available as the UKBA can request it from you at any point in the application process. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre Batch Scheme you must provide this information in order for us to confirm your application meets the rules.

L14 – Please check the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 30 &31. paragraphs 171 - 173) for information on ‘Official Financial Sponsorship’.

L15 – If you are being sponsored you must supply a confirmation letter from the Official Financial Sponsor. The UKBA have a strict requirement for what this letter must show. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 21, paragraph 173). If you have dependants who are provided for by your Financial Sponsor their

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names must also be listed on this letter (please refer to the PBS Dependant Policy Guidance for further information about providing financial evidence for Dependants. This Policy Guidance is available from the UKBA website) If you are a ‘Low Risk Student’ you do not have to supply this evidence, however, we would strongly recommend you have this evidence available as the UKBA can request it from you at any point in the application process. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre Batch Scheme you must provide this information in order for us to confirm your application meets the requirements.

L16 – If the amount of money provided by your sponsor is not equal to the full amount needed to meet the course fees and maintenance requirements then you will need to show that you have the money available to you by another means (e.g. by providing your personal bank statements) as stated in the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 29, paragraph 166 and Page 10 of the Help Text Leaflet). You should also be aware of paragraph 180 on page 32 of the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance which states that if you are providing evidence of a Financial Sponsorship in addition to evidence of your personal funds, the money you show must not be the same money that has been given to you by the Financial Sponsor.

Please see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 31 - 34, paragraphs 174 - 184) for information on providing evidence of personal funds (e.g. personal bank statements).

L17 – If you are receiving a scholarship or bursary from your Tier 4 sponsor (i.e. University of Essex) this should be stated within your CAS. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 30, paragraph 172).

L18 – If you do receive a scholarship you must check that this information is on your CAS record.

L19 - If the amount of money provided by the Tier 4 sponsor is not equal to the full amount needed to meet the course fees and maintenance requirements then you will need to show that you have the money available to you by another means (e.g. by providing your bank statements – See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 31 - 34, paragraphs 174 - 184).

L20 – If you have a financial sponsor who pays all your course fees and maintenance (living costs) then you should have no money left owing and can tick ‘No’. If you do not receive a financial sponsorship or if the amount of money provide by your financial sponsor or Tier 4 sponsor is not equal to the full amount needed to meet the course fee and maintenance requirements, then you should tick ‘Yes’ as you still have fees and maintenance owed.

L21 – You should fill in any outstanding money you still need to show evidence for.

If you have not yet paid all your course fees or your financial sponsor or Tier 4 sponsor do not pay all your course fees you should write the outstanding balance in the space provided.

The maintenance is refering to your answer to either L7 or L10. If your financial or Tier 4 sponsor does not provide you with enough money to meet the maintenance requirements you should write the outstanding balance needed here.

If you have paid money to the Tier 4 Sponsor for University campus accommodation you can deduct up to a maximum of £1000 from the maintenance fees. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 29, paragraphs 162 – 163).

The total box shows the amount of money that you will need to provide evidence of in personal accounts (e.g. a bank statement). See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance for further information on how to present this

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/family/

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information (pages 31 - 34, paragraphs 174 - 184). If you are providing evidence of personal funds in a bank statement, building society pass book or letter from a bank/financial institution authorised by the Financial Services Authority, then you must ensure that the money has been available for a minimum of 28 days, with the last date ending no more than one month before the date of application. If the money drops below the required amount even for one day, then you would no longer be meeting the Tier 4 requirements and risk refusal.

L22 –If the money is in your parents name, in addition to the bank statements, you will need to provide evidence of the relationship between yourself and your parents as well as a letter from your parents confirming they give permission for you to use this money. See the Help Text Leaflet, page 11 and the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 33 & 34, paragraphs 182 - 184) for further information.

L23 – You must tick to confirm the evidence you are sending if the money is not in your own name. If you are a ‘Low Risk National’ you do not have to supply this evidence, however, we would strongly recommend you have this evidence available as the UKBA can request it from you at any point in the application process. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre Batch Scheme you must provide this information in order for us to confirm your application meets the Tier 4 requirements.

L24 – Tick to confirm what documents you are sending as evidence of your finances. If you are a ‘Low Risk National’ you do not have to supply this evidence, however, we would strongly recommend you have this evidence available as the UKBA can request it from you at any point in the application process. If you wish to send your application through the Advice Centre Batch Scheme you must provide this information in order for us to confirm your application meets the Tier 4 requirements.


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Part M – Public Funds You must complete the relevant questions in section M in order for your application to be valid.

M1 - If you are receiving any of the public funds listed you need to proceed to the Annex AM1. Please see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 51, paragraph 288). It is a general condition of your student permission that you must ‘not claim any state benefits (known as public funds) that you are not entitled to.’ Back to Contents Page

Part N – Student Declaration N(a) – Consent for the UK BORDER AGENCY to Request Verification Checks You must complete part N in order for your application to be valid. There is no guidance relating to this section of the form. However, we would advise you to ensure you have signed the relevant section. If you are sending bank statements from a joint account, all named account holders should sign this section (you should photocopy the form if more people need to sign this section). If you are sending bank statements belonging to anyone else (e.g. parents) they must sign the third section of the form. Again if these accounts are joint accounts all named account holders must consent and sign the form.

