Transcript Slide 1

How to extend your Tier 4
visa in the UK
Student Immigration Team,
Student Services Centre,
University of Manchester
1
What we will cover
today
• Information about Tier 4 of the Points Based
System
• How to extend your student immigration
permission in the UK
• Your CAS
• ATAS certificates
• The Doctorate Extension Scheme
2
What we will cover
today
• Translations of documents
• The amount of money you need and the
documents you need for:
• Tuition fees
• Living expenses
• Financially sponsored students
• Dependants
• How to make the application
3
Some background

Tier 4 is the immigration route for students

It is part of the Points Based System

You need 40 points for a successful Tier 4
application:


30 from the CAS and documents
10 from having required funds
4
Your responsibilities
under Tier 4

Tier 4 is for studying; if you stop studying, you
will be reported to UKVI

Your School will monitor your attendance and
therefore you must attend all classes and
seminars

If you extend or change your immigration
permission at any time while you are studying
with us, you must come to the SSC so we can
scan your new BRP card
5
Your responsibilities
under Tier 4

If your contact details change you must:
 Update your details on My Manchester
 Inform the UKVI – you can find out how to on
our website

If you are required to register with the Police you
must book an appointment within 7 days and
keep your Police Registration Certificate up to
date with address, immigration permission and
passport details
6
The University’s
responsibilities under
Tier 4

We must keep a copy of your valid passport and
immigration permission, and/or evidence of you making
a Tier 4 application

We must inform the UKVI if your circumstances change:
•
•
•
•
•
If you interrupt your studies
If you fail to attend
If you withdraw from your studies (or if we withdraw you)
If you change course
If you have to re-sit without attendance
7
The University’s
responsibilities under Tier 4

We must monitor your progress and attendance

We must keep your most up-to-date contact
details
8
Some other issues to consider
9
Maximum time spent
studying in the UK

There is a limit on the amount of time an
international student can spend studying in the
UK

You cannot normally spend more than 5 years
studying at UG degree level and Masters level

If you think this may affect you please email us
(contact details at the end of the presentation)
10
Low risk nationals

If you are from:
Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brunei, Canada, Chile,
Croatia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, Qatar,
Singapore, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, USA or
United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Or you are:
A BN(O) or Hong Kong SAR passport holder or Taiwan
(ROC) passport holder with a residence card number
You are classed as a ‘low risk national’
11
Low risk nationals

‘Low risk’ nationals do not have to send financial
and academic documents with their Tier 4
application

You still have to sign a declaration that you have
access to the required funds
12
New health care charges





From April we are expecting the UK Government
to introduce a charge for using the National
Health Service
Cost only applies for visas that are 6 months or
more in length
Cost is £150 per student for each year for the
duration of your visa
The cost is the same for any dependants that
you have
Students from Australia and New Zealand are
exempt
13
Working with Tier 4
immigration permission

If you are studying a course longer than six months, you
can work a maximum of 20 hours per week during termtime and full-time in vacations

Taught Masters students cannot work full-time during
the summer vacation

PhD students are permitted to work full-time for 8 weeks
a year that have been agreed in writing with Supervisor

You can work full-time for 4 months after you have
finished your course if your Tier 4 immigration
permission is still valid
14
Doctorate Extension Scheme

This is a work scheme for PhD students who wish to stay in the UK
for a further 12 months to work

You must apply for an extension under Tier 4 and your CAS is
issued by the Student Immigration Team

Dependants can also apply at the same time as the student

You can only apply from the UK after you have had your viva and
before you submit the final copies of your thesis

There is more information on our website:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/academiclife/immigration/des/
15
What you need for your Tier 4
extension application
16
Confirmation of Acceptance for
Studies
17
CAS: Confirmation of
Acceptance for Studies

Your CAS is a unique electronic reference number
generated by the University of Manchester, confirming
that the University has agreed to be your Educational
Sponsor

Your School Administrator (or Admissions Team if you
are starting a new course) inputs information about you
and your course into the University student system. This
information is then uploaded to the UKVI’s Sponsor
Management System
18
CAS




Once your CAS has been issued you will receive a CAS
statement by email (to your University of Manchester
email address) that includes all the information in your
CAS
This will help you to complete the Tier 4 application form
but you do not need to include it with your application
Check the information in your CAS statement is correct –
this is very important
If any information is incorrect you must email
[email protected] urgently
19
What information is in a
CAS?
The CAS must include:





