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GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE TIER 4 APPLICATION FORM
Applications made outside the UK Updated May 2019
This booklet should not be used as a stand-alone guide. Before beginning your visa application you must ensure that you read the UKVI Tier 4 Policy Guidance and the information on the RCM’s Visas and Immigration website. UKVI regularly makes updates to the Tier 4 Policy Guidance, so it is essential that you check the latest information before applying. Whilst the information in this guide is provided in good faith, and every effort is made to keep it up to date, the RCM accepts no legal responsibility for its accuracy.
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IMMIGRATION ADVICE AT THE RCM
The RCM’s international support staff aim to provide free, impartial, high quality immigration advice to RCM students, including offer holders. We can advise on Tier 4 (General) Student visa applications, Short Term Student visas, visa conditions during study and settlement applications for EU/EEA students. We also provide information on visas for family members, Schengen visas and options to remain in the UK after graduation. In addition, we offer more general support with welfare-related matters, such as opening bank accounts and accessing healthcare in the UK. You can find full details of what we offer in our Statement of Service.
A FEW THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE STARTING
Ensure that you read the RCM’s guidance on applying for a Tier 4 visa thoroughly. This is available at http://www.rcm.ac.uk/international/visas/ Have your passport and any other immigration documents to hand, well as your CAS Statement, as you will need to copy information from them. Once you progress to the “Declaration” stage of the form, you will not be able to make any further changes, so make sure you check your answers thoroughly first. Our immigration advisors will be very happy to check your application for you, and we encourage you to request this. Please e-mail a pdf of your application to [email protected]. The date that the application fee is paid is considered to be your “date of application”. This will be shown on your payment receipt. Your evidence documents (e.g. bank statements) must be dated on or before this date, or your application will be refused. The Visa Application Centre will retain your passport whilst your application is being processed, so you must not plan to travel overseas during this time.
Applicants under the age of 18 UKVI will calculate your age on the date of application. If you will be under 18 on this date, you must include a letter from your parents or legal guardians confirming they give permission for you to live and study independently in the UK, along with proof of your relationship (e.g. your birth certificate).
Tuberculosis tests Applicants from certain countries must have a tuberculosis test and include the test certificate with their visa application. You can check whether you require a test and view the list of approved testing centres for your country at https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
Dependents
If you wish to bring a spouse/partner or dependent children with you to the UK, they must complete a separate application at https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/dependant. Only applicants on courses lasting 9 months or longer at RQF Level 7 (Masters) or above are eligible to bring dependents. You can find more information at https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/family-members
If you have problems answering any of the questions on the online application form, and cannot find the answers in these guidance notes, contact [email protected] for assistance. An incorrect or missing
answer could result in your visa being refused, so please do not guess. We are here to help!
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GETTING STARTED
Begin your application at https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier4
If you are applying to extend a current Tier 4 visa from INSIDE the UK you cannot use this application form. Go to https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier-4-student to apply
Select Tier 4
(General) student
visa
Enter the country
where you are
applying. You can
apply in the
country where you
are a national, or
another country
where you are
living (e.g. if you
have a visa for
study or work).
You cannot apply
in a country if you
are only a tourist or
visitor. The only
exception is if your
country does not
have a UK Visa
Application Centre
and you are
required to travel to
a neighbouring
country to apply.
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You will be told
the locations of
Visa Application
Centres (VACs) in
your country and
asked to confirm
you can attend
one of them.
Enter your e-mail
address (ensure that
this is an account
you check regularly)
and create a
password.
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Enter your name
carefully, making
sure that it
matches the
information on
your passport and
your CAS
Statement.
You can save
your application
and return to it at
any time.
UKVI provides
help text to guide
you through the
form.
Answer “yes” if
you have ever
changed your
name (e.g. if you
married or were
adopted) or if you
ever use another
name for official
purposes.
Top tip! You can
view and change
the answers you
have given so far
by clicking this
link.
Copy this
information
carefully from
your CAS
statement.
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You will now be asked to enter some personal details, incluing: your address and contact telephone number, how long you have lived at that address, your gender and relationship status.
If you hold more
than one
nationality, enter
the nationality
shown on your
CAS statement
and ensure it
matches the
passport you are
using for your
visa application.
This normally
corresponds to
the country where
you are applying
for your visa. If
you hold any
other
nationalities, you
can enter the
information by
clicking the link
underneath.
Copy this
information
carefully from
your passport.
You must submit
your original
passport with
your application.
A photocopy is
not acceptable.
