What type of visa do I need?
You will be expected to apply as an adult student under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system if you are coming to the UK for your post-16 education. If you are currently residing in your home country you will need to apply for entry clearance before coming to the UK. You can apply to the British diplomatic post in the country in which you usually live, often through a commercial company called a visa application centre. Alternatively, if you are already in the UK you may need to apply for leave to remain often referred to as extending your visa.
Can I apply as a TIER 4 Student if my course is less than 6 months?
There is no minimum length of course required to obtain a Tier 4 student visa. If your course is less than six months you may wish to enter the UK as a ‘student visitor’. You can apply as a student visitor if you are 18 years old or over and you want to come and study in the UK for up to 6 months. However, we recommend that you consider very carefully whether this option is right for your personal circumstances as you will not be allowed to extend your permission to be in the UK as a student visitor or a Tier 4 student and you will not be able to work whilst in the UK.
When do I Apply?
You must apply for your visa / entry clearance before you leave home, as you will need to show your passport, with the correct stamp, to the immigration officer when you arrive in the UK.
You will receive a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from the University once you have paid the required deposit. It is essential that you pay your deposit as soon as you are able, to allow the University time to create your CAS number and get it to you. If you delay paying your deposit this will delay your visa application and this may result in you being late to join the course, and you may be refused entry for this academic year. You will then have to return home and wait until the following year to commence your studies.
You must check that all the information on the CAS statement is correct and notify the University of any mistakes as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure the information on the CAS is correct.
You must submit your application for entry clearance no more than 3 months before the course start date. If you apply too early your CAS will be deemed invalid and your application automatically rejected.
How does the Points Based System affect me?
As of 31st March 2009, the immigration rules for international students changed and Tier 4 of the Points Based System (PBS) was introduced. Under the Points Based System, when applying for entry clearance, you will be required to pass a points-based assessment and score 40 points in order to qualify for entry to study. International students will have to obtain 40 points as follows:
- 30 points for a CAS number (you will receive this number from Birmingham City University once you have paid your deposit)
- 10 points for maintenance (money to cover fees and living expenses)
It is compulsory to provide biometric information as part of any application for a UK Visa. You will need to go to your nearest visa application centre where your fingers will be scanned and a full face digital photograph will be taken. Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided this information.
How to apply for Entry clearance?
We recommend that you visit The UK Border Agency website to download your entry clearance application form. If you intend to apply as a Tier 4 (General) student you should complete the VAF9 – PBS Migrant and PBS Appendix 8 General Student self-assessment forms. Please follow the guidance notes carefully and provide all relevant documentary evidence and the application fee required. The current application fee is £199 or the equivalent in your home currency.
It is important that the information on your entry clearance application matches that on the CAS statement emailed to you by the University. Any qualifications written on the CAS statement must be included in your application. You must provide the original qualification with an accompanying official translation if it is not in English or Welsh.
As Birmingham City University is situated outside of the Inner London Boroughs you will be expected to show you have £600 per month to cover your maintenance. Please refer to the Self-Assessment Points Calculator, available on The UK Border Agency Visa application forms page for full details of your own personal maintenance requirements. If you have paid any money to the University in the form of a deposit for tuition or accommodation fees and it is not included on the CAS statement you must contact the University immediately.
If your application for entry clearance is refused, please inform the University as soon as possible. You may be able to apply for an Administrative Review in your own country. Please do not travel to the UK, as you will be refused entry at the UK port of entry (airport/seaport etc).
What should I do if I am already in the UK as a student and my student visa will expire soon?
You will need to get a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from the International Office in order to apply for your Tier 4 Student visa extension. Before the International Office will issue a CAS for your visa extension, you will be required to show the University your passport, including your current visa and your qualifications. These must be originals and not photocopies. Additionally you will need to provide evidence that you have the required funds to cover your fees and living costs. You can find further information about the visa extension, including what documents you will need, on the UK Border Agency website. You will need to print off and complete the Tier 4 (General) application form, available from the UK Border Agency website. Please note: this is only for those students who are already in the UK.
You can also visit the Visas and Immigration section of iCity (Birmingham City University’s intranet site which you should get access to when you pre-enrol)for more information on applying for your student visa extension.
Please note that you must have no more than one month between the end of your current leave and the start of your new course to be eligible to apply for a student visa extension whilst in the UK. If there is more than a one month gap between the end of your leave and the start date of your course you must return home and apply for entry clearance.
Important
If your Tier 4 Student visa is for another institution and you applied for this visa on or after 5th October 2009 you will need to apply for a new visa before you can enrol at Birmingham City University. If you cannot apply for the new visa before the enrolment deadline you may not be allowed to enrol and may have to leave the UK. Make sure if you need to apply for a new visa that you do so as soon as you can. It may be quicker for you to apply in person for your visa at a Public Enquiry Office (PEO). You can get more information about applying in person from the UK Border Agency website.
Go to New Students: After Acceptance