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Your personal details (name, nationality, passport
number etc)
Your course details
(title, level, start and end date) – Check this!
The University’s ‘sponsor’ details (licence number,
address, contact)
Whether you need an ATAS certificate (see ATAS
slide)
Your tuition fees and/or accommodation information
Which qualification documents are required, if any
20
CAS – starting a new
course

You can only get a CAS for a new course once you
accept an unconditional offer

The CAS will list the qualifications your offer is based on,
and you must submit the original qualification
documents listed as part of your Tier 4 application
otherwise your application will be refused

If the qualification was obtained overseas you must
submit the original document AND an official
translation (see slide on translations)

You obtain your CAS from the School admissions staff
21
CAS – continuing on the
same course

The CAS will state that you were assessed on your
progress and attendance on the course so far, and that
your English Language was also assessed that way.
Therefore you don’t need to include any qualification
documents with your Tier 4 application

You obtain your CAS from your School Administrator
22
Academic Technology Approval
Scheme
23
ATAS Certificate

ATAS stands for Academic Technology Approval
Scheme

If you are going to study certain engineering or physical
science courses at degree level or above you may
need an ATAS certificate

Some MEng and Mphys courses require ATAS

Contact your School to check if you need one

All visa categories now require ATAS clearance, no
longer just a Tier 4 requirement
24
ATAS Certificate

You must apply for a new ATAS certificate every time
you extend your immigration permission, even if it’s for
the same course

Other changes to your research or course of study may
need a new ATAS certificate

If you need an ATAS certificate, go to:
www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme to
apply for your ATAS certificate online

It can take between 20-25 working days (often longer) to
receive your ATAS certificate
25
Translation of Documents
26
Translation of Documents

If your degree is listed in your CAS you will need to
provide your original degree certificate or original
transcripts

If your degree certificate or transcripts are not in English
you will need to have them translated by an official
translator

Don’t forget to also include your original documents
with your translation

We have a leaflet on our website with the details of two
translation companies in Manchester.
27
Translation of Documents
The translation must include:



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The translator’s name.
The translator’s signature.
The translator’s qualifications.
Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate
translation of the original document.
The date of translation.
The translator’s contact details.
28
Money – tuition fees and
maintenance
29
Money – tuition fees
You will have to show that you have money for
your tuition fees:


Starting a new course = first year’s fees
Continuing on the same course = remainder of
fees for current academic year (check your CAS)
30
Money – maintenance

Money for living expenses is called “maintenance”

Maintenance is £820 per month for a student

You will have to show the higher maintenance level
unless you have ‘established presence’ (see next slide).

Higher maintenance is £820 x 9 months = £7380
31
Money – maintenance

If your Tier 4 or Student immigration permission is still
valid and,

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You have completed more than 6 months of your course; or
You completed a course of more than 6 months during your
current immigration permission,
You will qualify for the lower maintenance level:
Lower maintenance level is £820 x 2 months = £1640
32
Money: Total amount
You have to show that you have the money for
maintenance plus your tuition fees.
But you may have already paid some. For example:
•
You have paid your fees in full: this should be on your
CAS, so you don’t have to show it in your bank account
•
You have paid your first tuition fee instalment: you will
have to show the remainder of your fees in your bank
account (even if you have a direct debit agreements set
up with the SSC)
33
Accommodation Fees

If you are staying in Manchester University owned Halls
of Residence and you have paid accommodation fees this
will be shown in your CAS

The maximum amount of accommodation fees that can be
shown on your CAS is £1020

Check when you receive your CAS statement – if it isn’t
shown in your CAS contact the Accommodation Office

If this applies to you, you can show up to £1020 less
money for maintenance in your bank account
34
Accommodation Fees
You cannot use receipts for accommodation paid to:
•
•
•
•
Privately owned halls of residence
Halls of residence owned by other universities
Private accommodation i.e.
houses/apartments/flats
Relatives or friends
35
Sponsorship from an official
financial sponsor
36
Do you have an official
financial sponsor?
Official financial sponsors are:






UK government
Your country’s government
British Council
International organisation
International company (a company with offices in more than one
country)
University
You must submit an official sponsor letter as part of your Tier 4
application
37
Sponsor letter from an
official financial sponsor
The letter must include:







