Tier 4 Entry Clearance Visa

This is specific information regarding applying outside of the UK for a Tier 4 student visa. 

For requirements and general information about applying for a Tier 4 visit our Tier 4 Student Visas Information page.

Application Forms

VAF9 - PBS Migrant and
PBS Appendix 8 (General) Student

or Online Application (from supported counties only)
    and PBS Appendix 8 (General) Student (paper based version form)

UKBA website - Applying for a Tier 4 visa from outside the UK.
 

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Introduction

EEA/Swiss nationals
You may enter the UK by producing a valid passport or national identity card.  You do not need a visa for the UK.

Non-EEA nationals
Who plan to study in the UK for more than six months must apply for permission to enter the UK.  This permission or visa is called ‘Entry Clearance’. You should wait until you have your visa before you make any non-refundable travel arrangements. 

Applying
You can apply by completing Tier 4 PBS Migrant – VAF9 visa application form, which you can get from the British Consulate, Embassy or High Commission in your home country or from http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/. In some countries the application form can be completed online. All students must also complete the PBS Appendix 8 (General) Student self assessment form, which you will need to send in along with all your supporting documents. Check the UKBA website for the process and required documents needed to apply, as this will differ from country to country.

Student Visitor Visa
If you are a non-visa national coming to the UK for six months or less, you can enter the UK as a Student Visitor.  However, we do not recommend this, see the page, 'Student Visitors' for more information.

'Extending' your current visa
If you are currently studying a course in the UK and need to extend your visa because you need more time to complete it, you can do this from your home country.  You will go through the same process and will be making a ‘fresh entry clearance’ application. 

'1 Month Gap Rule'
If you finished a course in the UK and are planning on taking another course, and what to apply for a new visa from within the UK, you must make sure your visa does not expire more than 1 month before the start of your next course. Check that you do not have more than 1 month gap between your visa expiring and the start date of your next course.  If there is more than a 1 month gap, you will not be able to apply within the UK.

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CAS - Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies

To be able to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa, you must have a CAS Statement from the university.
 

• You will only be able to get a CAS 3 months before the start of your course or your visa expiring.
• Your CAS is only valid for 6 months
• A CAS can only be used once

• It will have your personal details and details of your course and fees
• It will also include any fees you have already paid to the university, which can be deducted from the amount of funds you need to show
• You will receive your CAS Statement from the admissions office at UEA after you accept your unconditional offer and meet all the requirements

• If you are applying to extend your current student visa because you need more time to complete your current course, you will need a CAS from UEA
• You can request this from your Hub

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How to Apply

1.  Visit the UKBA website and read Tier 4 Policy Guidance, VAF9 Guidance, and the Supporting Documents Guidance.  This will have a lot of information and also a number of documents to download and print off:

• Tier 4 Guidance – This is the Policy Guidance for Tier 4 visas
• Application form VAF9 – PBS Migrant
• PBS Migrant guidance notes
• PBS Appendix 8 (General) Student – This is the second part of the application form for Tier 4 (General) Student visas.

Other documents required when you apply:

• Valid passport or travel document
• Passport size photographs
• CAS - Certificate of Acceptance for Studies
• Evidence of Maintenance Funds (eg bank statement)
• Application Fee
• And supporting documents listed on your CAS (eg previous degree transcripts)
• ATAS certificate (if required)
• Police Registration (if required and have previously been in the UK) .
• Other documents as required by UKBA

2.  Receive your CAS Statement from UEA.  If you are starting a new course and need a CAS, you will receive it from the admissions at UEA.  If you are extending to complete your current course, you can request a CAS from your Hub.  Your CAS is only valid for 6 months.  You will not be able to apply more than 3 months before the start of your course.

3.  If you are doing a Master’s degree or PhD or a postgraduate qualification check with your school at UEA to see if you require an ATAS clearance certificate (Academic Technology Approval Scheme).  This can take weeks to obtain an ATAS certificate and you should apply for one as soon as you receive your conditional offer from UEA.  You are required to have your ATAS certificate before UEA can issue you a CAS.  If you are required to have an ATAS you must have it when you submit your visa application.  More information can be found on our ATAS page.

4.  Check to see how you can apply for a visa in your country by checking the UKBA Country Finder, as the process varies from country to country.  Some countries require you to make an appointment or apply online.  You should also check the estimated processing time for applications.  You will have to visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC), UK embassy or consulate to get your biometrics taken (photo and finger print scan) and to submit all your required documents.

5.  Read through the Policy Guidance carefully.  Make sure you have all the required documents to submit with your application.  There is no flexibility about your documents, so make sure they are originals and follow the specified requirements.  If you do not follow the requirements set out, your visa application will be refused and you will not have an opportunity to submit any other documents.

