Guide To Apply Tier 4 Visa

Finance
Personal
Immigration
UK
EU
International
Undergraduate
Postgraduate
Applying for Tier 4 (General)

Student immigration permission
Advice and Counselling Service
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk
About the Advice and

Counselling Service
The Advice and Counselling Service offers
a free and confidential service to all QMUL
students,including those from Barts and The
London, QMULs School of Medicine and Dentistry.
You can view our confidentiality policy on our
website: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/procedures
Our Welfare Advisers

In this guide we sometimes advise you to contact
a Welfare Adviser for further guidance. Welfare
Advisers in the Advice and Counselling Service
have specialist training to offer you professional
advice on a range of financial, practical and legal
issues. This includes:
financial support (loans, grants, bursaries, etc)
tuition fee status
planning and managing a budget
How to contact a Welfare Adviser

You can see a Welfare Adviser in person during one
of our same day appointments (during term time
only), or at a pre-booked appointment, or you can
email questions via our website. If you need to
speak to a Welfare Adviser but you are unable to
come to the the Mile End campus, we can normally
offer a telephone appointment. Appointments are
one to one and confidential.
More information about how an adviser can help
you, and how our appointments work, is available at
http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/services/advice/
index.html
For more information on how to contact us to book
an appointment, our opening hours, and the times
of our same day appointments, visit www.welfare.
qmul.ac.uk/contact
Also see our AZ directory of support services
for information on how to contact other support
departments at QMUL, and external organisations
which can also offer you support.
cutting costs
hardship funds
dealing with debt
immigration law
international student issues
financial support for student parents
(childcare costs, etc)
postgraduate funding
welfare benefits, including disability benefits
housing rights and council tax
The Welfare Advisers role is to offer you advice
about your individual situation, explaining your
rights, and any options and solutions available
to you. You can then choose what you want to
do. If your situation is complex, a Welfare Adviser
can advocate on your behalf where appropriate,
for example, appealing against an incorrect
assessment of Student Finance or a welfare
benefit.
You can get advice at any time during your course,
as well as before you start at QMUL.
Disclaimer
Law, regulations and policies can change quickly so
make sure that you are using the most up-to-date
version of this guidance. Check the Advice and
Counselling Service website for regular updates.
The information in this guide is given in good
faith and has been carefully checked. QMUL,
however, accepts no legal responsibility for its
accuracy.
Regulation of Immigration Advice

The OISC (Office of the Immigration Services
Commissioner) is an independent organisation
that monitors immigration advice and services.
Welfare Advisers at QMUL are regulated under OISC
guidelines to give immigration advice. We have to
attend regular training to do this. If you ever need to
complain about the immigration advice you receive,
the Advice and Counselling Service has a complaints
procedure. You can find this on our website at
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/procedures
Alternatively, you can complain directly to the
OISC. Their complaints form is on the website at
www.oisc.gov.uk
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
Contents
Introduction
Making a successful immigration application
What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?
Technical terms
Can I apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?
Applications made to British visa centres and sections (outside the UK)
Extension applications (inside the UK)
Previous studies in the UK
10
Obtaining a CAS
12
New students
12
Existing students
12
Check your CAS statement carefully:
13
Forms, application fees and where to apply
14
The immigration health surcharge
14
15
17
How much money do I need to show?
22
Maintenance
22
Tuition fees
25
I still need to show some money for my tuition fees and/or maintenance
26
What else should I submit with my application?
30
Evidence of your qualifications
30
What is the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)?
30
Parental permission for students who are 16 or 17 years old
32
What can I do if my documents (such as my ATAS certificate or CAS) are not ready before my
immigration permission expires?
32
Low risk nationals
Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Last revised 10 April 2015
36
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Do I actually need to have this evidence?
36
Should I submit this evidence anyway?
36
What about the immigration application form?
36
Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan (ROC) passport holders
37
Application checklist
38
For applicants outside the UK
38
For applicants in the UK
38
All applicants
38
Keeping copies of your documents
39
Partners and Children
40
Babies born in the UK
40
Further information
41
After your immigration application has been decided
42
If you submitted your application to a British visa section or section outside the UK
42
If you submit your application to the Home Office in the UK
43
Is your immigration permission correct?
44
Registering with the Police
46
What to do if things go wrong
48
Problems with immigration applications made outside the UK
48
Problems with immigration applications made in the UK
50
Where can I get further information and assistance?

Contact the Advice and Counselling Service
58
Information provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)
58
Other regulated immigration advisers
59
Appendix 1: Worked example showing funds in multiple bank accounts
58
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Introduction
Making a successful immigration application
The UK immigration system for students has been and is going through a period of considerable
change. Between March 2009 and July 2013, there have been more than 25 changes to the
immigration rules for adult students. Thats an average of one change every 55 days. This
demonstrates how important it is to make sure that you are using the latest guidance when you
make an immigration application. You may find that a document, which you used in a previous
application, is no longer acceptable. Dont get caught out make sure you use the most up
to date guidance when making an immigration application.
Warning: When making an immigration application, do not take advice from your
friends or other people who are not regulated to offer immigration advice. They
could give you bad advice, which could result in your immigration application being
refused. Every immigration application is different as everyones circumstances are
different. Do not assume that your application will be the same as your friends because you think
your situation is similar to theirs.
This Advice Guide
The Welfare Advisers at the Advice and Counselling Service have written this advice guide to help
you make a successful immigration application: if you read it carefully, you should be able to prepare
your application so that it meets the immigration rules. The first half of this advice guide will help
you prepare your application, and the second half explains what happens after you submit your
application, and what to do if anything goes wrong.
Video guidance
We have also created a number of video guides that explain the requirements, show you how to
prepare your supporting documents and how to complete your application form. The videos provide
an overview, but you will still need to refer to this guide for the details.
To access the videos, visit our website:
http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/permission/index.html
If your situation is unusually complicated or if something has gone wrong, you may need to seek
immigration advice. See the section in this guide Where can I get further information and
assistance?
What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?

Tier 4 is part of the Points Based immigration system. The Home Office administers the system.
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
To obtain immigration permission to come to or stay in the UK as a Tier 4 (General) student, you
must score a total of 40 points:
You can get 30 points for a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a
Licensed Sponsor
You can get 10 points for having a specified amount of money available to you
The points based system is very rigid which has the advantage that, if you follow the rules carefully
and provide all the correct documents, you can be quite sure that your application will be successful.
The disadvantage is that if you make a mistake, the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker who
decides your application is normally required to refuse your application, even if it is a very small
mistake.
It is unlikely that you will be able to challenge a decision to refuse your immigration application if you
have made a mistake. Even if you are able to challenge a decision, this can cost money and take many
months.
For these reasons, it is very important that you make sure that you complete your application form
correctly and submit all the required documents in the specified format within the relevant
timeframe.
If you follow this guide carefully, you should be able to make a successful application.
Technical terms
There are some technical terms associated with the Points Based System of immigration:
What is a CAS?
To apply for immigration permission under Tier 4 of the Points Based System, you will need a special
reference number called a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). This reference number is
linked to a record on a secure Home Office database, which contains the details QMUL has
provided about you and your programme of studies. When you make your immigration application,
the Entry Clearance Officer or Caseworker will use this reference number to retrieve the
information QMUL has provided about you and your programme of studies.
If you take up an unconditional offer on an eligible programme, QMUL will provide you with a CAS
reference number. QMUL will also provide you with a statement of all the information the university
has provided to the Home Office, but this is only to help you complete your application form and
you do not need to submit this statement with your immigration application.
Who will be my Licensed Sponsor?
Under Tier 4 of the Points Based System your immigration permission must be sponsored by an
education institution, which is licensed by the Home Office. In this context, sponsorship does not
mean financial sponsorship.
QMUL is licensed by the Home Office as a Highly Trusted Sponsor. This is the highest possible
rating.

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If you accept an unconditional offer on an eligible programme, QMUL will normally agree to be your
sponsor.

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Can I apply for Tier 4 (General)

Student immigration permission?
Even if you have a valid CAS and the specified amount of money (see later sections Obtaining a
CAS and How much money do I need to show?), there are some restrictions on if, when and
where you can apply.
To be able to apply for Tier 4 immigration permission at a British visa centre or section, you must
satisfy the following criteria:
If you are starting a new programme or resuming existing studies, you cannot apply for your
immigration permission more than three months before the start date or resumption date
of your studies.
You must be at least 16 years old.

To be able to apply for Tier 4 immigration permission in the UK, you must satisfy the following
criteria:
If you are starting a new programme or resuming existing studies (e.g. after a period out of
attendance), these must start within 28 days of the date that your current immigration
permission is curtailed or expires.
If you are starting a new programme, you cannot apply for your immigration permission
more than three months before the start date of your new programme.
If you are applying for an extension so that you can finish your current programme, QMUL
will not normally be able to issue you with a CAS more than six months before your current
immigration permission expires.
You must be at least 16 years old.
You must have last been granted immigration permission as one of the following:
o
Current categories:
Tier 4 (General) Student,

Tier 4 (Child) Student,
Tier 2 Migrant,
Withdrawn categories (if you applied for your current immigration permission
before the category was withdrawn):

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Tier 1 (Post-study Work) Migrant
Participant in the International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the

Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme),
Participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme,
Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist,
Prospective student
Student,
Student Nurse,
Student Re-sitting an Examination,
Student Writing-Up a Thesis,
Student Union Sabbatical Officer,
Work Permit Holder
Exceptions
If your last grant of leave was not one of the categories listed above then you must return to your
home country and apply for a Tier 4 visa from there. There are currently three exceptions to this:
1. 1. Some Syrian nationals
You must be a Syrian national who is normally resident in Syria, but who is currently resident in the
UK. You must have had immigration permission to be in the UK, or you must apply within 28 days
of your current visa expiring. If you are in this situation then you can apply for Tier 4 (General)
Student immigration permission from within the UK even if your last grant of leave was not in one of
the immigration categories listed above. You can also apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration
permission, even if this would cause you to go over the allowed number of years studying. See the
section Previous studies in the UK for more information. However, you still need to meet the
other Tier 4 requirements. This concession will end on 28 February 2016.
2. Some Libyan nationals
You must be a Libyan national who switched from Tier 4 to Discretionary Leave under a special
Home Office concession brought in on 20 July 2011, and who now wishes to switch back to Tier 4.
3. Some dependants of overseas diplomats
This is only possible in certain compelling circumstances: please see the guidance written by UKCISA
for further information.
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Immigration-/Making-a-Tier-4-General-applicationin-the-UK/Can-I-apply-in-the-UK/
You may also wish to contact a Welfare Adviser if you think this applies to you.
Has your previous immigration permission already expired?
Anyone who has overstayed their immigration permission by more than 28 days will usually have an
extension application refused, although there are a small number of exceptions to this rule. See the
section in this guide I have overstayed, what are my options?
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Previous studies in the UK