Students from the
USA should note
that all dates must
be given in the
format
DDMMYYYY –
make sure you
don’t mix up your
days and months!
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You may need
to answer “yes”
if you have
dual
nationality, or if
you have a
current UK visa
in an old
passport.
You will
probably not
have booked
flights yet, so
just put the date
you expect to
travel. The
earliest you can
arrive in the UK
is one month
before your
course start
date on your
CAS.
You can work
out the length of
stay from the
start and end
dates of your
course, which
will be shown
on your CAS.
We
recommend
that you select
English.
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If you answer “yes” you will not see the next question.
Only answer yes if
you studied a
course at a UK
school on a Tier 4
(Child) Student
visa.
The RCM is a
Higher Education
Institution.
Select “yes”.
You will not be
asked further
questions about how
you were assessed.
If you submitted a
SELT (e.g. IELTS) you
do not need to
include it in your
visa application. The
RCM will retain a
copy of the
evidence of your
English language
level on your student
file for UKVI to
inspect if requested.
If you want to bring
dependent children
with you to the UK,
you will need to
complete a
separate visa
application for
them.
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You will now be
asked to enter
your parents’
personal details.
If you already
have any family
members in the
UK, add their
details here.
This includes any
siblings who are
already studying
in the UK.
RCM students
should answer
“no” to this
question.
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You should
answer “yes” if a
parent or
someone else will
be travelling to
the UK with you
to help you settle
in.
If you will be
living with a
family member
you should
indicate that
here. If you listed
the family
member in the
previous section,
their name will
automatically
appear. If you
are not staying
with family, just
click “save and
continue”.
If you have
accommodation
arrangements in
place, add the
details here. It is ok
to say no if you
don’t.
If you have a room
booked at Prince
Consort Village, the
full address is:
Prince Consort
Village, 230
Goldhawk Road,
London, W12 9PL
Still looking for accommodation and need help with where to look?
Contact our Student Services team for advice and support on
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Use this section if
you are going to
be staying
somewhere else
(e.g. a hotel)
before moving into
your main
accommodation.
Provide details
of any visits to
the UK during
the last 10
years, including
short visits for
tourism.
If your most
recent visit was
for your
entrance
audition, select
“other reason”
and add this
information in
the box that
will appear
below.
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If you previously
studied in the UK
and paid the
Immigration
Heath Surcharge
(IHS) you can
answer “no” to
the question
about payment.
Note that if you
were required to
pay for treatment
and NHS
records show
that you have a
debt of £500 or
more, your visa
application will
be refused.
If you answer yes
to this question,
you will be
asked to give
details of the
treatment you
received.
Answer “yes” if
you have
previously lived in
the UK and made
an application for
a further visa
inside the UK.
This does not
refer to
applications for
visas made
outside the UK.
If you answer “yes”, you will be asked to give details. If you
have applied for leave to remain on more than one
occasion, please give details of your most recent application.
If you had a problem with the application (e.g. if it was
initially refused and then the decision was overturned) there is
the opportunity to provide an explanation later in the form.
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You may have
an NI number if
you have
previously
worked in the
UK. This is not
the same as a
National Health
Service (NHS)
number.
You will now be
asked to list any
visits to certain
specific
countries.
The Schengen
area refers to a
group of 26
European
countries who
have abolished
passport controls
between their
borders. You
can find a list of
these countries
at
https://www.sc
hengenvisainfo.c
om/schengen-
visa-countries-
list/
Finally you will
be asked to list
visits to any other
countries.
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It is important to
declare any visa
refusals (inside
or outside the
UK) or other
immigration
problems, even
if the decision
was
subsequently
overturned. You
will have the
opportunity to
provide an
explanation on
the next page.
You must then
provide details of
any visa refusals
or other
immigration
problems that
occurred related
to another
country.
It is very important
to be truthful in this
section, as the
information can be
checked against
police records. If
you do not declare
an offence and it is
discovered, your
visa application
will be refused.
The next screen will
allow you to
provide an
explanation. You
must include
“spent” convictions
(i.e. convictions
which can normally
effectively be
ignored after a
specified period
under the
Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act
1974).
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If you have
worked for
one of these
types of
organisation
you must
declare it.
This includes if
you were
required to
complete
compulsory
national
service in your
country’s
armed forces.
The RCM is
your
sponsoring
institution for
your Tier 4
visa. You can
find this
information on
your CAS
statement.
Select
“Higher
education
institution.”
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The RCM
only has one
site, so
answer “yes”.
