Information to help you through the immigration and visa application process
If you are applying from outside the UK, you can apply online for a Tier 4 (General) student visa. This category is for students coming to the UK for post-16 education with an unconditional offer of a place on a course with a licensed Tier 4 sponsor.
You must ensure you apply with enough time to arrive in the UK before your course begins and be available to attend the International Welcome and Orientation Programme for all new international and EU students.
Please note that you must not make your Tier 4 visa application more than three months before the start of your course, before you are issued with a CAS from the International Compliance Team, or before you meet the other immigration requirements and have all of the required ORIGINAL supporting documents in your possession.
You will usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks; however, some countries offer a priority visa service for an additional fee. You will need to check your visa application centre website for information on available priority services in your country: www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre.
In most cases, you must complete the Tier 4 (General) student application form online using the link below. You must first set up an account online and complete the application form in English. You can start the process via the link below:
https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier4
You should enter the name of the country in which you are making your application. You must then confirm that you are able to attend an appointment at one of the visa application centres listed. You will then be invited to begin the online application process.
If you require any assistance in the process, please contact the International Student Advisor on International@tees.ac.uk.
Alternatively, you can contact UKVI and receive a reply within 24 hours in a range of languages via their International Enquiry Service. For details visit www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-outside-uk . Please note that British Embassies and Consulates cannot answer visa questions.
You must show that you have money for living costs for each month (£1015.00 per month) of your course up to a maximum of 9 months. The total living costs you must demonstrate should be based on the course dates listed on your new CAS, and be up to a maximum of 9 months (£9135.00). You must also show any unpaid course tuition fees listed on your new CAS for the required period and in the required format.
If you are permitted to bring dependants with you to the UK, each dependant must show that they have £680.00 for each month of immigration permission you have been granted (if your dependants are applying after you have received your permission) or will be granted (if your dependants are applying at the same time as you). This is up to a maximum of 9 months (£6120.00). If you are unsure if you can include a dependant in your application, please contact International@tees.ac.uk.
Please note: If you are using a personal bank or building society statement, this money will need to have been held in your bank account for a consecutive 28 day period on the date of your application. The evidence that you provide must be dated within 31 days of the date of your application.
Additional Information
You can provide evidence that you have enough money to cover your living costs and tuition fees in the following ways:
Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards and pension funds are NOT acceptable.
If you want to use a joint account as proof of your money, you must be named on the account along with one or more other person, except where you are using a joint account in the name of your parents or legal guardians.
The money you show us must be for your use for studying and living in the UK. The full amount of this money, held within the required format, must continue to be available to you after your application is made, except for any money you have to pay for course fees and living costs. For example, you should retain the full amount of money you have shown in your bank account, minus the balance you have paid for your course fees.Your personal bank statement must show:
Ad hoc bank statements printed on the bank’s letterhead are acceptable as evidence (this excludes mini-statements from cash points).
If you wish to submit electronic bank statements these must contain all of the details listed above. In addition, you will need to provide a supporting letter from your bank on company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements provided.
Alternatively an electronic bank statement bearing the official stamp of the bank in question will be accepted. This stamp must appear on every page of the statement.
Where your funds are in a currency other than pound sterling, the amount considered will be based on the exchange rate for the relevant currency on the date of application published on www.oanda.com. You should print out a currency conversion as at the date you submit your application using the lowest balance held within the nominated 28-day period.
Using funds help in a parent(s) / legal guardian(s) account
If you are using cash funds in the bank, you can use money held in an account owned by you or your parents. If you are using funds held by your parents, you will need to show that you are related to them and must provide one of the following:
If you are relying on money held by your parents(s)/legal guardian(s), you must also show that your parent(s)/legal guardian have given their permission for you to use this money. You must provide: a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian(s). The letter must confirm:
Using a loan letter
If you are going to use a loan letter, the loan letter must be from a regulated financial institution and must be dated no more than 6 months before the date of your application. The letter must be the original and must show:
The financial institution must be regulated by either the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulatory Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, by the home regulator (the official regulatory body for the country the financial institution is in and where the money is held) for the purpose of student loans.
You cannot use a loan held in the name of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) as evidence of money held by you.
There must be no conditions placed on the release of loan funds to you other than your Tier 4 application being successful.
If you are applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to you before you travel to the UK, with only two exceptions:
Where your funds are in a currency other than pound sterling, the amount considered will be based on the exchange rate for the relevant currency on the date of application published on http://www.oanda.com.
Using a letter to prove Official Financial Sponsorship
If you are being given Official Financial Sponsorship, you must provide a letter of confirmation from your Official Financial Sponsor on official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial sponsor which must have the official stamp of that organisation on it.
You can receive official financial sponsorship from Her Majesty’s Government, your home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or UK independent school. Your official financial sponsor must have the funds to support you financially whilst you are studying in the UK and they must have the capacity to move, or have experience of moving, funds across international borders.
The letter of confirmation from your Official Financial Sponsor should be on official letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial sponsor that must have the official stamp of that organisation on it. The letter must show:
If you are being given Official Financial Sponsorship that will cover all of your fees and living costs, you will not be required to submit bank statements to evidence maintenance funds.
If your financial sponsor is only covering some of your course fees or living costs, you must show that you have the rest of the money needed.
Full details can be found using the links below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-dependants-of-uk-visa-applicants-tiers-1-2-4-5