Number of years spent studying in the UK under Tier 4
You will not be eligible for immigration permission to study in the UK under Tier 4 if you have or
will have spent more than 5 years studying in the UK at degree level and above as a Tier 4 (General)
student or as a Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009).
Medicine and dentistry courses are exempt from this 5 year limit.
If you are applying for immigration permission to undertake a medicine or dentistry course, it
doesnt matter if you have or will spend more than five years studying in the UK. It is our
understanding that if you wish to make a future immigration application to study a course which is
not exempt, the time you have spent studying any exempt courses will count towards the 5 year
limit (sometimes called the five year cap). Please note, this is change of policy and will apply to all
applications made from January 2015.
It is our understanding that only the time you spend studying in the UK with Tier 4 or Student
immigration permission will be included in the five year limit. This means that time spent in the UK
before and after studying, granted by the Immigration Rules (e.g. if you are on a degree level
programme of studies you are usually allowed to enter the UK one month before your studies begin
and stay for four months afterwards) should not be counted in the five year limit. Time spent
outside the UK during your programme of study should also not be counted in the five year limit,
e.g. if you have to return home because you are re-sitting out of attendance. Keep evidence of your
travel in and out of the UK in case you need to prove that you were outside the UK for a period of
time.
The five year limit is extended to six years if you wish to study a course at Masters level and you
have successfully completed a degree level course in the UK where the standard course length was
at least 4 academic years (this includes courses with a year in industry or a year abroad).
If you take longer than expected to complete your course, for example because you need to retake
part of your course or do resits, and to do so would take you over the five year limit, you can only
extend your immigration permission if you had very compelling circumstances, such as injury,
disability, or other compelling reasons.
Students studying towards a Postgraduate Research Qualification (who have not already been
awarded a Postgraduate Research Qualification in the UK) are also exempt from the cap. However,
please note that if you have already completed a Postgraduate Research Qualification in the UK, you
can only apply for immigration permission to study another course (at any level and in any subject
area) if that course will not bring the total number of years you will have been in the UK as a Tier 4
(General) Student or Student (under the Immigration Rules before 31 March 2009) to more than 8
years. Postgraduate Research Qualifications include PhD and MRes qualifications, for a full list please
see Annex 6 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidanceon-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
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UKCISA have created a webpage and flowchart to help you calculate if an application for a further
period of study will be possible under the cap:
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Preparing--planning/Visas-and-immigration/Applyingfor-a-Tier-4-General-visa/Time-limit-cap-on-study/
For more detailed information on the five year limit, follow this link to refer to paragraphs 100-112
of the Home Office Tier 4 Policy Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidanceon-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
Progression of studies
Higher education institutions are required to check that new students studies are at a higher level
or complementary to any studies they have previously undertaken while in the UK with Student or
Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission.
If you have studied a programme while you were in the UK with Student or Tier 4 (General)
Student immigration permission which is at the same or higher level than your proposed studies at
QMUL, it may not be possible to issue you with a CAS.
You will be asked to provide information about any previous studies in the UK as part of the CAS
request process. If you do not inform QMUL of your previous studies, your immigration application
could be refused.
If you have any questions about the level of your programme at QMUL or any previous programmes
you have taken, contact the admissions team responsible for your application.

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Obtaining a CAS
New students
Once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer, the Admissions and Recruitment Office will
send you an e-mail, which explains how you can apply for your CAS reference number. There is no
fee for this.
The Home Office has rules about the required level of English language for a particular course. If you
have any questions about what level of English is required to get a CAS, contact the admissions team
dealing with your application.
During the CAS request process, you will be sent an email asking you to verify your CAS by logging
into the web portal. You should check the CAS statement carefully to make sure that all the
information the university has provided is correct, and none of the required information is missing. If
anything is incorrect or missing, you will be able to correct this, before your final CAS is issued.
Existing students
If you are part way through a programme at QMUL and you need to extend your immigration
permission, you can request a CAS by logging in to your MySIS profile: http://mysis.qmul.ac.uk/
You will find the form to request a new CAS under My Details.
In order to complete the form, you will need to provide a copy of the personal details page of your
current passport and a copy of your most recent visa sticker or biometric ID card (both sides).
There are photocopiers in the main library, which you can use to scan your documents onto a USB
memory stick.
A new CAS for existing students costs 20*.
If you have recently started your programme, you should be able to use the CAS which the
Admissions and Recruitment Office sent to you as long as it is still valid (a CAS expires after six
months and cannot be used more than once).
If anything has changed since you started your programme, you need to email casinfo@qmul.ac.uk to
ask for your CAS to be updated.
If you are applying for an extension of your immigration permission so that you can finish your
current programme, the university will not normally be able to issue you with a CAS until 6 months
before your current immigration permission expires.
*
25 from April 2015
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Your CAS will not be valid if:
you have already used it to make an immigration application (even if your application was
unsuccessful); or
it was issued more than six months ago; or
it was withdrawn by either the university or the Home Office

Warning: During busy periods, it can take QMUL between 10 and 15
working days to issue a CAS. Please request your CAS as early as possible.
Check your CAS statement carefully:

You should check that all the information in your CAS statement is correct. We recommend that
you pay particular attention to the following:
Check that your personal details (name, date of birth, nationality and passport number)
exactly match those in the passport you are planning to submit with your immigration
application.
Make sure you actually have any documents listed in the Evidence Used section, and that
the documents you have are original. This section must also detail how the university has
assessed your English language ability in all four areas, and that your course of study shows
academic progression.
What should I do if I notice that something in my CAS statement is incorrect or if

something has changed?
If you have already been issued a CAS and something changes, QMUL will need to amend your CAS.
If you pay any money to QMUL, such as your tuition fees, after your CAS has been issued, this will
not be automatically updated in your CAS.
If something needs to be changed in your CAS, you should email:
New students: cas-admissions@qmul.ac.uk
Existing students: casinfo@qmul.ac.uk

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Forms, application fees and where

to apply
The immigration health surcharge
From 06 April 2015 you may need to pay a health surcharge as part of your immigration
application to cover any NHS treatment you might have while you are in the UK.
Before you make your immigration application you must obtain an Immigration Health Surcharge
(IHS) reference number.
What you will need to pay will be based on the length of your studies. Here are some examples:
Course length/type
Pre-sessional English
0*
1 year masters degree
225
3 year undergraduate degree
525
4 year PhD
675
If you are applying outside of the UK, the website will quote the fee in a foreign currency. Please
note that we have observed that the exchange rates, which UKV&I are using appear to have 2-7% of
additional loading fees.
Some nationals (e.g. nationals of Australia and New Zeeland) are exempt from the health charge due
to reciprocal healthcare agreements. Even if you are exempt, you will still need to register on the
website and enter your details.
To register, visit: https://www.immigration-health-surcharge.service.gov.uk/payment/start
When you have completed the process, you will be issued with an Immigration Health Surcharge
(IHS) reference number. You should write this reference number on your online application
coversheet. If you are applying in North Korea, you should write this reference number on your
application form.
Except if you are applying for an extension of your immigration permission
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The form:
Unless you are applying in North Korea, you will
apply and pay for your immigration application
online. You will be offered three options under
the heading "Type of application". You should
choose:
Tier 4 (General) Student if you will

be self or family funded, otherwise
privately funded or funded by a student
loan;
Tier 4 (General) (Sponsored) Student if you are going to be fully funded by an "official
financial sponsor", which includes scholarships or bursaries provided by a university, the UK
government, your home government (though this does not include student loans), the
British Council or any international organisation or international company. This also includes
any scholarships or bursaries that are paid by or via QMUL University of London. If you are
only partially funded by an official financial sponsor you should not complete this type of
application: complete the Tier 4 (General) Student application instead;
Tier 4 (Scholarship) Student ONLY IF you are the holder of a Chevening Scholarship
or Fellowship, a British Marshall Scholarship, a Fulbright Scholarship or a Commonwealth
Scholarship and Fellowship Plan.
If you are applying in North Korea, you will need to complete a paper version of the VAF9 form and
Appendix 8.
You can access the forms (online and paper) by visiting the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/apply
Some of the wording used in the questions on the Visa4UK online application form can be confusing.
You can find detailed explanations of some of these questions in this guide to the online form:
http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/documents/leaflets/immigration/135544.pdf
The fee:
322 in the currency local to the visa centre or section
Additional charges:
There are a number of countries where there is an additional fee of 59. To check the exact
application fee for the country where you will be applying, please see the following link:
https://visa-fees.homeoffice.gov.uk/y

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Where to make your application

You can find which British visa centre or section you need to apply to by visiting the GOV.UK
website: https://www.gov.uk/find-a-visa-application-centre
You are normally required to apply to the centre or section where you are normally living.
Photographs
You must submit one UK passport sized photograph taken within the last six months. Check that
your photograph meets all of the Home Office requirements. You can find a summary of the
requirements here: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
Warning: Your application could be refused if your photographs do not meet the
requirements.
Passport or travel document

You will need to submit your current passport or travel document. Make sure that it has not
expired.
You will also need to submit any previous passports youve held unless they have been lost, stolen
or returned to the issuing authority.
Other documents
You may need to submit other documents with your application, such as your previous qualifications
or bank statements. All documents you submit must be originals (not photocopies faxes or printouts
from the internet), unless the Home Office policy guidance specifies otherwise. See the following
sections of this Advice Guide: How much money do I need to show? and What else should I
submit with my application?
Translations
If a document is not in either English or Welsh, you will also need to provide an English translation
of the document. Paragraph 17 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for
translations for students who are applying from outside the UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-applicationfor-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
Biometrics
You will need to attend a British visa centre or section to record your
biometric details. A scan of your fingerprints and a digital photograph of
your face will be taken. Your visa centre or section will give you
information on how and when you should do this.
Do you need TB
screening?
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Will I be required to attend an interview?

You are likely to be required to attend a video or telephone interview as part of your entry
clearance application. If this raises a doubt over whether your application is genuine, you may be
required to attend an interview with an Entry Clearance Office at the Visa Centre. The Entry
Clearance Officer may consider the following:
Your immigration history in the UK and other countries
Your education history, study and post-study plans
Your financial circumstances
QMUL and any official agents we use overseas
If the Entry Clearance Officer is not convinced that you are genuine, you may be refused entry
clearance. See the section of this Advice Guide called What to do if things go wrong.
Tuberculosis (TB) Screening
If you are travelling to the UK and a UK Visa Application Centre or Section in one of the countries
listed on this web page will process your application, you will need to show that you have been
tested for Tuberculosis:
https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/countries-where-you-need-a-tb-test-to-enter-the-uk
For more information about Tuberculosis testing, visit the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa
How long will my application take?
The UK Government aims to decide 90% of standard applications within 15 working days.
Depending on the post you apply to, there may also be the option of making a priority application
(within 5 working days) or a super priority application (within one working day).
You can find out how long it is currently taking the UK visa application centre or section you are
applying to, to decide applications on the following UK Visas & Immigration website:
https://visa-processingtimes.homeoffice.gov.uk/
The information on this website indicates the situation one month ago and may not represent the
current processing times. For example, from July onwards Visa Application Centres become
increasingly busy as students make their applications to start programmes in September.

If you are applying in the UK you should make your application using the online form on the UK
Visas & Immigration website. To access the form, visit, https://www.gov.uk/apply-tier-4-visa and then
select Start now. When you have completed your application, you will pay for your application
online. You will then be prompted to print out a cover sheet, which you will send with your
passport and supporting documents to the Home Office. The address is on the cover sheet.

