Instructions for using the Tier 4 Student online application form –
UK based applications only
Step 1 –
Read our guidance notes on the visa application process
and then go to the visa
website (www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/extend-your-visa) to begin your visa application,
using the sample questions and guidance notes below.
Step 2 – Before the IHS section, print the draft PDF form by going to the options in top right
hand corner of each page
Step 3 –
See an advisor
to have the visa application form checked. Bring your draft printed
visa application form, documents and your CAS checking document to the Visa and
Immigration Team.
If you are a current student, we will check your financial evidence before we assign your CAS
number. We do this to ensure that your visa application is likely to succeed.
If you want the Visa and Immigration Team to send your visa application we can do. If you
intend to post your visa application yourself or if you intend to use the Premium Service
(in-person) we encourage you to still use our visa checking service.
Step 4 - Await your CAS number by email, if applicable. Once you have your CAS number
and you have had your visa application for checked, you can complete the visa application
form online and pay the visa fee online using a credit or debit card.
The UKBA have stated that you will have15 working days to post your application or 45
days to attend an in-person appointment from the payment date. We suggest that you
post or attend in person as soon as possible.
Step 5 - Once you have had your visa application form checked and once you have been
advised that you can proceed and pay for the visa fee online, you must bring the final Cover
Sheet (summary) of visa application form and hand it in at the International Office
reception, ideally by the Thursday immediately following your visa payment, by 4pm. Your
printed confirmation of application will then be matched with your documents and posted
on the Friday morning of each week.
Failure to submit your paper application form by the Thursday 4pm deadline means that you
may have to post the visa application yourself, or if you are outside the 15 days since
You can access the Tier 4 (in-country) online visa extension application here: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/extend-your-visa (see: 'how to extend your visa')
If you choose the Standard service, you will do the biometric process
(fingerprints) about 2-3 weeks after you apply for the visa at a local Post Office. You will be invited by letter to do this at the appropriate time.
The IHS will cost £150 per year, and £75 for any partial year. The calculation is done on the basis of the expected visa end date (not the end date in the CAS) Your CAS will confirm if you need ATAS We advise that you have your CAS information to hand for completing the majority of this visa application form and that you also read our detailed guidance notes on extending your Tier 4 visa in the UK:
www.nottingham.ac.uk/aglobaluniversity/documents/studywithus/ visaimmigration/extending-your-tier-4-student-visa-in-the-uk.pdf
Priority service still a postal service. It may take 20 days to receive the visa.
At this time, this is a pilot scheme and The University of Nottingham is not taking part in the pilot / trial.
You must be in the UK to complete this visa application form. If not, you should be referring back here:
www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/apply
You would only select 'yes' if you are using an immigration solicitor / lawyer for your visa application.
Note at the top of the page where you can manage your application. From here you can print a PDF of your application at any time, in order that the Visa and Immigration team may check it. You can also log-out and resume the application later if you need to.
You will get the opportunity to add dependants to the application again later, after completing questions about the main Tier 4 student applicant. Please note, you are eligible to bring dependants if:
- you are studying a postgraduate course that lasts 12 months or longer at a higher education institution - you are a government-sponsored student on a course that lasts six months or longer
Since this questions asks 'are you' rather than 'have you previously been know by any other names' it seems to exclude previous name changes, e.g. for marriage.
If you are using the Visa and Immigration Team at the University to check and send your visa application, or you would like your documents returning to our office, please tick the box here and enter our address as follows:
Hong Sun, International Office, YANG Fujia Building The University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus Wollaton Road
Nottingham NG8 1BB
Even if you are not applying for this visa with a current partner, please give your current relationship status
Your place of birth may not be stated with your passport, in which case; just give the information you know to be true. If unknown, state
Most people will say 'yes'. Please speak to the Visa and Immigration Team if you can only answer 'no' and we will provide further guidance.
Enter the information from your passport page here.