Your personal details (name, date of birth)
Names of dependants (if applicable)
Your course details (title)
Amount of money (e.g. Tuition fees + maintenance
costs)
(or a statement that the sponsor will cover your fees and
living expenses in full)
Duration of sponsorship or start and end dates of
sponsorship
‘Unconditional consent for you to stay in and re38
enter the UK’
Sponsor letter from an
official financial sponsor
For further information and an example copy of an official
sponsorship letter, please go to the following website;
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucialguide/academic-life/immigration/applying-from-theuk/independent/sponsored/
39
What is a fully-sponsored
student?
Where official financial sponsors pay;


•
•
Full tuition fees
Full maintenance costs
Fully sponsored students do not have to show the money in
their bank account.
Fully sponsored students must submit a sponsorship letter
40
What is a part-sponsored
student?
Where official financial sponsors pay;
•
•
•
•
Only tuition fees (full fees or part fees)
or
Only maintenance (full fees or part fees)
Part sponsored students must show the remaining money in
their bank account
Part sponsored students must still submit a sponsorship
letter
41
Financially sponsored by the
University of Manchester?
If the University pays:



Only tuition fees (full fees or part fees), this will be reflected
in your CAS and you won’t need a sponsor letter;
Only maintenance costs, this will not be reflected in your
CAS and you will need a sponsor letter;
Both tuition and maintenance, you will need a sponsor letter
because the maintenance amount will not be reflected in
your CAS
42
Students who are self-financing or
financially supported by parents
43
Self-financing students


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You must show that you have had the money for tuition
fees and maintenance in your own or your parent’s
bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before
you apply
You cannot use anyone else’s account – only your or
your parent’s bank account
If the balance of your bank account drops below the
required amount during the 28 days your application
will be refused
Keep the money in your bank account at least until you
have received your documents back from UKVI
44
Bank statements – proving you
have enough money
45
Bank statements

Bank statements must be less than one calendar month
old on the date of application; and

Bank statements must be original; and

Overseas bank statements that are not in English need to
be translated by an official translator; and

If you use overseas bank statements you need to provide
a currency conversion into pounds sterling from the
Oanda website:
http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/
46
Online or ad-hoc statements
Are they acceptable?

You can use ad-hoc bank statements but they must
contain the following information:

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Your name
Full account number
Bank’s name and logo (letterhead)
Date of the statement
Amount of money available
Online statements must contain the above details and the
bank stamp must appear on every page
47
Using your parents’ bank
statements as evidence

You are allowed to use your parents’ bank statements for
your Tier 4 application

You need to show your original birth certificate as
evidence of your relationship to your parent (this MUST
be translated into English – see translation slide)

You also need a signed letter of consent from your parent
confirming that they support you financially during your
studies in the UK

If the bank account is in a foreign currency you must
provide a currency conversion from OANDA:
48
www.oanda.com
Using your parents’ bank
statements as evidence
Further information and an example copy of an parental
consent letter, please visit the following link:
http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucialguide/academic-life/immigration/applying-from-theuk/independent/self-financing/
49
Dependants
50
Dependants



Those already in the UK with you as your dependants
can apply to extend their immigration permission at the
same time as you
Those in other categories can switch to be your
dependant from the UK eg. from Tier 4 Student, but they
must show higher maintenance level
Dependants can only apply to join you from home if:

You are on a postgraduate level course of at least 12 months
duration ;or

You are Government-sponsored on a course of at least 6 months
51
duration
Dependants – money
needed
Higher maintenance level:

Dependants (spouse/partner/child): £460 per month per
dependant = £4140 per dependant
Lower maintenance level

Dependants (spouse/partner/child): £460 per month per
dependant = £920 per dependant

Dependants cannot qualify for the lower maintenance
level if they are joining you from overseas even if you
have established presence
52
Making a Tier 4
application

The application form and payment are completed online

There are 2 levels of service:

Standard (by post)



Visa Check & Send Service
Send by post independently
Premium (in person by appointment)
53
Making a Tier 4
application

In person at a Premium Service Centre eg.
Liverpool or Sheffield are closest
You
have to book your appointment online while
you are completing your Tier 4 application
If you want us to check your application before
you attend the appointment, contact us

54
Making a Tier 4
application

Online and send the supporting documents by
post

Make sure that your documents are posted using the
Special Delivery service at the post office and keep the
receipt

Take a copy of all the documents you send to UKVI eg.
Passport, bank statements etc..
55
Tier 4 application costs
In person
 £839.00 per student
 £839.00 per dependant
By Post including Visa Check & Send Service
 £439.00 per student
 £439. 00 per dependant
 an extra £19.20 per applicant for biometrics
enrolment
56
Making an online
application
Use the video on our website to help you create a UKVI
online account through the UKVI website
https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal