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UKCISA have written guidance on applying using the Online application form, which you can read
by going to this link: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Immigration-/Making-a-Tier-4General-application-in-the-UK/Submitting-your-application
The fee:
439 for a postal application (The Home Office states that it usually takes 4 to 14 weeks to
decide an application plus additional time for postage and to register your biometric details.)
839 for an in person application (You will normally receive a decision on the same day, but
you will need to make an appointment in advance. You will normally receive your plastic
Biometric Immigration Document card with your new immigration permission in 3-5 days.)
Where to make your application

By post:
You should send your cover sheet, passport and supporting documents to the address on the cover
sheet.
We recommend that you send your application via Royal Mail Special Delivery so that you can
track your application and if it is lost or damaged, you will receive compensation.
In person:
If you are applying in person you will need to attend one of the Home Offices Premium Service
Centre. There are seven centres in the UK:
Belfast
Cardiff
Croydon (this is the closest to QMUL and is about an hour from the Mile End campus by
public transport) [Directions]
Glasgow
Liverpool
Sheffield
Solihull
You can try to book your appointment when you pay for your online application. Be aware that
during busy periods, appointments may not be available.
Deadline for posting your documents or attending your appointment
If you use the Tier 4 Student online application form, you must submit your online application form at
the very latest before midnight on the day your immigration permission expires. If you have
selected the standard service, you then have a further 15 working days to post your documents to
the Home Office. If you have selected the premium service, you must attend an appointment within
45 working days.
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Warning: if you use the Tier 4 Student online application form and you need to show
funds, you must have held your funds (see next section) for the 28 days before you
submit and pay for your application online.
If you are posting your supporting documents via Royal Mail, you must post them on or before the
15th working day after you submitted your online immigration application. If you are using a private
courier company, they must deliver your supporting documents to the Home Office on or before
the 15th working day after you submitted your online immigration application.
Photographs
You must submit two UK passport sized photograph taken within the last month. You can read a
summary of the requirements here: https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports
Warning: in the
UK, one of the most
common reasons
why applications are retuned as
invalid is because an applicants
photographs do not meet the
requirements.
You can obtain suitable photographs

from the universitys Copy Shop,
which is located on the Ground
Floor of the Temporary Building.
The charge is 5.
See the Copy Shops website for more information:
http://www.copyshop.qml.ac.uk/services/#10
Passport or travel document & UK Biometric Immigration Document cards

You will need to submit your current passport or travel document. Make sure that it has not
expired.
Make sure all the details (such as your given names and family names) are written correctly in your
passport. When QMUL issues you with any documents (such as your degree certificate and your
CAS) we will copy your name and other details exactly as they appear in your passport.
If you have renewed your passport since you were last granted immigration permission, you will also
need to provide your previous passport (unless it has been lost, stolen or returned to the issuing
authority).
If you have been issued with a United Kingdom Biometric Immigration Document, you will also need
to submit this with your immigration application.
Other documents
You may need to submit other documents with your immigration application, such as your
qualifications or bank statements. See the following sections of this Advice Guide: How much
money do I need to show? and What else should I submit with my application?.
All the documents you submit must be originals (not photocopies, faxes or printouts from the
internet).

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Translations
If a document is not in either English or Welsh, you will also need to provide an English translation
of the document. Paragraph 16 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for
translations for students who are applying in the UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
If you are making an immigration application in the UK, please note that a translated document you
have previously successfully used may not meet the Home Office requirements for applications made
in the UK. The translation requirements for applications made in the UK are not the same for
applications made overseas.
Submitting your application before you have enrolled
If you are moving between courses at QMUL you need to have submitted your online immigration
application before you can enrol for the new course. You then have 15 working days to post your
documents to the Home Office from the date of submitting your online application. You are advised
to take your required documents to enrolment, including a copy of the printed cover sheet from
your online application, before you post the required documents to the Home Office.
If for any reason you need to post your documents to the Home Office before you enrol, you must
take your passport and qualifications to the Student Enquiry Centre (Ground Floor, Queens
Building) so that they can take copies of your documents. If the Student Enquiry Centre have not
taken a copy of your documents and you are unable to provide them because they are at the Home
Office, you will not be able to fully enrol.
Biometrics
Before your immigration application is processed, you will need to register your biometric details (A
scan of your finger prints and digital photograph of your face).
If you post your immigration application, the Home Office will write to you to invite you to book an
appointment to register your biometric details. There are a number of places where you can choose
to go to register your biometrics details. You can register your biometric details at selected Post
Offices (currently Post Offices charge 19.20 for the service. You will need to pay by cash or debit
card: credit cards are not accepted). The letter inviting you to register your biometric details will
explain how to book your appointment and will give you details of the places where you can go. You
should normally receive this letter within 15 days from the date you submitted your application to
the Home Office. For more information about providing your biometric details at a Post Office, see:
http://www.postoffice.co.uk/counter-services/passport-identity/biometric-enrolment-foreignnationals
If you are submitting your application in person at a Premium Service Centre, your biometric details
will be recorded when you submit your application.
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Will I be required to attend an interview?

The Home Office may write to you and ask you to attend an interview. For more information about
interviews see the UKCISA website: http://bit.ly/ukviinterview
How long will my immigration application take?
If you make your application in person at a Premium Service Centre, you will normally receive a
decision on the same day. Your plastic Biometric Immigration Document will normally be posted to
you within three to five working days.
For postal applications, the Home Office expects to be able to process 98.5% of straightforward
applications within 8 weeks. Some applications can take longer, but this is unusual and the Home
Office should write to you if this happens. These processing times are from the date when the
Home Office receives your application to the date that they make a decision. It may take a few more
days for the notice of their decision, your supporting documents and your Biometric Immigration
Document to be posted to you.
During the summer, and before Christmas, the Home Office receives a very large number of
applications and it may take longer than normal for an application to be processed. If you are
applying in person, you may find that there are very few appointments available during these periods.
If your application takes longer than 8 weeks to be processed and you have not received anything in
writing explaining that it will take longer, you can contact the UK Visas and Immigration contact
centre on: 0300 123 2241*.
Unfortunately, the time it takes to process your immigration application is outside of QMULs
control, however if you need to travel urgently and your passport is at the Home Office, you can
contact the Advice and Counselling Service for advice.
This is a national rate number and you can use any call allowance included in your phone contract.

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How much money do I need to

show?
The amount of money you will need to show depends on how long your studies will be, if you have
recently been studying in the UK, and if you will be receiving official financial support, or a
scholarship.
Maintenance
Maintenance is the money you will need for your accommodation and other living expenses while
you are studying in the UK.
Reduced maintenance requirement
In some circumstances, you may be able to show a reduced amount of money for your maintenance
if you have an established presence in the UK.
Paragraph 14 of Appendix C of the Immigration Rules explains when a student will be considered to
have an established presence and can benefit from the reduced maintenance requirement:
14. An applicant will have an established presence studying in the UK if the applicant has
current entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain as a Tier 4 migrant, Student or as a
Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist and at the date of application:
(i) has finished a single course that was at least six months long within the applicant's last
period of entry clearance, leave to enter or leave to remain, or
(ii) is applying for continued study on a single course where the applicant has completed at
least six months of that course.
(iii) is applying for leave to remain as a Tier 4 (General) Student on the Doctorate Extension
Scheme
You will not have an established presence if:
Your current immigration permission is in another immigration category (E.g. Tier 1 Post
Study Work, or as a dependant); or
22
Your immigration permission has run out (E.g. because it has been cut-short or it has
expired); or
You did not complete your previous programme and you have not studied at least six
months of your new/current programme; or

welfare.qmul.ac.uk
You are re-sitting out of attendance and your previous immigration permission has run out
(E.g. because your immigration permission expired or you had Tier 4 Student immigration
and this was cut-short). If you are not sure if your Tier 4 Student immigration permission
has been cut-short, you should show the full amount of money for maintenance.
Length of programme
You will need to show that you have 1,020 for each remaining month of your programme up to a
maximum of nine months (or two months if you meet the reduced maintenance requirement).
You need to check your CAS statement for the start and end dates of your programme, to calculate
the remaining length. If your CAS states that your programme starts or finishes part way through a
month, you need to include the whole of that month when you calculate how long the remainder of
your programme is.
Depending on the remaining length of your programme on the day that you apply, you will need to
show:
Remaining length
of programme in
months
Full maintenance
requirement
Reduced maintenance
requirement
1,020
1,020
2,040
2,040
3,060
2,040*
4,080
2,040*
5,100
2,040*
6,120
2,040*
7,140
2,040*
8,160
2,040*
9,180
2,040*
10
9,180
2,040*
If you qualify for the reduced maintenance requirement and your programme is longer than two months, the
amount you need to show is capped at 2,040.
The amount you need to show is capped at 9,180.

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Things you can deduct from the amount you need to show for your maintenance
Money you have already paid to QMUL for your accommodation
If you will be living in QMUL halls of residences you can deduct up to a maximum of 1,020 of the
money paid to QMUL for accommodation for the year from the amount you need to show
towards your maintenance.
If you have paid more than 1,020 you can still only deduct 1,020 from the amount you need to
show for maintenance.
The amount you have paid should be shown in your CAS statement.
You can only use evidence that you have paid money for accommodation, if you have paid the
money to QMUL or the University of London. You cannot use money paid to other accommodation
providers.
Official financial sponsorship
If you will be receiving money for living expenses from any of the following:
The British Government
The government in your home country
The British Council
An international organisation
An international company the Home Office has previously stated that they regard this as
meaning a company with presence in more than one country. The Home Office will try and
verify this themselves e.g. by checking company stationery or websites
A university (including funds provided or administered by QMUL University of London)
An independent school
Then you can deduct the amount you will receive for the year from the amount you need to show
for maintenance.
If you will be receiving money for your living expenses from QMUL, this should be detailed in your
CAS statement.
If your living expenses will be paid directly to you, you will need to provide a letter from the
organisation as proof. Paragraph 199 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for the
letter:
Warning: If you are receiving or have received sponsorship in the last 12 months
from a government or an international scholarship agency which covers/covered
both your tuition fees and your living expenses, you must provide a letter from your
sponsor confirming that they give their consent for your immigration application. If you do not
provide this letter, your application will be refused.
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Tuition fees
You must be able to show that you have the money to pay for your tuition fees for the year. Your
CAS statement should show how much you must pay for the year.
Definition of the year
If your programme is one year or longer, the Home Office will assess your finances based on an
academic year. The academic year that the Home Office will use to assess your finances will depend
on your situation, when your CAS is issued:
For new students it will be the first year of your programme
If you are applying part way through an academic year then it is the current academic year
If you are applying between academic years (E.g. during summer holidays) then it is the next
academic year.
In this section we will refer to this as the year.