Answer “yes”
unless you are
joining the
RCM’s doctoral
programme or
are an
exchange
student. Your
UCAS ID
number will be
on your CAS
statement.
The answer
to this
question is
“no” for all
the RCM’s
courses.
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If RCM students have their visa applications refused, it is almost always due to errors in meeting the Tier 4 maintenance requirements. Fill out the following questions very carefully and always check that your financial
documentation meets the rules in the UKVI Tier 4 Policy Guidance.
Only answer “yes”
to this question if
your financial
sponsor meets the
official definition.
A private donor
cannot be
considered an
official financial
sponsor.
You should answer
“yes” if you are
receiving an RCM
Scholarship, which
will be confirmed
on your CAS.
For other sponsors
you will need to
submit an original
award letter.
Unless your sponsor
if funding all of
your tuition fees
and all of your
living costs, you
should choose the
bottom option.
If some or all of your
funds are in your
parent(s) bank
account, select “no”
and extra questions
will appear for you
to provide details.
If you are using any other form of evidence instead of, or as well as, a bank account (e.g. US
Stafford loan letter or scholarship letter), select “no”. You will have the chance to enter more
information on your financial documents in the “Documents” section of the form.
If you are using a joint account or an account in your parent(s)’ name, the account holder must
provide an original letter confirming their permission to use the money. Bank accounts belonging
to other family members are not accepted.
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Copy this
information
exactly as
shown on your
CAS statement.
All students
starting new
courses this year
will have a start
date of 16
September
2019. If you are
extending your
visa to continue
on the same
course, use the
start date shown
on your CAS.
Always select
“no”. Prince
Consort Village is
managed by
Campus Living
Villages and
payments are not
made directly to
the RCM,
therefore they
cannot be
counted here.
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You should now check your answers so far before going onto the next section.
You only need to
write something
here if you wish
to provide further
details about one
of your answers.
Copy this
information from
your CAS
statement.
You should also
include any RCM
scholarship that
has already been
deducted from
your tuition fees
here. If you make
a payment
towards your
tuition fees before
applying, make
sure you include
the information in
your CAS Request
so that our
International staff
can confirm it on
your CAS.
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Low risk nationals Certain countries have been classified by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) as ‘low risk’, which means applicants from these countries are subject to different documentary requirements when applying for a Tier 4 visa. This classification is sometimes referred to as the ‘differentiation arrangements’. If you are a national of one of these countries, you will be asked at this point whether you wish to apply under the differentiation arrangements and we recommend that you say “yes”. Students from low risk countries are required to submit less documentary evidence than students from other countries. For example, they do not have to supply bank statements or certificates at the time of application. However, these students should still prepare these documents as normal and have them available to send in if requested, as UKVI carries out spot checks.
Documents You must not submit your online application until you have prepared your supporting documents. You must be able to prove that you meet the requirements on the date you apply (not the date of your appointment).
You must indicate the
name of the bank
where your funds for
living costs are held. If
you are using accounts
from more than one
bank, you can add
another institution on
the next page.
If you are funding your
studies with a US
Stafford Loan, put this
as the financial
institution and select
the third option.
If you have a
scholarship that covers
ALL of your tuition fees
AND all your
maintenance, write
“N/A fully sponsored”
and select the third
option.
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Don’t forget that if you were required to have a tuberculosis test you also need to
submit your test certificate. It will not show up in the list!
If you are using
more than one
form of financial
evidence, you can
add the details
here.
The form will generate a
list of the documents you
must send in. Check this
carefully. If something is
not listed that you were
expecting, there may be
an error in that section of
the application.
You still can make
changes by clicking
“show and edit answers”
at the bottom of the page.
Click each box to confirm
you have the documents.
If you are a low-risk
national and not required
to send some documents
due to the differentiation
arrangements, you will be
asked to declare this on
this page.
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DOCUMENT CHECKLIST Have you prepared…?
