Online Tier 2 General example application form

switching from Tier 4 to Tier 2 inside the UK The online Tier 2 General application form for applying within the UK is accessible from: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier2-general (scroll to the bottom and click on the green ‘Apply now’ button) You can save your application as you go through, however it is a good idea to have all information to hand before you complete your application. You must provide all information required by the form.

Please remember the example below is just to give you an idea of what to expect when

completing the form. You must ensure you complete your application with all details relevant

to your circumstances. The form is intelligent so the questions will alter depending on the

answers you provide; it is very likely that you may have some slightly different questions

than appear in the example below.

1. Creating your application On the opening screen (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier2-general) you will need to scroll to the bottom and click on the green ‘Apply now’ button:

You will then need to click that you are currently in the UK, then save and continue. Answer the question about Legal Representatives (if you are getting help and advice from an Adviser in The Hub you can answer ‘no’ to this question). Then enter your email address and create a password. The next screen you will see is the one below. To start completing the application form click on the green ‘Answer questions about this person’ button. If you have any dependants who are with you in the UK and applying for a Tier 2 Dependant visa at the same time you can click on the blue hyperlink to add their details to the application. After completing each page click on ‘save and continue’.

Click here to begin

your visa application

2. Personal Details

Please complete your personal details. This information is fairly straightforward but must be the same as is shown on your passport. Please read all of the questions carefully and answer fully and accurately. If you leave relevant information out then your visa may be refused. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form. Once you have completed your details please click on the green ‘Save and Continue’ button.

Answer questions

here about

yourself

Add details here of any

dependants applying for a

Tier 2 Dependant visa

with you in the UK

You can save your answers, exit

the application and return later

by clicking on ‘Return to this

application later’. You can chose

to have the link to your

application form emailed to you.

We recommend that you save

the form frequently as it will log

you out if it is inactive for a

certain amount of time.

3. Contact details

Please complete your contact details. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form.

4. Gender and relationship status Please answer the questions on your gender and relationship status.

5. Nationality, date and country of birth Please answer the questions on your nationality, date and country of birth. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form.

6. Passport details Answer if you have your passport or not and if yes, then please complete your passport details. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form.

7. Visa Details Next, you must select the type of visa you currently have. If you are switching to Tier 2 from anything other than a Tier 4 General visa, please speak to an Adviser in The Hub first.

You then need to input the date that your visa is valid from and the date that it is valid until. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form.

8. Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) If you have a biometric residence permit (a visa card rather than a sticker in your passport) you need to answer yes and then enter the BRP number (the number in the top right corner of the card on the same side as your photo).

If your current visa is a sticker in your passport then you should answer ‘No, I did not

have a biometric residence permit for my most recent leave’. The below is just an example application. You must fill in all of your own details on the form.

BRP number

9. National Insurance number Your National Insurance Number (or NINO) is your own personal account number and makes sure that you pay the correct amount of tax and National Insurance contributions. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system. You will only have a NINO if you have specifically applied for one. If you have one it should have 2 letters, then 6 numbers then a final letter as in the example on the application form below. If you do not have a NINO please tick the box underneath the question.

10. Your qualification

Select which qualification you have been awarded.

Select what evidence of this qualification you will be submitting with your visa application. If you have got your degree certificate already then you need to select this option and submit it with your visa application. If you have only just been awarded the qualification and do not yet have the certificate, or you are switching on the basis of having completed 12 months or more of a PhD then select ‘Official transcript or letter’. You will need to obtain an ‘academic reference letter’ from MAP or an International Student Adviser in The Hub. This will confirm what degree you have been awarded and when you were awarded it and that it was taught in English.

11. Official financial sponsorship

If you are switching into Tier

2 on the basis of having

completed 12 months or

more of a PhD then you

need to select this option.

If you are switching into Tier 2 on

the basis of having completed 12

months or more of a PhD then you

need to select this option and

obtain an academic reference

letter from an Adviser in The Hub.

12. Public funds

Public funds means money paid by the UK government in the form of welfare benefits. International students on a Tier 4 visa are not permitted to claim public funds.