Things you can deduct from the amount you need to show for your tuition fees
Money you have already paid to QMUL for your tuition fees
If you have already paid money to QMUL for your tuition fees, this information should be included in
your CAS statement.
Your CAS statement will only detail money paid for the year (see above). It will not detail money
paid in previous years.
Note: If the amount you need to pay for tuition fees has been reduced (E.g. because you have a
Science and Engineering Scholarships or a discount for prompt payment), this may be shown as
money you have paid to the university. The reason this is shown in this way is because the Home
Office systems are not able to account for tuition fee reductions.
Official financial sponsorship
If you will be receiving money for your tuition fees from any of the following:
The British Government,
The government in your home country
The British Council
An international organisation
An international company the Home Office has previously stated that they regard this as
meaning a company with presence in more than one country. The Home Office will try and
verify this themselves e.g. by checking company stationery or websites
A university (including funds provided or administered by QMUL)
An independent school
You can deduct the amount you will receive for the year from the amount you need to show for
your tuition fees. Depending on how your sponsorship is arranged, your sponsorship may be
detailed in your CAS statement or you may need a letter from the organisation providing your
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sponsorship. Paragraph 199 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explains the requirements for the letter:
Study abroad (associate) students
If you are a study abroad student and your home institution is paying your tuition fees, your CAS
should state that the tuition fee payable by you is 0.00, in which case, you will not need to show
that you have any money for your tuition fees. If your home institution will also be paying for your
accommodation at QMUL, this should also be detailed in your CAS statement.
PhD students writing up
If you are a PhD student and you are applying for time to write up, there is no fee. On your
application form you will need to enter 0.00 as your course fees. If you are making your application
in the UK, you should select no to the question Have you or your parent(s)/legal guardian(s)
already paid any of your course fees? as you have no fees to pay.
I still need to show some money for my tuition fees and/or maintenance
Warning: one of the most common reasons for immigration applications
being refused is because an applicants financial evidence does not meet the
requirements of the Home Office policy guidance. Please read this section
very carefully to ensure you meet the financial requirements.
If you have not been able to deduct all of your tuition fees and maintenance (see above), then you
will need to show that you have enough money to cover the remaining amount.
Whose money can I show?
You can only show money held:
In your name (but this can be a joint account)
or in the name of:
Your parent(s) (you will need to include your birth certificate with your application)
Your adopted parent(s) (you will need to provide your adoption certificate with your
application)
Your legal guardian (you will need to provide a court document that confirms the
appointment of your legal guardian)
If you are from a country where birth certificates are not issued, the Home Office will accept
another type of official document such as a government-issued household register. They will not,
however, accept an affidavit, even one sworn before a court.
If you are using money held by your parent(s) or legal guardian, you will also need to provide a letter
from them confirming that they will allow you to use this money. Full details of the requirements for
this evidence can be found in paragraphs 208-210 of the Tier 4 policy guidance:
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How long must I have had this money?

You, your parent(s) or your legal guardian(s) will need to show that the required amount of money
has been held continuously for 28 days. This means that the account balance must not have
dropped below the required amount of money at any time during the 28 day period. The closing
balance (the last day of the 28 day period) must be within 31 days of the date you submit your
application.
If you submit evidence which covers more than 28 days, the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer
will only consider money held for the 28 days up to your closing balance. They will ignore any
balances before the 28-day period.
If you submit evidence from more than one account, the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer will
look at the combined total of all your accounts during the 28-day period before your closing balance.
If the closing balances for your accounts fall on different dates, the case worker will choose the date
of one of your closing balances and consider the combined total of all your accounts during the 28
day period up to that date. They will try to choose whichever closing balance date would allow you
to show that you have maintained the required amount of money for 28 days. They can only choose
a closing balance that is within 31 days of the date you submit your immigration application.
For more information about using multiple bank accounts, see the worked example in Appendix 1.
Declaring that money is available
When you make your immigration application, you will have to declare that the money you are
showing is genuinely available to you for your tuition fees and your living expenses and will remain
available to you (unless you use it to pay for your tuition fees or living expenses).
Warning: Do not make a false statement about the availability of your
money. For example: if the money you show belongs to someone else and
you have to give it back before your studies are complete, you would not
be able to make the above declaration without making a false statement.
If you make a false statement to the Home Office, your immigration application could be refused.
If your immigration application is successful, but the Home Office later finds out that you had
made a false statement, your immigration permission could be cancelled. If your immigration
application is refused or your immigration permission is cancelled because you have made a false
statement, any application you make for immigration permission to travel to the UK may
automatically be refused for 10 years.
Which documents can I use as evidence?
To make sure that your financial documents will be accepted, check the requirements in paragraph
200-210 of the Tier 4 policy guidance:
You can use any of the following documents as evidence of the money available to you, your parents,
adopted parents or legal guardian:
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A bank or building society statement (see sample statement on the next page)
A building society pass book
A letter from your bank confirming your funds have been held for 28 days
A letter from a regulated financial institution confirming that you have a loan that is provided
by the national government, the state or regional government or a government sponsored
student loan company, or that is part of an academic or educational loans scheme. (If you
have obtained a loan from a different source (such as from a bank) in order to finance your
studies then you must transfer the funds into your own bank account (or that of your
parents or legal guardian) and wait 28 days before using one of the other forms of evidence
listed above.)
Certificates of deposits
These are not listed in the Immigration Rules or policy guidance as acceptable, but the guidance the
Home Office issues to its staff states that a certificate can be accepted if it meets the following
requirements:
the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application
at least 28 days must have elapsed between the date of the deposit and the date of issue of
the certificate; and
there must be no wording on the document which indicates the funds are frozen or
otherwise inaccessible.
Banks outside the UKYou can use a statement from an account in a bank which is not in the UK.
The Home Office uses the currency converter on the Oanda website (http://www.oanda.com) to
look up the exchange rate on the date you submit your immigration application. If your account is
not in pounds sterling then you will need to check that, according to that conversion rate, your
account(s) show that you have held enough money for the 28 day period.
The Home Office has very strict requirements regarding the documents they will accept as evidence
of the money available to you. There are some financial institutions which do not cooperate with the
Home Office and the Home Office will not consider evidence from these financial institutions. A list
of these financial institutions can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-p
This list is frequently updated, so you may find that a document from a financial institution
that was previously accepted, may not be accepted when you make a new immigration
application.
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If you are using a bank statement or statements, make sure that it has the following
features:
statement
Mr J Smith
banks
name and
The date of the
30/06/2014
Your
A BANK
00-00-00 12345678
Your name or your parent/ legal
logo
Date
Type
Value
Balance
01/06
Opening Balance
05/06
09/06
Cash
DD Phone
-200.00
-48.20
2800.00
2751.80
Balances that show that you have
13/06
26/06
Mum and Dad

A shop
500.00
-120.00
3251.80
held the required amount of
-12.00
-57.00
3119.80
29/06
Cinema
Travel tickets
-42.00
30/06
B shop
Closing Balance
3020.80
3020.80
3000.00
guardians name and account

number
money continuously for the 28

days up to and including the
closing balance
The date of the closing balance

must be within the last 31 days
It is a good idea to use a highlighter pen to indicate each of the above features on your bank
statement, so the Caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer can easily see that your statement meets
the requirements.
Warning: one of the most common reasons why Tier 4 (General)
applications are refused is because an applicants financial evidence does
not meet the requirements of the policy guidance. Carefully check your
documents against the Home Office policy guidance to make sure this does not
happen to you.

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What else should I submit with

my application?
Depending on what is stated in your CAS statement, you may need to submit other documents with
your immigration application.
Evidence of your qualifications

If it is stated in your CAS statement that the university has assessed your ability to undertake a
programme of studies based on your previous qualifications, you must provide evidence of these
with your immigration application. You should submit your original certificate or transcript. If your
certificates or transcripts are not in English, you will also need to provide an English translation of
the document. Paragraphs 16-17 of the Tier 4 policy guidance explain the requirements for
translations:
You can tick no to the question on the application form which asks Have you been assessed by the
sponsor by other means, for example references or a portfolio of artwork because QMUL assesses
candidates on academic criteria.
Warning: one of the most common reasons why Tier 4 (General)
applications are refused is because an applicant hasnt provided the
documents listed in their CAS statement.
What is the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)?

Students from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland are required to have a security
clearance certificate before starting studies that lead to postgraduate qualifications in some subject
areas. (This includes undergraduate degrees that result in postgraduate qualifications, such as an
MEng degree).
If you are required to have an ATAS certificate for your studies, you will not meet the requirements
to apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission until you have your certificate.
If you are required to have an ATAS certificate for your studies, you will not be allowed to start
your studies or enrol at QMUL until you have your certificate.
If you are a current student, and you need to extend your immigration permission, you will be
required to show your ATAS certificate before you can be issued a CAS.
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How do I apply for an ATAS certificate?

For more information about which subject areas and qualifications require an ATAS certificate and
to apply, go to: https://www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme
There is no charge for applying for an ATAS certificate and you can apply for as many certificates as
you have offers.
It can take 20 working days for an ATAS certificate to be issued and sometimes longer during busy
periods.
What do I do if my ATAS application is delayed?
If you have not had a response from the FCO, check your email inbox is not full (and therefore
rejecting the message). Also check your Spam folder or Junk email folder to make sure that the
email has not been filtered out.
If it is more than 20 working days since you have applied for your ATAS certificate, you can e-mail
atas@fco.gov.uk (please note, if you contact them before 20 working days have elapsed they will not
respond to your e-mail).
If you applied more than 20 working days ago, you have then e-mailed atas@fco.gov.uk and you have
not had a response within two working days, please contact the Advice and Counselling Service for
assistance. You will need to provide us with a copy of your application confirmation (e-mailed to
you) and a copy of the e-mail you sent to atas@fco.gov.uk.

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What do I do if something changes after I apply for my ATAS certificate?

If you have been granted an ATAS certificate, but something changed, you will need to apply for a
new ATAS certificate with your new details within 28 calendar days of any such changes being
agreed.* Relevant changes include:
your CAS number
your passport number
your JACS code
your course end date is postponed for a period of more than three calendar months
there are any substantive changes to the contents of your course or to your research
proposal
Parental permission for students who are 16 or 17 years old