'Leave to remain' simply refers to a visa granted in the UK 'Leave to remain' simply refers to a visa granted in the UK
'Leave' means visa. We expect most people will have their most recent visa in the Tier 4 or student category. A small number of applicants may be switching from Tier 1 or Tier 2, for example. You need to check if you can make the switch here in the UK by referring to the Tier 4 policy guidance.
*visa
Say 'yes' if you have completed one course and are moving to another (e.g. you've completed a Masters and you are applying for a visa to start your PhD).
Only if you answered 'no' to the previous question, will you be directed to this page. We assume you are a current student, continuing on the same course. Whether you have completed more than, or less than 6 months on the course will always be confirmed on the CAS.
If you are answering 'yes' to this question, you need to mention the reference number on the top right of the BRP card.
You should only have a National Insurance number if you have worked (even in part-time) the UK
previously.
This is a specific type of student visa for 16 and 17 year olds. You should know if you've had this before.
Please note: students from a majority English-speaking country are not asked about English language, so not all students will see the questions below.
I f you are a degree level student at Nottingham (note: not studying Foundation or English pre-sessional) then you meet the English requirement under the next section (English language assessment)and will not be required to send any evidence of English.
In this case, you may select 'no' to the question about 'Degree from an English speaking country', even if you have one. You can tick yes if you have a degree from a one of the following countries, but then you will be asked to show the original degree evidence with your visa application: Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Ireland
Jamaica New Zealand St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United Kingdom United States of America
All degree level students (Bachelor, Master and PhD) should select 'yes' since the CAS will confirm that English ability has already been assessed.
Foundation and CELE (pre-sessional English) students, please select 'no' - you will be asked for English evidence later.
Please note: students from a majority English-speaking country are not asked about English language, so not all students will see the questions below.
Foundation and CELE students should tick 'yes' and should be able to provide a Secure English Language Test (IELTS for UKVI purposes).
Degree level students, even if you have an IELTS - please answer 'no' to this question. You are not required to show this evidence, with your visa application.
If you study on a CELE (pre-sessional English
Programme) please say yes to this question.
Student visa holders should not be claiming public funds (welfare/benefits), so most students should tick "no". Please speak to an advisor if you think you have been claiming public funds. Please note that Council Tax exemption which students are entitled to is not a public fund.
Please make sure that you are honest in this section as it can harm your visa application if you are later found to have withheld information.
COPY the address shown here.
Use this address EVEN if you study at another campus of the University of Nottingham
If you study on University Park, just tick 'yes' as your study address will be the same as already stated on the previous screen. If you study at Sutton Bonington, Jubilee campus or at another site such as the QMC , tick 'no' and you will be asked to write the alternative address in here. This is noted as your MAIN site of study in your CAS. Please note that this is based on the location of the home school.
RFDX42DB2 - COPY this number
It will be confirmed on your CAS Checking Document. The name of your Tier 4 sponsor is The University of Nottingham
This should only be 'yes' for students who are taking some Undergraduate courses.
If you need ATAS, this will be confirmed on your CAS and you will need to apply online for ATAS before you can apply for your Tier 4 visa.
An official financial sponsor can be the UK Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or an Independent School.
If you are in receipt of a scholarship from The University of Nottingham this information should be confirmed on your CAS. Please ensure this is the case.
If you are in receipt of any other official financial sponsorship, you should have an original letter confirming this arrangement to present with your visa application.
Here, refer to your CAS and enter the Academic Level of study showing on your CAS
UG = NQF 6 / Masters = NQF 7 / PhD = NQF 8 Doctorate Extension Scheme = NQF 8
For CELE courses, this could be CEFR level B1 or B2
This information is on your CAS. If you are a continuing student, please put the start date referred to in your CAS which might not be your actual true course start date, but it your the start date of your next visa period. The end date of your course should also be reflected on your CAS
If you are fully funded* by an official financial sponsor, you can select 'no' to this question (and to the next question about your parents accounts)
If you are in receipt of any other official financial sponsorship, you should have an original letter confirming this arrangement to present with your visa application.
*What does fully funded mean? To qualify for the Tier 4 visa you need to show that your full tuition fee for one academic year (as shown in the CAS) is covered, PLUS living expenses of £1015 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months). If your official financial sponsor does not cover this, you may need to show personal bank statements and you should select YES to this question.
