Tier 4 Student Visa

 

This category applies to overseas students who want to study in the UK at Universities and other Educational Institutions.

 

The sponsor in Tier 4 applications is the educational institution in the UK; each sponsor institution is now required to assure the potential student’s ability to study at the institution.  As a tier 4 student visa applicant you will be given the permission to enter the UK for the purposes of completing the course.

 

Tier 4 sponsors are regulated and monitored by the UK Border Agency and listed on the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors. There are 3 different classifications of Tier 4 Sponsors namely Highly Trusted Sponsors, A Rated Sponsors and B rated Sponsors.

 

Tier 4 applicants must score 40 points and meet the regular immigration rules.

 

Applicants need to have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a Tier 4 Registered Sponsor 30 point

 

The Confirmation of Acceptance for Study is not an actual certificate but rather a virtual document that has a unique reference number and contains specific information about the course it has been issued for and the specific details about the applicant. Generally the sponsor will include the course fees and list any documentation that was used when accepting the student.

 

Applicants need to have enough money to cover the course fees and monthly living costs (Maintenance) 10 points.

 

Please note that the location and duration of your studies will affect the amounts that you need to show for example if the applicant intends on studying and living in the inner Burroughs of London the amount will be higher than in one of the outer Burroughs.

 

Please note that since 3 March 2010 students who are studying on course of six months or less will not be able to take their dependents with them to the UK.

 

To schedule a Free consultation please contact us today!

 

 

Tier 4 UK Student Visa Basic Requirements:

 

Applicants that intend on applying for a UK Study Visa need to:

 

• Be at least 16 years of age

• Possess a good level of English in reading, writing and verbal

• Have access to enough funds that will cover both the course fees and living expenses

• You are undergoing a course that is full time and at least NVQ level 6

• Have been accepted on a degree course

 

Confirmation of Acceptance to Study
 

In most cases the school will issue a Confirmation of Acceptance to Study that will be unique for each student. Each CAS can only be used once and will have a validity period of 6 months associated with it, which is why it is vital to get the visa approved on the 1st attempt.

 

When to Apply

 

UK Tier applicants can apply for their visas and submit an application up to 3 months prior to the commencing date of the course. Now due to the time constraints with the CAS and with making sure that all the remaining pieces of evidence are in order; it is important to be as organized and up to date as possible.

 

Maintenance Evidence

 

When we talk about the evidence needed the most important element in our opinion is the maintenance funds. Here also there is a time factor involved when submitting the bank statements or proof of funds. The funds have to be present in the account for a 28 day period minimum and the actual statements or proof needs to be printed recently if they are going to pass for approval.

 

Here in Israel for example we prefer to use bank confirmation in a format that we have authorized with every banking institution in the country. The main reason for this is that using a letter instead of statements leaves less for the caseworker to look at. In other countries it becomes difficult to get statements on the fly and monthly accounts in the post are the only way to get banking evidence, so it will vary from place to place and on case by case basis.

 

Tier 4 Extensions in the UK

At the moment if a student that is undergoing a course in the United Kingdom wishes to extend their course it is possible in most cases. There is a need to show a progression of study and often applicants will not be allowed to remain in the UK studying on a lesser level than what they entered in on. There are cases when applicants studying at levels of about the same grade as their initial entry tier 4 visa but these will usually have some common education framework that builds on the previous education course that has been completed.