If you are 16 or 17 years old you must provide a letter from your parent(s) or legal guardian giving
their consent for you to apply for immigration permission and travel to the UK to live
independently. The requirements for the letter are detailed in paragraphs 211-213 of the Tier 4
policy guidance:
What can I do if my documents (such as my ATAS certificate or CAS) are

not ready before my immigration permission expires?
You must meet the immigration requirements on the date that you make your online Tier 4
application. However, you then have a further 15 working days to post your supporting documents
to the Home Office, or up to 45 working days to submit your supporting documents if you are
attending an in person appointment. You are not required to be in possession of all your supporting
documents on the date you make your online application, however you must be sure that you will
be able to obtain all of the required documents within the 15 or 45 working days deadline, and that
those documents will demonstrate that you met the requirements on the date of your online
application. For example, you might obtain your bank statements after the date of your online
application, but the statements must show that you had held the required funds for 28 consecutive
days before the date of you submitted your online application.
Under the Points Based System, there is no official mechanism for submitting late documents after
the 15 or 45 working days deadline (such as an ATAS certificate, CAS reference number, or bank
This is a QMUL requirement for all students, and it is also an immigration condition for those who applied
for Tier 4 immigration permission on or after 06 November 2014.
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statements). Your Tier 4 application should be fully complete with all supporting documents
submitted within the 15 or 45 working days.
If you will not be able to obtain documents within the 15 or 45 working days deadline, that
demonstrate that you met the Tier 4 requirements on the date of your online application, you
should return to your home country before your current immigration permission expires. Once you
can meet the requirements for a Tier 4 application, you can apply at home, without overstaying your
immigration permission in the UK. You will need to consider:
The expense of travelling home; and
The time this process will take and how that may affect your studies. You will need to
discuss this with your academic school and check that they agree to you leaving the UK for
the required amount of time. If they dont, you will need to consider interrupting your
studies.
If you can meet the Tier 4 requirements on the date of application, but you cannot obtain all of the
required documents within the 15 or 45 working days deadline, you can either return home and
apply from there (see above), or submit your online application before your current immigration
permission expires. If your late document is an ATAS certificate, in the online application you will
need to write something in the box What is your Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
reference number?. You can write something like Awaiting decision - see covering letter.
If you apply in the UK and dont have all of the required documents, you have two options:
1. In your online application, choose to apply in person (note this is a lot more expensive). This
gives you the longest amount of time (up to 45 working days) to attend an appointment at
the Home Office at which you will need to produce all of the required documents, or
2. Choose a postal application. This only gives you 15 working days to post all of the required
documents to the Home Office. If some of your documents are missing, this means
that your application will be incomplete, and could be refused on this basis.
However you can try writing a covering letter to send with your application, explaining
which document is missing, why it is missing (for example, you are still waiting for the
Foreign and Commonwealth Office to process your ATAS application), that you still have
not received it and that you will forward it to the Home Office as soon as you do. When
you get the late document, send it to the correspondence address on your application cover
sheet (the address is slightly different to the address where you sent your passport and
other supporting documents).
When you send your documents, make sure you use Royal Mail Recorded or Special delivery post
so you can prove when the Home Office received your documents.
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A caseworker will not normally make a decision on your application until you have registered your
biometric details.
Please note that a caseworker may not wait for you to send your late documents. They can make a
decision based on the documents that are available to them. If this means that your application does
not meet the requirements, your application will be refused. If your application is refused you could:
Challenge the decision if you can show that the Home Office had all the documents on the
day of the decision or the caseworker didnt follow the Home Office policy guidance (see
below).
Attempt to make a new and complete application in the UK. If you stay in the UK after your
immigration permission has expired you would be in the UK illegally. Your new immigration
application will normally be refused if you have stayed in the UK for more than 28 days
before making your application. Please see the next section, What will happen if I make a late
application.
Return home to make a new application. If this would take a long time you may need to
interrupt your studies. If you stay in the UK for more than 90 days after your immigration
permission expires, you could be banned from making an immigration application to return
to the UK for at least one year from the date you leave the UK.
See the section of this Advice Guide called What to do if things go wrong for more information
about refused and invalid applications.
Home Office policy guidance on missing documents
The Home Office states in paragraph 19 of their Tier 4 Policy Guidance that:
If you have submitted specified documents in which:
Some of the documents in a sequence have been omitted (for example, if one bank statement
from a series is missing);
- A document is in the wrong format (for example, if a letter is not on letterhead paper as
specified); or
- A document is a copy and not an original document; or
- A document does not contain all of the specified information;
we may contact you or your representative in writing, and request the correct documents.
We must receive the requested documents at the address specified in the request within 7
working days of the date of the request. We will not ask for further information where we do
not anticipate that a correction of minor errors or omissions will lead to an approval or where a
specified document has been completely omitted.
You will still need to have met the requirements under Tier 4 on the date you submit your
application. If you are unable to provide the required documents in the required format by the
Home Offices deadline, your application may be refused. You can access the Home Office Policy
Guidance on this webpage:
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Note: even though the Policy Guidance explains that a Caseworker may contact you, this might not
happen and your application could still be refused on the basis of missing or incorrect documents. If
you are aware that a document is missing, or is in the wrong format, or is not an original, we do not
recommend that you wait for Home Office to contact you. Instead, you should try and send it to the
Home Office at the earliest opportunity (see above).
What will happen if I make a late application?
If you cannot meet the Tier requirements by the expiry date of your current immigration
permission, you may be considering overstaying your permission and making a late application to the
Home Office. You need to consider the following:
You would be in the UK illegally if you stay in the UK after your immigration permission
expires and you have not made a valid immigration application (submitted the online
application) before it expired.
If the authorities become aware that you are overstaying (e.g. if you were in a car that was
stopped by the police) you could be detained and possibly removed from the UK. Your new
immigration application will normally be refused if you have stayed in the UK for more than
28 days before making your application. If your late application is refused or invalid, you may
be required to leave the UK. If you stayed in the UK for more than 90 days after your
immigration permission expired, you could be banned from making an entry clearance
application to return to the UK for up to one year from the date you left the UK. Note: even
if the reason why you stayed for more than 90 days was because the Home Office took this time to
make a decision, you could still be banned.
You would have to declare that you have overstayed in any UK immigration application. The
online Tier 4 application form asks if you have overstayed, and asks you to explain why.
Please consider these options and their possible implications carefully.

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Low risk nationals

To find out if you are considered to be a low risk national by the UK Government, please see the
list in Appendix H of the Immigration Rules:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-rules-appendix-h
You will qualify for differentiation arrangements if you are a low risk national applying in the UK or
applying in the country or territory associated with your passport. This means that, when you make
your immigration application, you do not need to provide:
1.
Evidence that you have the required funds for your studies
2.
Evidence of your previous qualifications (as listed in the Evidence used section of your
CAS statement)
Instead, you will need to declare that you have access to this evidence.
Do I actually need to have this evidence?

Even though you are not required to submit the above evidence, you must have it in your
possession. After you have submitted your immigration application, the Entry Clearance Officer or
Caseworker who considers your immigration application may contact you and ask you to provide
your evidence anyway (we understand that this should only happen in a small minority of cases). A
Border Forcer Officer may also ask you to show your evidence when you arrive in the UK and you
should carry it with you in your hand luggage.
Should I submit this evidence anyway?

No. If you qualify for differentiation arrangements, your application will be processed more quickly
if you do not send this evidence. If you send your evidence anyway, the Entry Clearance Officer or
Caseworker will need to verify the documents that you have sent are genuine and meet the
requirements of the Immigration Rules. This may delay your application.
What about the immigration application form?

Applying in the country or territory associated with your passport
If you are one of the above nationals and you are applying in the country or territory associated with
your passport, you can select evidence not required under guidance, but held by applicant, where
it appears on the online form.
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Applying in the UK
If you are one of the above nationals and you are applying in the UK, the online application form will
automatically work out which documents you are required to submit with your immigration
application. The form will recognise that due to your nationality you qualify for differentiation
arrangements, and it will not prompt you to provide evidence of your finances or your academic
certificates or transcripts.
Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan (ROC) passport holders

If you have a Hong Kong SAR passport or a Taiwan (ROC) passport and you are applying in the UK
using the online application the Home Office has confirmed that you should select 'Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region of China' or 'Taiwan' (as appropriate) in answer to the question about
your nationality, even though your passport states that your nationality is 'Chinese' or 'Republic of
China'.

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Application checklist
Use the following checklist to make sure that you are ready to submit your immigration application:
For applicants outside the UK
You have evidence of a tuberculosis test (if you are required to provide this)
For applicants in the UK
You have your UK Biometric Immigration Document card (if you have been issued with
one)
You have your police registration certificate (if your immigration permission requires
you to register with the police). If you are required to register with the police, you
must register any new immigration permission and any changes of address within 7
days. You should take extra care to make sure your registration certificate is up-to-date
before submitting your immigration application.
If you have not yet enrolled, ensure that you have shown your passport and
qualifications to the Student Enquiry Centre (Ground Floor, Queens Building) and
copies have been taken of these documents. If the Student Enquiry Centre have not
taken a copy of your documents and you are unable to provide them because they are
at the Home Office, you will not normally be able to fully enrol.
All applicants
Your passport is valid and that it has your correct details
All the information in your CAS is correct (check your CAS statement)
Your CAS is less than six months old (your CAS statement should state when it was
issued)
Your CAS statement explains how QMUL has assessed your English language ability,
and how QMUL has assessed your academic progression
You have evidence of your qualifications (if listed in your CAS) and these are in English
or you have official English translations*
You have your ATAS certificate (if required by your CAS)
You should not provide this if you qualify as a low risk national (see previous section)
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You have permission from your parents (if you are 16 or 17)
You have evidence of your finances which you have checked meets the requirements of
the Home Office policy guidance*
Your photograph(s) meet the Home Office photograph requirements
Your passport or travel document is still valid
You have the correct application payment
You have completed the form(s) correctly
Keeping copies of your documents

Warning: You must keep a copy of your online application form, and everything you
send with your immigration application, as well as any correspondence you receive
from the Home Office. This includes your passport and any supporting documents you
send (e.g. photographs, bank statements and certificates).
This is very important as the Home Office may keep all your documents if your immigration
application is refused. You will need copies of these documents if you wish to challenge the decision
or submit a new application.
If there is a problem with your application, you may need to show your photocopies to a Welfare
Adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service so that they can provide you with advice.
If you are a current student and you are in the UK, you can use the photocopiers in the main library
to scan your documents onto a USB memory stick.
There is a procedure to request the Home Office to return your documents however, it can take
the Home Office a long time to do this and, if you have a deadline to meet (e.g. if you are submitting
a new application or challenging a decision) you may not get your documents back in time.
You should not provide this if you qualify as a low risk national (see previous section)

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Partners and Children

Your partner and/or child can only apply for immigration permission to join you in the UK if:
you are studying a postgraduate programme at QMUL, which is 12 months or longer; or
you are a government-sponsored student and you are studying a programme at any level,
which is more than 6 months long.
There are transitional measures for partners and children who already have immigration permission
to join you in the UK.
In this context, partner includes:
Husband or wife
Same-sex civil partner
A partner who you have been living with for at least two years in a relationship similar to
marriage or civil partnership
The UK immigration rules state that you and your husband, wife or partner must be 18 or older on
the date when they arrive in the UK.
Your children must either be:
under 18; or
if they already have immigration permission as your dependant, they must not have formed
an independent life.
For children to be granted immigration permission as a dependant, in most cases, both parents must
also be in the UK or plan to travel to the UK with them, unless there are serious and compelling
reasons for only one parent being here. If you think this applies to you and your family, you may like
to get specialist immigration advice to see if you would have a strong case before you apply.
You will need to show that you have additional money to support your dependants.
There is more information on the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/family-members
Babies born in the UK

Birth in the UK does not automatically make a baby a British citizen. The baby needs to have a
parent with British citizenship or settled status in the UK in order to be born British.
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Further information
You can find more information about the requirements and how to apply for immigration permission
for your family on the UKCISA website:
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/International-Students/Immigration-/Dependants/
Warning: The immigration rules changed several times. Even if you have
applied with your dependents before, you may find that you are unable to
apply under the new rules or that the requirements have changed.
If you have questions after reading this information, see the section in this guide Where can I get
further information and assistance?