N(b) – Declaration You must complete part N in order for your application to be valid. Please read the declaration carefully and sign and date where applicable. Your signature should match the signature in your passport (for example, if your signature in your passport is written in another language, such as Chinese, then you should sign your application in Chinese). When you sign this declaration you are signing to confirm that the information you have provided is valid and true to the best of your knowledge, and that you have not used deception within your application. You also sign to say you understand your application will be refused if it or any documents are found to be fraudulent. If you are a ‘Low Risk Student’ when you sign this declaration you are also signing to confirm that although you are not required to provide them with your application, you have the required documents and you will provide them if requested to do so. If you do not provide those documents when asked your application will be refused. Back to Contents Page

Part O – Representative’s Details and Declaration O1 – If a third party, or representative, has filled the form in on your behalf you must tick ‘Yes’ and proceed to the Annex AO1 at the back of the form. The representative is required to provide their details and sign a declaration.

The Students’ Union Advice Centre is not able to fill the form in on your behalf and therefore, does not count as a representative. Back to Contents Page

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Summary Sheet Ensure you list any supporting documents you are sending with your application. If you do not have enough space you should photocopy the page.

You should also list how many points you are claiming within your application. See the Help Text Leaflet page 11 for further information.


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COMPLETING THE ANNEX You will need to fill in the Annex if you have answered ‘Yes’ to certain questions throughout the form. You must complete the relevant questions in Annex (if required to do so) in order for your application to be valid. You can find notes to help with completing the Annex on Page 11 & 12 of the Help Text Leaflet.

Annex for Part B You only need to complete this question if you answered ‘Yes’ to question B25, and you have previously lived in Northern Ireland.

Annex for Part C You only need to answer these questions if you answered ‘Yes’ to question C9 and you have been issued with a Biometric Residence Permit. See the Help Text Leaflet Page 11 for further information. AC2, AC3 & AC4 – If your Biometric Residence Permit is lost or stolen it is important you act immediately and report it to the police. You should then make arrangements to get a replacement card. If you do not apply for a replacement card within 3 months you could be liable to a sanction (such as a fine) and/or curtailment of your leave. Make sure you read the Help Text Leaflet page 15 for further information about a lost or stolen Biometric Residence Permit.


Annex for Part D AD1 – AD5 – You only need to complete these questions if you answered ‘Yes’ to question D6 or question D7 and your current passport, or the passport you used to travel to the United Kingdom, is missing from the application. See the Help Text Leaflet page 11 for further help filling in these questions.

AD6 – AD8 – You only need to complete these questions if you answered ‘Yes’ to question D9 and you are receiving or have previously received official financial sponsorship for your recent studies in the United Kingdom. AD6 – See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 7 and 8, paragraphs 44 – 47) for further information. Restrictions must be explained in the box (e.g. the duration of the sponsorship etc).

AD8 – See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 31, paragraph 173) for confirmation of what the letter must show. If you are no longer receiving financial sponsorship but you have received a sponsorship within the last 12 months you must provide an official letter from your financial sponsor giving their consent to your application and allowing you to continue your studies as per the Tier 4 Policy Guidance requirements (page 8, paragraph 47).

AD9 – AD14 – You will only need to answer these questions if you have answered ‘Yes’ to question D20 and you have another application or appeal that you are awaiting a decision on. See page 11 of the Help Text for further information. If you are awaiting a decision on a previously submitted application you are not

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able to submit a further fresh application, however, you may be able to vary the grounds of your original application. You should seek further advice from an Immigration specialist in this instance.


Annex for Part G AG1 – You only need to answer this question if you answered ‘Yes’ to question G1 and you have dependants who are applying to extend their permission at the same time as you.

AG2 – AG13 - You only need to answer this question if you answered ‘Yes’ to question G2 and you are 16 or 17 years of age. If you are 16 or 17 years of age you must provide information about your parent/legal guardian See the Help Text Leaflet page 11 for further information. If you are 16 or 17 years of age you must supply a letter of consent from your parent/legal guardian. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 34 & 35, paragraphs 185 – 187) for details of what should be included in the letter.


Annex for Part M You only need to answer these questions if you answered ‘Yes’ to question M1 and you are receiving Public Funds. Please see the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 51, paragraph 288). It is a general condition of your student permission that you must ‘not claim any state benefits (known as public funds) that you are not entitled to.’ Back to Contents Page

Annex for Part O You only need to answer these questions if you answered ‘Yes’ to question O1 and third party representative has completed the form on your behalf. See page 12 of the Help Text Leaflet for further guidance.