This question is asking if you have paid any money to the university (your Tier 4 sponsor) for accommodation. In most cases, students should tick "no". If you live in University halls, payments up to £1020 can be included in your CAS. You will need to provide your original accommodation receipts to the Visa and Immigration Team for this information to show in your CAS. Please note that Derwent Living, Unite and Opal are not considered as University accommodation
This is a specific working visa for those who have completed a PhD in the UK
If you are a PhD student, you must have had your viva and have a special type of CAS.
If you/your parents or any University of Nottingham scholarship has paid all or part of your fees, we advise you to tick these boxes since any payments should be reflected on your CAS. Please speak to a member of the Visa and Immigration Team if this is not the case.
For information on obtaining your CAS, please see here: www.nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/ obtaining-your-cas
Current students continuing on their current course can only obtain the CAS number once they have been to show their financial evidence to the International Office.
Your CAS should show the amount that your tuition fees are (for the current academic year) and also any money that you have paid.
If you have dependant family members, this is when you should add them into the form.
Here is a chance to check your answers if you wish
If you are self-funded (or partially self-funded) enter the name of the bank here. If you are fully sponsored for all fees and living costs, you may enter 'N/A fully sponsored' and select the letter option
You only need to say 'yes' if you are using more than two pieces of financial evidence (i.e. two different bank accounts)
If you don't know exactly how much money you need to show, check with the Visa and Immigration Team before completing this visa application form.
The general rule is that you need to show that your full tuition fees for one academic year (as shown in the CAS) are covered, PLUS living expenses of £1015 per month (up to a maximum of 9 months*). *where the course is less than 9 months, you should calculate from the date of the visa application, to the end date on the CAS, rounding any partial months up to a full month's living cost (e.g. 15 February to 5 August would be 7 months).
You are required to provide your: - passport;
- BRP (if applicable); - police registration (if applicable) and; - 1 x NEW photo
Some evidence (e.g. financial document/previous qualification) will not be required for submission at all for "low risk nationals" from the following countries: · Argentina · Australia · Barbados · Botswana · Brunei · Canada · Chile · Hong Kong · Japan · Malaysia · New Zealand · Oman · Qatar · Singapore · South Korea · Taiwan · Trinidad and Tobago · United States of America · British Nationals Overseas
Note that UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) could ask for the evidence from low risk national at any time - so you must still have the evidence to hand (e.g the funds in place in the correct format) in case you are asked, until the visa decision is made.
Where applicable, this section can also ask you to provide:
- Bank statements/letter or
evidence of relationship if using
parents accounts
- Financial sponsor letter /
consent to the application
- ATAS
- IELTS certificate (for CELE or
foundation courses only)
- Previous academic qualification
(if you are starting a new course)
If you are applying together with your spouse/partner (dependant) you will be asked to show one piece of evidence that the relationship is subsisting. A council tax letter or utility bill showing both names and the address or a joint bank account statement showing both names and the address will be required. If you are under 18, you should show a letter of permission from your parent/ guardian which gives consent to your care arrangements / accommodation in the UK.
This is a legal declaration (you are not required to sign anything). Take care that your answers have been truthful throughout the visa application form.
The appointment must be booked to attend within 45 calendar days.
This should read as 'within 15 working days
When you reach this stage, please STOP so that the Visa and Immigration Team
can check your application. If you proceed beyond this point, you cannot make amendments to your form.
Please PRINT your draft
application form from the options in the top right of the form.
Later, once you have had your visa application checked, you will be directed to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge fee.
This is followed by the visa application fee which will either be:
a). Standard application £439* (apply by post via the Visa and Immigration Team if you wish) or by yourself, or;
b). Priority application £739 (not yet offered to UoN students) but will be a quicker postal service or;
c). Premium application £839* (apply in person) and book an appointment
*Note that fees will increase in April 2016 to £448 and £948 respectively.
Please don't click this button until you have had the form checked by the Visas and Immigration Team