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After your immigration application

has been decided
If your application is successful, the Home Office will return your documents and issue you with
immigration permission. If your application is not successful see the section of this Advice Guide
called What to do if things go wrong for information about refused and invalid applications.
There are different processes for applications made to British visa centres and sections outside of
the UK and applications made to the Home Office in the UK.
If you submitted your application to a British visa section or section

outside the UK
If you submitted your immigration application to a British visa centre or section outside the UK,
your documents may be posted to you or you may need to travel to the centre or section to collect
your documents and passport. Your passport should contain an Entry Clearance sticker:
Check all the details are correct. See the section Error on an Entry Clearance issued outside of the
UK below. When you travel to the UK, the immigration officer at the airport/seaport/Eurostar
terminal will stamp your sticker (see example above).
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Biometric Immigration Documents

From February 2015, the UK will be issuing Biometric Immigration Documents to students who
apply outside of the UK and are applying for immigration permission, which will last longer than 6
months.
The new system will start for students who make an application in Pakistan from February 2015.
Other countries will be added in phases and all countries will be part of the new system by July
2015.
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
You will be issued a temporary Entry Clearance Sticker, which will be valid for 31 days. You will
then need to collect your Biometric Identity Document from a Post Office within 10 days of arriving
in the UK.
You can read more about the new scheme here: http://ukcisa.org.uk/studentnews/409/Immigrationprocedures-after-arrival-will-change-in-future
If you submit your application to the Home Office in the UK

In person applications
If you submitted your application in person at a Home Office Premium Service Centre, they will
return your documents with a letter telling you if your application has been successful. They will
usually do this on the same day. Sometimes the Premium Service Centre may keep your documents
if they cannot make a decision on the same day. If this happens, they will usually make a decision
within 10 working days and post your documents back to you.
Your immigration permission will be issued as a separate plastic card called a Biometric Immigration
Document (see below). You will not get your card on the day of your appointment: your card will
be posted to you and this usually takes about a week.

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Postal applications
If you submitted your application online, the Home Office will post your documents to you with a
letter telling you if your application has been successful. The Home Office aim to decide most postal
applications within eight weeks of the date they received your application.
Your immigration permission will be issued as a separate plastic card called a Biometric Immigration
Document (see below). This will be sent to you separately and may arrive before or after you
receive your passport and other documents.
Biometric Immigration Documents
If you apply for immigration permission in the UK, you will be issued with a Biometric Immigration
Document. Your permit will look like this:
Check all the details are correct.
Is your immigration permission correct?

The Home Office will usually grant additional time before and after your studies. How much
additional time you receive will depend on the length of your studies. The caseworker or Entry
Clearance Officer will use the information in your CAS to decide how much additional time to grant.
This is detailed in the following table:
Length and type of
programme of studies
If applying outside the UK,

length of permission to be
granted before start of
Length of immigration
permission to be granted
after studies
studies
Any programme which is at
least 12 months long
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Length and type of
programme of studies

If applying outside the UK,
length of permission to be
granted before start of
studies
Length of immigration
permission to be granted
after studies
Any programme which is at

least six months long, but
less than 12 months long
1 month
2 months
1 month
1 month
7 days
7 days
A pre-sessional programme
which is less than six
months long
A programme which is not a
pre-sessional programme
and is less than six months
long
If you are re-sitting or interrupting your programme, it is our understanding that the Caseworker or
Entry Clearance Officer should work out the total length of your programme when deciding how
much additional time to grant. For the caseworker or Entry Clearance Officer to be able to work
this out, the original start date of your programme must be detailed in your CAS (under the
Evidence provided field).
Correcting an error
Check your CAS statement
Check the dates on your CAS statement. If you have been granted the wrong length of immigration
permission because of an error on your CAS statement the Home Office will not normally correct
the error. Instead, you will need to apply for a new CAS statement and make a new immigration
application for the correct length of immigration permission.
Error on an Entry Clearance issued outside of the UK
If you checked your CAS statement and can see that an error has been made on your Entry
Clearance sticker, contact the visa section or centre that issued your immigration permission. If you
are unable to do this before you need to travel to the UK, bring a copy of your Entry Clearance
sticker and your CAS statement to the Advice and Counselling Service at QMUL. One of our
Welfare Advisers will contact you with further advice on correcting the error.
Error on a Biometric Immigration Document issued in the UK
If you have not been granted enough immigration permission from within the UK, or if the
conditions of your permission are not correct (e.g. your working hours are wrong, or you have been
incorrectly required to register with the police), you can ask for this to be corrected. How you do
this depends on when you applied for your immigration permission:

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Immigration applications made before 20 October 2014
You should e-mail BRPError@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk with the details of your Biometric

Immigration Document and the error.
If you are unable to fix the error by e-mailing the Home Office, bring a copy of your
Biometric Immigration Document and your CAS statement to Reception at the Advice and
Counselling Service at QMUL. One of our Welfare Advisers will contact you with further
advice on correcting the error.
2.
Immigration applications made on or after 20 October 2014
You must submit an Administrative Review to the Home Office ask for this to be
corrected. You must do this within 14 days of the date you received the decision
letter that came with your passport. Contact the Advice and Counselling Service for
further advice. The Administrative Review procedure is also explained on the GOV.UK
website:
https://www.gov.uk/ask-for-a-visa-administrative-review/if-youre-in-the-uk
Registering with the Police

If you have been granted immigration permission that is more than six months long, you may be
required to register with the police if you are a national of one of the following countries:
Afghanistan
Iraq
Russia
Algeria
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Argentina
Jordan
Sudan
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Syria
Azerbaijan
Kuwait
Tajikistan
Bahrain
Kyrgyzstan
Tunisia
Belarus
Lebanon
Turkey
Bolivia
Libya
Turkmenistan
Brazil
Moldova
United Arab
China
Morocco
Colombia
North Korea
Ukraine
Cuba
Oman
Uzbekistan
Egypt
Palestine
Yemen
Georgia
Peru
Emirates
Iran
Qatar
You may also be required to register with the Police if you hold a Hong Kong SAR passport, a
Macao SAR passport, or a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus passport or travel document.
Your immigration sticker or Biometric Immigration Document card should state Register with
Police within seven days or similar. However, if your immigration sticker or card doesnt include
this requirement, then it is our understanding that you dont need to register with the police, even if
you are a national of one of the countries listed above.
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If you are not a national of one of the countries listed above, but your sticker or card says you must
register with the Police, this is probably a mistake. Take a copy of your sticker or card to the Advice
and Counselling Service at QMUL. One of our Welfare Advisers will contact you with further advice
on correcting the error.
How do I register with the police?
If you are living in the London Metropolitan Police Area
If you are living in the London Metropolitan Police Area you will need to register with the Overseas
Visitors Records Office when you arrive in the UK.
You will also need to register with the Overseas Visitors Records Office if you are issued with new
immigration permission while in the UK.
If you change your address you will need to update your Police Registration Certificate, but you can
do this at your local police station.
There is information on the Advice and Counselling Service website, including special arrangements
for police registration at the start of the academic year:
http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/immigration/police/index.html
More details, including the location and opening times of the Overseas Visitors Records
Office, can be found on the Metropolitan Police website:
http://www.met.police.uk/overseas_visitors_records_office/ If you are living outside the
London Metropolitan Police Area
If you are living outside the London Metropolitan Police Area, contact your local Police Station for
information on how to register.

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What to do if things go wrong

Problems with immigration applications made outside the UK
What should I do if my immigration application has been refused?
If your application is refused, the visa section or centre will contact you and provide you with a
refusal notice. You should note the date when they give you the refusal notice. If you intend to ask
for your application to be reviewed you will need to submit your request within 28 days of the date
they gave you the notice.
You can get advice from a Welfare Adviser at the Advice and Counselling Service about your refusal.
For us to be able to advise you please forward us the following documents:
Your full refusal notice
Your CAS statement
Your completed application forms (a copy of your online application form, or paper form
VAF9 and Appendix 8)
Your financial evidence
Any other documents you were required to submit with your application
The details page in your passport
You will also need to provide us with the following details:
The date you submitted your immigration application
The date you received your refusal notice
Your contact details (e-mail is our preferred method of contact)
You can either scan your documents and e-mail them to welfare@qmul.ac.uk or fax them to us on
+44 (0) 20 7882 7013. If you are scanning your documents make sure your scans are high enough
resolution so that we can read your documents, but not so large that they will be returned by our email servers. We recommend that your scanned pages should not be more than 300KB per page.
Once we have a received your documents and details one of the Welfare Advisers in the Advice and
Counselling Service will review your documents and will then email you a Client Care Letter which
will explain if your refusal is correct or not and what your options are now.
If you are clear about the reasons for your refusal, you can use this guide to help you submit a new
application. If you are unclear why your application was refused, you may prefer to wait for a
Welfare Adviser to reply to you before deciding what to do next.
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My programme of studies is starting shortly, but I am not able to travel to the UK in

time. What should I do?
Your CAS statement will state a latest date you can enrol at QMUL. Sometimes students are unable
to travel to the UK in time to meet this enrolment deadline. There could be a number of reasons
why this might happen. For example, you might not get your immigration permission in time if you
apply shortly before you need to travel and there is a delay in processing your application. You might
be delayed for another reason, for example bad weather or personal difficulties.
If you are not able to arrive at QMUL in time for the latest date of enrolment, you need to contact
your academic school at QMUL, before travelling to the UK, to see if they will exceptionally allow
you to enrol late. If they will allow you to enrol late, your academic school will need to liaise with
QMUL Admissions to ensure that a sponsor note is added to your CAS, stating that your enrolment
deadline has been extended. Without this you may encounter problems trying to enter the UK.
Warning: If the university will not allow you to enrol late, you should not travel
to the UK, as you will not be allowed to enrol. The university will notify the Home
Office that you will not be allowed to enrol.
If the university notifies the Home Office that you will not be allowed to enrol, the following will
happen:
If your immigration application has not yet been decided, it will be refused, as your CAS will
no longer be valid.
If your immigration application has been granted, but you have not yet travelled to the UK,
your immigration permission is likely to be cancelled. If you try to travel to the UK, you are
likely to be refused entry at the airport, seaport or rail station.
If your immigration application has been granted and you are already in the UK, the Home
Office should curtail (cut short) your immigration permission to 60 days. During these 60
days you can travel home or try to find a new programme and make a new Tier 4 (General)
Student application to start that programme.
If you are a new student and you will not be able to arrive in time for your programme, please
contact the admissions team at QMUL dealing with your application to QMUL to see if it is possible
to defer your offer of a place until next year. The contact details for the appropriate admissions
team will be listed in correspondence related to your admission at QMUL.
If you are a continuing student you may need to interrupt your studies. See our guide Resitting,
interrupting or leaving your course - a guide for international students
http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/leaving/index.html for more information.
If you are returning to the UK for re-sit examinations you may need to submit extenuating
circumstances if you are going to miss your exams. See the Advice and Counselling Service guide
Extenuating Circumstances http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/publications/studentadvice/index.html
for more information.