Complete the Self-Assessment to find out how much
money you need to show in your bank account

Complete the online application form up to the ‘Check
application’ stage
57

Check your application and save it
Making an online
application

Complete the declaration

Make the payment and submit the application

Print the application, cover sheet and declaration

Within 13 working days of paying the application fee send
the cover sheet and relevant supporting documents to
UKVI by Special Delivery Post and keep the receipt
58

Further guidance on our website
Making an online
application
Using the Visa Check & Send Service

This service is run by the Student Immigration Team in the
Student Services Centre

We will check your Tier 4 application for you and contact
you if there are any amendments needed

We will tell you when you can complete and pay for the
application

We will send your supporting documents to UKVI for you
and pay for the postage
59
Making an online
application Using the Visa
Check & Send Service

About 1 - 2 weeks after we have sent your application we
will receive a ‘biometrics letter’ from the UKVI so we will
contact you to ask you to collect it from us

If you do not receive your biometric letter within four weeks
contact us

You must enrol your biometrics within 15 days of receiving
the letter otherwise your application may be rejected

Your documents will be returned to us and we will contact
60
you when they are ready to collect
Completing the application form
61
Completing the
application form


Log onto the following webpage and read ALL
information carefully
Read the information on our website before starting to
complete an application form:
 http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucialguide/academic-life/immigration/applying-from-theuk/batch-scheme/
 Use our instructional video to help you complete the
application form
 Read the policy guidance notes on the following link;
 https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration/
62
Documents required
63
Documents required for
your application checklist

Application form completed online

Passport(s) and BRP card (if you have one);

Police Registration Certificate (if you have one) with your
most recent address on it;

2 passport photos with light background and taken within
the last month;

Cont….
64
Documents required for
your application checklist

CAS number;

Any original academic documents listed in your CAS
statement;

Official translations of them, if necessary;

Financial documents (bank statements and/or sponsor
letter);

Parents’ documents if they are funding your studies (birth
certificate, bank statements, translations, parental
sponsor letter);

ATAS certificate (if required).
65
Documentswhat to do next






Request a CAS from your School;
Find out if you need ATAS, if so, apply immediately;
Ensure you have money available to you and transfer this
into an account in your name;
If you have online banking:
 Change to receive paper statements
 Order copy statements
If you are sponsored:
 Check the sponsor letter includes the correct wording,
order a new letter if necessary;
Check your CAS has all the66 correct information.
What happens next?

Your application and documents will be
considered by a caseworker at the UKVI

You may be invited for a skype interview with
UKVI staff in Sheffield

A decision will be made on your application

The documents will be returned to you:


Passport and other documents by post
67
Biometric Residence Card
(BRP) by courier
What happens next?




If you use the ‘premium service’ your biometrics
will be enrolled at the appointment
If you need to be interviewed, this should happen
on the same day
Your passport and documents will be returned to
you the same day
Your Biometric Residence Card (BRP) will be
delivered to you by courier about 7 – 10 days
later
68
Don’t forget!

Don’t book any travel outside the UK until you have
your new visa!

If you are sending your own Tier 4 application to
UKVI don’t forget to bring in your new Biometric
Residence Permit to the Student Services Centre
so we can scan it
69
The Student
Immigration Team –
how we can help?

Advisers qualified to give immigration advice to students
at the University

Useful information on our website

Access to UKVI account manager if required

Appointments to check your application if you are making
it independently (subject to availability, book in advance)
70
The Student
Immigration Team –
how we can help





We are based at the Student Services Centre on
Burlington Street
Opening hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, except
Tuesday when we open at 10am
You can contact us: 0161 275 5000
You can email us at [email protected]
Website:
 http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucialguide/academic-life/immigration/
71
Frequently Asked Questions
72
FAQs
Q. What happens if my previous visa expires while the
documents are at UKVI?
A. Your visa conditions are automatically extended
while you are waiting for a decision on your
application, unless your visa had already expired
before you applied
Q. I need my passport back so I can travel home
because there is a family emergency
A. Contact us for advice
73
FAQs
Q:Can I return to my home country to extend my visa, it
will be easier and quicker for me
A Only during vacations, as you are not allowed to
miss lectures for this reason. Contact us for advice if
necessary
Q: Do I need to send an original CAS statement with my
application?
A:No. You do not need to send your CAS statement but
you will need to have this for checking purposes so
that all documents listed on your CAS statement are
included in your application
74
Any other questions?
75