13. Criminal / Civil Offences, War Crimes and Terrorist Activities You should answer all the following questions truthfully and to the best of your ability. If you are unsure about anything it is better to include information here rather than leave it out. Refusals based on deception can be very hard to challenge.

If you have been financially

sponsored by a government

or international scholarship

agency then you need to

answer ‘yes’ to this

question and must provide

written consent from your

sponsor that they agree to

your Tier 2 visa application.

If you have been sponsored

by your family or used your

own funds you should

answer ‘no’.

14. Sponsor details

Your employer will need to

provide you with this number.

If your employer is a

University you should

select the first

option.

15. Certificate of Sponsorship

Your employer will need

to provide you with this

number. It is unique to

you. Copy and paste it

if it has been sent to

you electronically

rather than typing it

manually, to avoid any

errors.

You will need to check this

with your employer.

You will need to check these

details with your employer

so that you input the exact

information that is on your

Certificate of Sponsorship.

To check if your salary offer

meets the required

minimum for the job you will

be doing you need to consult

the Codes of Practice.

To check if your job is on the

shortage occupation list click

here. You can also check

with your employer.

XXX

X

Now check your answers carefully!

If you have made mistakes or want to add further information you should do this now before your answers are locked and cannot be changed. Then scroll to the bottom and click on ‘next’.

If your CoS is issued for more

than 3 years the cost of visa

application is significantly higher

(currently £1328 as opposed to

£664 from within the UK – April

2016)

16. Documents The next page is the list of documents you must provide with your visa application form. Tick each box to indicate that you are including these documents. The below is just an example application. The list of documents on your application form may be slightly different.

There are 4 ways to apply: Standard (postal, usually takes 6-8 weeks), Priority service (takes 10 working days), Premium service (in person, decision on the day of your appointment) or Super Premium service (decision within 24 hours). Standard is the cheapest and Super Premium the most expensive. If you apply using the Standard service you need to ensure your documents are received by the Home Office within 15 working days of the date your submit your visa application form online. If you want to go

Application form is now

complete – all questions have

been answered.

This is the academic

reference letter which you

can request on MAP or

from an International

Student Adviser in The

Hub. This is not a normal

academic reference from

your tutor and must

contain specific

information.

in person you can book your appointment when you get to the payment page of your application form.

17. Declaration

We advise you to read this declaration very carefully as it is a legal agreement.

18. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) You need to pay the IHS as part of your visa application. This is a new charge which nearly all applicants applying for a visa of more than 6 months need to pay. For Tier 2 applications this requires an upfront payment of £200 per year that your visa will be issued for. If you have dependants they will also need to pay this. If you have not

already made this payment, click on ‘I don’t have an IHS reference number’ then click on the green ‘Go to IHS website’ button. You will be redirected to the IHS website where you can make the payment by debit or credit card. You can then click to go back to your visa application.

19. Payment

Select the service you want.

If you want to make your visa application by post you should select Standard service and then input your card details to make your payment. If you want to apply in person, select Premium service and then chose which Premium Service Centre you want to attend.

Once you go to the IHS

website you can’t make

any changes to your

application so double

check it all before

clicking on the green

button.

You will then be shown which dates are available for appointments in the next few weeks. Chose the date and then the time at which you want to attend, then make your payment.

After you have made your payment remember to:

Save a copy of your visa application form for your records (as you may not be able to access it later)

Print the document checklist

Get all of your original documents together and take a photocopy of them for your records.

If you are applying by post put all your documents into an envelope together with the document checklist you have printed.

If applying by post send your documents by recorded delivery to the address on the document checklist and keep the receipt. Your employer may need to see this as evidence that you have made the visa application. You can also show them the document checklist as evidence.

Biometrics You will be sent a letter a few weeks after making your visa application asking you to enrol your biometrics (fingerprints and a scan of your face). You do not need to do this until you receive the letter. You can enrol your biometrics at many Post Offices around the UK. Please note there is a £19.20 charge for enrolling your biometrics.

Please contact an Adviser in The Hub if you are unsure about any of the information above: 0121 204 4567 or issu@aston.ac.uk