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What do I do if the Immigration Officer refuses to let me into the UK when I arrive?
If you are refused entry to the UK when you arrive, you should seek immigration advice
immediately.
If you are arriving at Heathrow airport during QMULs arrivals weekend in September, the
International Office will have provided you with a contact number for our staff at the airport.
You can contact the Advice and Counselling Service on +44 (0) 20 7882 8717 during office hours
(our opening times are listed on our website)
Outside of our office hours, please leave a message on our answer phone with the following
information:
Your name
Your QMUL student number
A contact telephone number
The airport and terminal number (E.g. Heathrow Terminal 5)
We will review your message and try to help you when our office opens on the next working day.
Alternatively, you can use the search facility on the Immigration Law Practitioners Association
website to find an immigration solicitor: www.ilpa.org.uk
Problems with immigration applications made in the UK

The Home Office have requested that I send them more information/documents. What
should I do?
You are required to submit mandatory documents within 15 working of submitting your online
application, if you are applying by post. If you fail to send all of the mandatory documents, the
caseworker should contact you, in writing, to give you one opportunity to correct any omission or
error you have made which could make your application invalid. The caseworker should give you 10
working days to respond to their request. If you dont respond within that timeframe, your
application should be refused. Please note that caseworkers only have to contact you about missing
mandatory documents: the caseworker is not required to ask you to provide more documents
simply because the ones you have sent dont meet the requirements, for example if your bank
statements dont show enough money. Therefore it is essential that your check all your
documents carefully before sending them, to ensure that they meet the requirements.
If the Home Office contact you to ask for more documents so that they can decide your application,
it is important to get advice from the Advice and Counselling Service to ensure that the documents
you now submit to the Home Office meet the requirements, as this will usually be your last
opportunity to do so.
If you are using the Tier 4 Student online application form, the Home Office will automatically send
you a letter reminding you to send your passport and photographs. This letter is sent out if the
Home Office havent received and scanned your documents onto their system within 8 days. During
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busy periods it make take the Home Office some time to scan your documents, so you may receive
this letter even if you can see from your postal tracking information that the Home Office have
received your documents many days before the letter was sent. If your postal tracking information
shows that the Home Office received your documents, you can ignore this letter.
Once your documents have been scanned, the Home Office will send you a letter inviting you to
register your biometric information.
My application has been returned to me as invalid. What should I do?
If your application is returned to you as invalid, the Home Office will return your documents to you,
with a letter telling you why your application was invalid, for example you failed to provide a
mandatory document, or your passport photographs do not meet the Home Office requirements. If
you were not contacted by a caseworker to give you an opportunity to submit a missing mandatory
document before your application was returned as invalid (see previous section) please contact a
Welfare Adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service.
If your current immigration permission has not yet expired you can make a new immigration
application. If it has taken the Home Office some time to return your application, you may need to
provide updated documents. For example, you may need to provide new bank statements if the ones
you originally submitted are now more than 31 days old, or new photos if yours are now more than
1 month old. You should also check to make sure that you are using the current version of the Tier
4 guidance. Normally, your CAS should not have been used by the Home Office if your application
was returned to you as invalid. As long as it has not been used and is now not more than six months
old, you can use the same CAS for a new immigration application, and you do not need to apply for
a new one from QMUL. You should also confirm with the Academic Registry (e-mail
casinfo@qmul.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 20 7882 5005) that the Home Office caseworker did not
use your CAS, just to be sure. If it has been used, you will need to request a new one from QMUL
as a CAS can only be used once.
If the Home Office has taken the application fee, they will usually post you a cheque as a refund.
If your immigration permission has now expired, see the section, Have you overstayed in the UK?
below.
If your application has been incorrectly returned as invalid
If your application is returned as invalid, but the reason given is not correct or not clear, you can
contact a Welfare Adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service who may be able to seek
clarification from the Home Office.
Refusals: if you have made an in time application, which has been refused, see the section My
application has been refused, what can I do? below.
Have you overstayed in the UK?
Overstaying in the UK means being in the UK without immigration permission. Overstaying may
have implications for all future immigration applications, both within the UK and overseas. You may
have overstayed if:
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You did not make a new immigration application on or before the date your current
immigration permission expired or was curtailed (cut short by the Home Office), or
You made a new immigration application on or before the date your current immigration
permission expired, but it was returned as invalid, and your permission has now expired, or
You made a new immigration application on or before the date your current immigration
permission expired, but it was refused and you did not submit an appeal or request an
administrative review by the relevant deadline.
Please note: if you received the letter from the Home Office more than two business days* after
the date on the letter, keep your postmarked envelope as evidence and contact The Advice and
Counselling Service for advice.
When did I start overstaying?
If you did not make an immigration application on or before the date your immigration
permission expired you are considered to be overstaying from the date your immigration
permission expired
If you made an immigration application on or before the date your immigration permission
expired, but your application was returned as invalid, you are considered to be overstaying
from two business days* after the date on the letter from the Home Office informing you
that your application was invalid
If you made an immigration application on or before the date your immigration permission
expired, but your application was refused and you choose not to appeal or submit an
administrative review, you are considered to be overstaying from the day after your appeal
or administrative review deadline.
I have overstayed, what are my options?

I have overstayed for 28 days or less
You have two options:
1.
Return home before you have stayed in the UK for more than 90 days, and make an
application for entry clearance to return to the UK. As your immigration permission has
already expired, you will not meet the Home Offices definition of having an established
presence in the UK, so you will need to meet the higher maintenance requirements. Also,
you will need to check your academic school will approve this absence from your studies, to
go home and make a new immigration application. If not, you might need to consider an
Interruption of Studies (http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/leaving/index.html)
2.
Make a further immigration application to stay in the UK The Home Office will consider
applications from people who have overstayed in the UK for less than 28 days, however this
is a potentially risky option as it could take the Home Office a long time to consider your
new application. If your new application is refused and you had, by then, overstayed for
* Business days are any days which are not a Saturday, Sunday or a UK bank holiday.
52

welfare.qmul.ac.uk
more than 28 days, and you try to make a further application in the UK, it will normally be
automatically refused. If your new application is refused and you have overstayed for more
than 90 days, and you try to make an entry clearance application overseas, this will normally
be automatically refused for 12 months following the date that you leave the UK.
Therefore if you are applying in the UK within 28 days of becoming an overstayer, it may be
advisable to apply in person at a Premium Service Centre. At some times of the year, you
may find that you are unable to get an appointment at a Premium Service Centre as there
are more people who want appointments than there are available appointment slots.
As your immigration permission has already expired, you will not meet the Home Offices
definition of having an established presence in the UK, so you will need to meet the higher
maintenance requirements.
I have overstayed in the UK for more than 28 days, but less than 90 days
Any immigration application you make in the UK will normally be automatically refused if the
applicant has overstayed for more than 28 days on the date of application. There are certain
exceptions to this rule please contact a Welfare Adviser in the Advice and Counselling Service for
advice. However, you can return home before you have overstayed for more than 90 days and make
a new application there to return to the UK. Also, you will need to check your academic school will
approve this absence from your studies, to go home and make a new immigration application. If not,
you might need to consider an Interruption of Studies
(http://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/international/leaving/index.html)
Please note that if you are in the UK and you have overstayed for more than 28 days, our
understanding is that the Academic Registry will not normally issue you with a CAS as you will not
be able to make a successful immigration application in the UK (unless you have extenuating
circumstances see above). You will normally have to leave the UK before the Academic Registry
will issue you with a CAS.
If you are overstaying because your application was returned as invalid, you should also confirm with
the Academic Registry (e-mail casrequest@qmul.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 20 7882 5005) at
QMUL that the caseworker did not use your CAS. If your CAS has been used, or is now more than
six months old, you will need to request a new one as a CAS can only be used once.
I have overstayed in the UK for more than 90 days
You are not able to make a new application within the UK, as you have overstayed for more than 28
days. If you stay in the UK for more than 90 days after your immigration permission has expired and
then return home, any immigration application you make to return to the UK may automatically be
refused for at least 12 months from the date you leave the UK.
Making a new application
If you are making a new application, you should check that all the documents you are providing are
still valid. Make sure that in your new application:

53
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
Your bank statements are not more than 31 days old, and your photos are not more than
one month old
Your bank statements show you have held the specified amount of money in your account
for the 28 days leading up to the closing balance.
You have a valid CAS.
My application has been refused. What can I do?

Your application will be refused if it does not meet the requirements of the immigration rules, for
example, if you do not provide evidence of adequate funds, or if you do not have a valid CAS, or if
there was more than 28 days between the end of your most recent immigration permission and the
start date of your new programme of study.
If you are in the UK and your application has been refused, you have the following options. If your
application was not in time see the section Have you overstayed in the UK? above. It is your
decision which option you choose. Please be aware that if you want to formally challenge a refusal,
you must do so within 14 days:
Option 1:
You can get legal advice by contacting an immigration solicitor. Make sure that the immigration
solicitor you choose is authorised to provide immigration advice and services by the Office for the
Immigration Services Commissioner. You can find an immigration solicitor by using the directories
listed in the section of this advice guide called Where can I get further information and assistance,
under Other regulated immigration advisers at the end of this advice guide. You will normally need
to pay for legal advice.
Option 2:
You can bring all of the following documents to the Advice and Counselling Service Reception:
A copy of your Tier 4 (General) application form (you should be able to print this from your
account on the UK Visas & Immigration website)
A copy of all the documents that you sent with your application (but do not include any
documents that you did not submit with your application, as this may confuse the advice you
receive)
A copy of the pages in your passport that contain your personal details and the stamps or
stickers relating to your studies in the UK
A copy of the refusal letter that the Home Office sent you
One of the Welfare Advisers in the Advice and Counselling Service will look at these papers and we
will email you or call you within five working days to advise you whether you have grounds to
challenge the decision to refuse your application. It is unlikely that you will be able to successfully
challenge a decision if you:
54
have not completed the application form correctly
have not provided all of the specified documents or they do not include all of the specified
information
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
do not meet the specified requirements in order to score the required points e.g. you have
not had the specified maintenance funds for the specified period
If you do not have valid grounds to challenge the refusal, you will normally have to make a new
immigration application (see above) but a Welfare Adviser will send you a Client Care Letter by
email detailing all of your available options.
Option 3:
You can telephone UKCISA, the UK Council for International Students, for advice about your
situation. UKCISA staff are experienced in advising students about the UKs immigration regulations
and can give you advice by telephone. The service is free.
We advise you to have the documents listed above with you when you telephone, so that you can
refer to them.
The UKCISA advice line is open Monday to Friday, 1-4pm: +44 (0) 20 7788 9214.
For more information, see their website: www.ukcisa.org.uk
My application has been refused and the Home Office have kept some/all of my documents.
What can I do?
If your application is refused, and your immigration permission has expired, the Home Office will
normally keep your passport. They will normally return any other documents you sent.
If they have retained any other documents, call the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre on
0300 123 2241*
If you submit an appeal against the refusal of your Tier 4 application, the Home Office will send you
a copy of your application and all the supporting documents (including a copy of your passport),
once your appeal has been registered by the Tribunal.
If you decide to try and make a new immigration application, the application form allows you to
indicate that your passport is already at the Home Office. Select Already with UK V and I on the
online application form.
If, instead, you decide you want to leave the UK, call the Immigration Compliance and Enforcement
Team with your travel plans. You can find contact details for the team where you live here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/contact-details-for-immigration-compliance-andenforcement-teams/contact-details-for-immigration-compliance-and-enforcement-teams