6.  Complete the application forms VAF9 and Appendix 8 or complete the online form.  The forms will ask how many points you are claiming.  You need to claim:

• 30 points for ‘attributes’ - your CAS is your evidence.
• 10 points for ‘maintenance’ funds - shown with your bank statement, sponsor letter, and/or CAS.

Apply using the process described for your country to submit your two application forms and supporting documents.  Make sure you enclose all the documents listed in the forms and guidance, including the application fee.  You should submit a photocopy of each document in addition to the original documents, this will ensure you get your originals back.  Also keep a copy of all documents sent for your records, especially your passport and any visas in it.

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Entry Clearance Start Date
If you apply as a Tier 4 (General) Student and the course is 6 months or more or is a pre-sessional course less than 6 months, your entry clearance visa will start 1 month before the course.

• If your course is less than 6 months and is not a pre-sessional course, than it will start 7 days before the course.
• A pre-sessional course is described as a course that prepares you for your main course of study in the UK.

Entry Clearance End Date
If you apply as a Tier 4 (General) Student your visa should expire:

• 4 months after your course end date, if your course lasts 12 full calendar months or more.
• 2 months after your course, if your course lasts 6 months or more, but less than 12 months.
• 1 month after your course, if it is a pre-sessional course of less than 6 months.
• 7 days after your course, if it is less than 6 months and not a pre-sessional course.

After you receive your Entry Clearance visa
Check your visa carefully, make sure:

• your name and date of birth are correct,
• it is a student Tier 4 visa to study at UEA,
• the start date is on or before you plan on travelling,
• the expiry date is correct,
• if you are required to register with the police after you arrive in the UK. 

If anything is wrong or incorrect on your visa:

• Try to get it corrected immediately before you travel to the UK 
• It can be difficult to get your visa corrected after you are in the UK 
• If you do notice anything is wrong including your expiry date after you arrive in the UK, you should make an appointment with one of the International Student Advisors 
• We might be able to help, but the process can take a long time and cannot be guaranteed, so it is best to do it before you leave. 

Your expiry date

• Make a note of the expiry date on your Entry Clearance visa, as this is the date your permission to stay in the UK legally ends. 
• Put this date in your diary or calendar and also 4 months before this date.  At this time you should start to think about your future and if you will need to apply for a visa.  
• You must leave the UK on or before the expiry date unless you have already submitted an application for another UK visa. 
• If you stay in the UK after your visa expires you are breaking the law and you can be banned from the UK for up to 10 years.

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Warning:  The UK Border Agency makes regular changes to the guidance notes and application forms.  Before you make your application, you should check on the UKBA website to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the application form, guidance notes and process of applying.

Warning: Do not allow an agent or other representative to send off your application unless you have checked through the completed forms and all the documents that are enclosed with it.  Errors made by an agent or representative, or attempts to deceive can result in you being banned from entering the UK for up to 10 years.

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Biometric Data 

All UK visa applicants are required to provide biometric data (10-digit finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.

You will have to go to your nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC) in person to provide your biometrics data.  Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided the necessary biometric information. 

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Conditions of Entry Clearance

Your UK visa will have conditions you must follow while in the UK, which are:

• A time limit on your leave (permission) to remain in the UK 
• A prohibition or a restriction on undertaking employment (limited hours allowed to work, or not allowed to work) 
• A condition that you maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds (you can support yourself financially)
• A requirement to register with the police (only certain nationalities, see Registering with the Police) 
• The Tier 4 sponsor licence number of the university you must attend

All non-EEA nationals who plan to study in the UK for more than six months are required to obtain entry clearance before travelling.  If you are a student from a visa national country you will be expected to obtain a visa regardless of the length of time you are studying in the UK.  Passengers arriving without entry clearance will be refused permission to enter the UK.

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Entry Clearance Refusals 

If your visa application is refused and you feel it was wrongly rejected then you will need to email us at isat@uea.ac.uk with a copy (scanned or faxed) of the rejection letter from the Entry Clearance Officer and we will do our best to help.  There is no full right of appeal, but you can ask for an Administrative Review of the decision.  You must make your request within 28 days for the date you receive the refusal notice.  The process is explained in the Policy Guidance.  It is advised that you seek legal advice at this point.

Administrative Reviews do not usually result in a change in decision, because in most cases you cannot submit new or different documents.  That is why it is very important to submit all the correct documents at the time of your application.

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More Information

For full details on applying including how to apply, application forms and more visit the UKBA website:
http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/

The UKCISA information sheet 'Making a student immigration application in your home country' is a very useful resource. http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/applying_home_country.php

You can find your nearest British Embassy here: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/embassies-and-posts/find-an-embassy-overseas/