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General Advice See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (pages 2 and 3, paragraphs 9 – 16) for further information on what types of document will be accepted. You must ensure that all documents are originals and not photocopies and on the official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation. If any of the documents you need to send are not in English or Welsh you will be required to provide a full, official translation. See the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance (page 3, paragraphs 12 – 14) for the details of what must be included on the translation. If you have been required to Register with the Police you must ensure you send your up-to-date Police Registration Certificate with your application. Back to Contents Page

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Making a Valid Application When the UKBA receive your application they will do a number of initial checks to ensure you have submitted a valid application. If for any reason they find your application to be invalid, they will reject your application and return it to you. If your application is rejected it is as if you had never submitted an application. This can have serious consequences, particularly if your visa has expired before you receive the rejection. You can find further information about what to do if your application is rejected as invalid on the Student Support Immigration web pages. In order to avoid your application being rejected you should ensure the following:

- You have used the correct application form

it is important to check that you are using the most up-to-date application form. The UKBA often release new versions of the form with little notice. We suggest you check on the UKBA website on the day you intend to send your application to ensure it is still the correct version.

- Your payment is accepted by the UKBA The safest method of payment is Postal Orders as these have been paid for in advance at a Post Office and carry a very small chance of being invalid. If you choose to pay by cheque or by debit/credit card there is a much higher risk of invalidity as there can be processing problems 9such as the UKBA entering the details incorrectly/your bank refusing the payment etc). You should also ensure you have paid the correct fee amount.

- Your photos meet the UKBA Photo Guidance Requirements Make sure you have taken photos that meet all the Photo Guidance requirements. We suggest visiting ‘Snappy Snaps’ on Colchester High Street (CO1 1DH) as they will ensure your photos are in line with the relevant guidance.

- You have answered all the relevant and mandatory questions on the application form If you have missed out any questions then your application form may be rejected as invalid. At the start of each part of the application form you are informed whether it is a mandatory section, however, it is safest to assume that all questions should be answered (unless the form specifically suggest otherwise). Please make sure you check your form carefully and do not leave any necessary part un-answered.

- You have signed the relevant declarations and consent sections It is important to ensure you have signed all the relevant areas of the form. As well as the declaration in Section N, you must also ensure you and any necessary account holders have signed section N(a) of the form. If you are providing bank statements where you are a joint account holder, or the statements provided are from a parents’ bank account, then you must ensure they have also provided their consent for verification checks to be made.

- You attend and supply your Biometric details as required If you are making a Tier 4 extension application within the UK you are also required to submit your biometric details. The UKBA will send you a letter within a few weeks of receiving your application. You must ensure you follow the instructions on this letter and submit your biometric details within

http://www.essex.ac.uk/immigration/apply_for_a_visa/tier4/outcome_refuse.aspx


http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/flr/photoguidance0409.pdf

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the time limits and in the manner specified by the letter. If you make your appoinntment in person you will submit your biometric details on the same day.

Please note this list may not be exhaustive, you should always refer to the relevant UKBA information at the time of making your application. Further details on making a valid application can be found in the Immigration Rules, Paragraphs 34 -34l. Please be aware that even if you have made a valid application you may still receive a Refusal if you do not meet the Immigration Rules or Requirements for the category you have applied under. Back to Contents Page


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Refusals An application is likely to be refused if it does not meet the relevant Immigration Rules for the category you have applied under (e.g. Tier 4). These include (but are not exclusive to) not meeting the Points Requirements and not providing the required documents as stated in the UKBA Immigration Rules for Tier 4 and/or the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance. In addition there are ‘General Grounds for Refusal’ that any application can be refused under. The general grounds for refusal include:

- The use of false representations or documents - The failure to disclose material facts - Failure to comply with any conditions attached to the grant of leave to enter, or leave to remain - Failure, in the case of a child under the age of 18 years to provide written consent from their

parent(s) or legal guardian(s) Please note this list is not exhaustive; the full list of the General Grounds for Refusal can be found in the Immigration Rules, paragraph 322. The use of deception in an application (e.g. the use of false documents, failure to disclose material facts etc) is an automatic ground for refusal, therefore, it is extremely important to declare anything which may affect your application such as criminal offences, periods of overstaying in the UK, previous refusals etc. A refusal can have extremely serious consequences both to your immigration status and your ability to study. If your application is refused you should seek further advice immediately as there may be options for you to consider but there will be a very small amount of time in which to act. Further information on what to do if you are refused can be found on the Student Support Immigration web pages. Please be aware that the UKBA have introduced planned changes to the Immigration Rules that will come into effect as of 01 Oct 2012. As of this date the rules for Tier 4 and PBS Dependant applicants (along with many other immigration categories) will be amended so that an application for leave to remain by someone who has breached the immigration laws will be refused. Further information on these planned changes can be found on the UKCISA website. Back to Contents Page



http://www.essex.ac.uk/immigration/apply_for_a_visa/tier4/outcome_refuse.aspx

http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

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