55
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
The Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team will then arrange for your passport and
documents to be returned to you. Your documents will usually be returned to you at the airport,
seaport or Eurostar terminal, when you leave the UK.
You should call the Immigration Compliance and Enforcement Team before you book your flights, to
make sure that they would have enough time to arrange for your passport and documents to be
returned to you.
I have posted an immigration application, but I need to travel soon. What can I do?
At certain times of the year, it can take the Home Office many months to process postal
immigration applications.
If you need to travel urgently, you can call the UK Visas and Immigration contact centre on 0300 123
2241* and explain the reasons why your situation is particularly urgent (e.g. to attend the funeral of a
relative). They may ask you to fax or e-mail your request and you should include your details and
any reference numbers connected with your immigration application.
The Home Office do not make any guarantees that they will be able to process urgent applications
more quickly.
If you cannot wait for the Home Office to process your application, you can ask to withdraw your
application. This means that the Home Office will return your application to you unprocessed. If
your immigration permission has already expired, you will be considered an overstayer (see above)
from when your application is returned to you. You will not receive a refund of your application fee.
To withdraw your immigration application, see the following page on the GOV.UK website:
https://www.gov.uk/cancel-visa. At certain times of the year (e.g. before Christmas), it can take the
Royal Mail longer than usual to deliver post. If you are going to withdraw your application, it is
important that you withdraw it in time for the Home Office to post your application back to you. It
can also take the Home Office a number of days to locate your documents and post them out to
you. You cannot, normally, collect your passport and documents from the Home Offices offices.
If you decide to withdraw your application so you can travel home, you will need to apply for entry
clearance from your home country before returning to the UK. Normally, your CAS should not
have been used by the Home Office if you withdraw your application. As long as it has not been
used and is now not more than six months old, you can use the same CAS for a new immigration
application, and you do not need to apply for a new one from QMUL. You should also confirm with
the Academic Registry (e-mail casinfo@qmul.ac.uk or telephone +44 (0) 20 7882 5005) that the
Home Office Caseworker did not use your CAS, just to be sure. If it has been used, you will need to
request a new one from QMUL as a CAS can only be used once.
56

welfare.qmul.ac.uk
My application has been decided, but my immigration permission is wrong

See the information in the earlier section of this Advice Guide After your immigration application
has been decided.

57
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Where can I get further

information and assistance?
If you follow this Advice Guide and the resources it mentions, including our video guidance, you
should be able to make your Tier 4 application by yourself. However, if you do feel that you need
some help or if you have a specific question about your application, here are your options:
Contact the Advice and Counselling Service

If you have used this guide and the resources it mentions, including our video guidance, but your
situation is unusually complex or something has gone wrong with your application, you can contact
the Advice and Counselling Service at QMUL, where qualified staff can provide immigration advice
that is regulated by the UK government.
Please note - we will not normally help you make a routine check of your application form or
documents. You should be able to use this guide and our video guidance to help you make sure that
you have completed the application form correctly and that your supporting documents meet the
requirements of the Immigration Rules.
Information provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs

(UKCISA)
UKCISA is an organisation funded by UK academic institutions to provide support and guidance to
international students. UKICSA are not part of the Home Office and provide independent advice on
a range of issues affecting international students including immigration.
Website
UKCISAs website contains lots of useful guidance and resources for international students including
applying for immigration permission: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
Advice Line
You can telephone UKCISA for advice. UKCISAs staff are experienced in advising students about
the UKs immigration regulations and can give you free advice by telephone.
We advise you to have all your documents with you when you telephone, so that you can refer to
them.
The UKCISA advice line is open Monday to Friday, 1-4pm: +44 (0)20 7788 9214
For more information, go to www.ukcisa.org.uk
58

welfare.qmul.ac.uk
Other regulated immigration advisers

The Advice and Counselling Service at QMUL and the UK Council for International Student Affairs
are regulated by the UK Government to provide immigration advice to students. There are other
advisers, but you must make sure that they are regulated to provide the advice that you need.
You can find other regulated advisers through:
The Immigration Law Practitioners Association - http://www.ilpa.org.uk/
The Law Society for England and Wales - http://solicitors.lawsociety.org.uk/

59
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Appendix 1: Worked example

showing funds in multiple bank
accounts
This is an example only. You will need to refer to the section How much money do I
need to show? to work out what you need to show in your situation.
Student As situation is as follows:
Do they meet the reduced maintenance
requirement
No
Length of programme remaining
9 months or longer
Tuition fees
All fees have been paid for this academic year
Living in QMUL or University of London halls of

residence
No
Receiving official sponsorship
No
Based on the above, they will need to show that they and/or their parents have held 9,180 for a 28
period ending not more than 31 days before they submit their immigration application
Student A has three different bank accounts, which are either in his name or his parents names. He
has obtained a bank statement for each account:
The statement for account 1 shows balances from 05/07/2014 to 19/07/2014. The opening
balance starts at 9,200, but on the 14/07/13 the balance falls to 8,200, where it remains
until the closing balance on 19/07/2014.
The statement for account 2 shows balances from 13/07/2014 to 08/08/2014. The opening
balance starts at 5,000. On the 20/07/2014 the balance rises to 8,000. On the 25/07/2014
the balance falls back down to 5,000, where it remains until the closing balance on
08/08/2014.
60
The statement for account 3 shows balances from 19/07/2014 to 05/08/2014. The balance of
this account is 4,200 for the whole period.

welfare.qmul.ac.uk
If you are using multiple bank accounts to show you have the required funds, you may find it helpful
to use spread sheet software, so you can see whats going on. Here is a spread sheet that explains
student As situation:
Date
Account 1
Account 2
Account 3
Total available
Day
05/07/2014
9,200
9,200
06/07/2014
9,200
9,200
07/07/2014
9,200
9,200
08/07/2014
9,200
9,200
09/07/2014
9,200
9,200
10/07/2014
9,200
9,200
11/07/2014
9,200
9,200
12/07/2014
9,200
9,200
13/07/2014
9,200
5,000
14,200
14/07/2014
8,200
5,000
13,200
15/07/2014
8,200
5,000
13,200
16/07/2014
8,200
5,000
13,200
17/07/2014
8,200
5,000
13,200
10
18/07/2014
8,200
5,000
13,200
11
19/07/2014
8,200
5,000
4,200
17,400
12
20/07/2014
8,000
4,200
12,200
13
21/07/2014
8,000
4,200
12,200
14
22/07/2014
8,000
4,200
12,200
15
23/07/2014
8,000
4,200
12,200
16
24/07/2014
8,000
4,200
12,200
17
25/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
18
26/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
19
27/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
20
28/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
21
29/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
22
30/07/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
23
01/08/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
24
02/08/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
25
03/08/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
26
04/08/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
27
05/08/2014
5,000
4,200
9,200
28
06/08/2014
5,000
5,000
07/08/2014
5,000
5,000
08/08/2014
5,000
5,000
Column 1 shows the date. Columns 2, 3 and 4 show the daily balances covered by each account
statement. Column 5 shows the total available balance on any day.
The box indicates the balances that the caseworker or entry clearance officer will actually consider
when making a decision on the application. Notice that the caseworker will choose to count the 28

61
welfare.qmul.ac.uk
days back from the closing balance from account 3. The case worker will try to choose whichever
closing balance will allow student A to meet the requirements of the rules.
The end of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date student A makes their application.
As the end of the 28 period is 05/08/2014, student A must submit their application on or before
04/09/2014.
If student A is not a low risk national they will have to submit the bank statements for each of their
accounts with their immigration application. Because the situation is complicated, it would be helpful
to submit a copy of the spread sheet so that the caseworker or entry clearance officer can easily see
what is happening and make the correct decision.
If student A is submitting a statement from one of their parents accounts, student A will also have
to submit their birth certificate and a letter from their parents.
Remember that it is a good idea to highlight the relevant parts of your bank statements, so that the
caseworker or entry clearance officer can easily see that your documents meet the requirements.
62

Massingham Street
Carlton Square
Mile End Place
Portelet Road
Stepney Green Tube Station
Alderney Road
Holton Street
Leatherdale Street
Grantley Street
West Square
Bancroft Road
Bancroft Road
Bancroft Road
Mile End Road
Moody Street
Geography Square
Advice and
Counselling Service
Mile End Hospital
Longnor Road
Bradwell Street
Harford Place
How to find the Advice and Counselling Service

Mile End Campus
Library
Square
Nuevo
Burial
Ground
Arts Quarter
The
Curve
Westfield Way
Mile End Tube Station
Residences
Reception
Regents Canal
Health Centre
6
7
Queens Building and Octagon

G.O. Jones Building
Library 8
Francis Bancroft Building
Muccis 4
Geography 3
The Advice and Counselling Service publishes a range of advice guides, including:
What immigration permission do I need to study at QMUL?
Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course a guide for international students
Student Finance: loans, grants and bursaries for home and EU undergraduates
Additional sources of funding for home and EU undergraduates
Postgraduate Funding A guide for home and EU students
Resitting, interrupting or leaving your course a guide for home and EU students
Extra Money: Disability and ill health
Managing your budget and cutting costs
Money for Lone Parents
Council Tax
Part time and vacation work
Childcare
Extenuating Circumstances
Queen Mary support services
Funding for medical and dental students
You can download all our advice guides from our website:
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/publications/studentadvice/index.html
For further information contact:

Student Services
Queen Mary University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS
tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8717
fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7013
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

Guide To Apply Tier 4 Visa

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Finance

Applying for Tier 4 (General)

About the Advice and

Our Welfare Advisers

How to contact a Welfare Adviser

Regulation of Immigration Advice

Advice and Counselling Service

Making a successful immigration application

What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?

Can I apply for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?

Extension applications (inside the UK)

Previous studies in the UK

Check your CAS statement carefully:

Forms, application fees and where to apply

The immigration health surcharge

Extension applications (inside the UK)

How much money do I need to show?

What else should I submit with my application?

Evidence of your qualifications

What is the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)?

Parental permission for students who are 16 or 17 years old

Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Advice and Counselling Service

Do I actually need to have this evidence?

Should I submit this evidence anyway?

What about the immigration application form?

Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan (ROC) passport holders

For applicants outside the UK

For applicants in the UK

Keeping copies of your documents

Partners and Children

Babies born in the UK

After your immigration application has been decided

If you submit your application to the Home Office in the UK

Is your immigration permission correct?

Registering with the Police

What to do if things go wrong

Problems with immigration applications made outside the UK

Problems with immigration applications made in the UK

Where can I get further information and assistance?

Information provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA)

Other regulated immigration advisers

Appendix 1: Worked example showing funds in multiple bank accounts

Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Advice and Counselling Service

What is Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission?

Advice and Counselling Service

Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Advice and Counselling Service

Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Advice and Counselling Service

Can I apply for Tier 4 (General)

You must be at least 16 years old.

Extension applications (inside the UK)

You must be at least 16 years old.

Tier 4 (General) Student,

Applying for Tier 4 (General) Student immigration permission

Advice and Counselling Service

Tier 1 (Post-study Work) Migrant

Participant in the International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the

Participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme,

Postgraduate Doctor or Dentist,

Student Re-sitting an Examination,