Passport Current UK visa or BRP card (if applicable) Academic qualification used for admission to your course as listed on your CAS (original certificate,
with certified translation if the original is not in English). Financial evidence Letter of permission from your parents if you are under 18, plus evidence of your relationship such as
a birth certificate Up to date Police Registration Certificate (if you have previously lived in the UK and were required
to register with the Police) Tuberculosis test certificate (if required for your country of residence)
Check your financial evidence If you are using a bank statement as your financial evidence, check that:
The account holds cash funds and there are no restrictions on withdrawing the money (shares, bonds, credit cards and pension funds are not permitted, nor are family business accounts)
The letter is printed on the bank’s headed paper If you are using electronic printouts, they are stamped on every page by the bank OR accompanied
by a letter from the bank confirming they are genuine The statement shows the account holder(s)’ legal name(s) The statement shows the account number and the financial institution’s name and logo The statement was issued no more than 31 days before the date of application The statement shows you have held the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days You enclose a certified translation if your statement is not in English
If you are using a bank letter, check that:
The account holds cash funds and there are no restrictions on withdrawing the money (shares, bonds, credit cards and pension funds are not permitted, nor are family business accounts)
The letter is printed on the bank’s headed paper The letter shows the account holder(s) legal name(s) The letter shows the account number and the financial institution’s name and logo The letter was issued no more than 31 days before the date of application The letter shows you have held the required amount of funds for at least 28 consecutive days (the
letter must state that the funds have been held “from X date to Y date”: it is NOT sufficient to simply state the amount of funds in the account on the date of issue)
You enclose a certified translation if your letter is not in English If you are using a bank account in your parent(s) or guardian(s)’ name, ensure you enclose:
Evidence of your relationship (e.g. birth or adoption certificate), with a certified translation if the original is not in English
Letter from your parents confirming they give you permission to use the money for your studies
Keep photocopies of all documentation you submit. You may need to rely on these if there is a problem with your application.
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We strongly encourage you to get your application checked by one of our international team. Please e-mail a pdf of your answers to [email protected].
Do not continue past this point until you have thoroughly checked your answers and documents.
This is the last opportunity to make changes. After this point your answers will be locked.
This is a legal
declaration that all
the information in
this form is correct
to the best of your
knowledge, and
that you hold all
the required
documents (even if
you are a “low-risk
national”). If
anything is
subsequently
proven to be false,
your application
could be refused.
Click here to
download a pdf
document
showing your
answers.
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PAYING THE IMMIGRATION HEALTH SURCHARGE
We recommend that you print off the payment confirmation with your IHS reference number for your records.
PAYING FOR YOUR VISA APPLICATION In most counties you will now be taken through to the online application payment service. There are a few countries where this is not available, in which case you will pay your application fee on the date you attend your appointment at the Visa Application Centre. UKVI’s normal service standard for processing applications made outside the UK is 15 working days. However, there may be quicker priority services available at your local Visa Application Centre. Check whether these are offered and make sure you pay the correct fee. Once you have made your payment, you will be able to print your visa application. We suggest that you print two copies: one to take to your appointment and one to keep for reference.
BOOKING YOUR APPOINTMENT AT THE VISA APPLICATION CENTRE You should now be taken through to the booking system to make your appointment at your closest Visa Application Centre. On the day of your appointment, you will need to take along a print-out of your application and all of your supporting documents. These must be originals, not photocopies. You will have your “biometrics” taken (i.e. a digital photo and your fingerprints). You may also be asked to undertake a short interview via video-link with a member of UKVI staff in the UK. This will be in English and you will be asked questions about your course and where you plan to live in the UK, so make sure you know this information.
You will now be
taken through to
the webpage to
pay the IHS.
Note that the
charge is
calculated on the
length of leave
you will be
granted, not the
course duration.
You can find more
information at
https://www.gov
.uk/healthcare-
immigration-
application
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BRP COLLECTION Your visa will take the form of a “Biometric Residence Permit” (BRP), which is a plastic card the size of a credit card. These can only be printed in the UK, so initially you will be given an Entry Clearance sticker in your passport. This will be valid for 30 days to allow you to travel to the UK. Once you arrive, you will need to collect your BRP from the designated Post Office within 10 days. When your visa is granted your decision letter will tell you when and where your BRP will be ready for collection. Your BRP will either be delivered to the nearest Post Office branch to the RCM (on Kensington High Street) or the nearest branch to your accommodation, depending on the post code you provide. The RCM is not an Alternative Collection Location and does not have an ACL code. Applicants under the age of 18 should note that they are not permitted to collect their BRP without a responsible adult. If one of your parents will be travelling to the UK with you to help you settle in, you can nominate them to collect your BRP for you. You need to nominate them at least a week before you plan to collect your BRP, using the form at https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/collect. If you are travelling to the UK alone, please contact [email protected] and we will arrange permission for one of our staff to attend the Post Office with you. This normally takes 5 working days so please give us plenty of notice. If you need us to provide this service, it is helpful if you can arrange to arrive a few working days before the first day of term, as our staff have limited availability to accompany you during the first few days of Induction Week.