A brief guide to applying for a Tier 4 student visa for international students coming to Brunel in September 2012

1. Immigration Office
f
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL
Applying for a Tier 4 Visa
Webinar
2pm 03/07/2012
By Brunel International’s
Immigration Office
Lorraine Clark & Laura Cable-Burgess

2. Immigration Office
f What is a Tier 4 (G)
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL Student Visa?
A Tier 4 (General) Student Visa is:
• A visa issued for study on a specific course, at a specific
College/University
• A College/University must be registered as a Tier 4 Sponsor
with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to be able to offer courses
to International Students
• Each College/University has a Tier 4 Sponsor Rating
• Brunel University sponsor rating is ‘Highly Trusted’

3. Immigration Office
f
BRUNEL
Applying for a Tier 4 Visa
INTERNATIONAL
For a Tier 4 visa you must obtain 40 points. To obtain
the points, the UK Border Agency (UKBA) need you
to meet the following requirements.
- 30 points for having a Confirmation of Acceptance Of Studies
(CAS) Number
- 10 points for meeting the ‘Maintenance’ (Funds) requirement
(Tuition Fees and Living Costs)
Total = 40 points

4. Immigration Office
f Confirmation of Acceptance
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL of Studies (CAS) – what is it?
• A CAS is an ‘official and unconditional offer of a place on
a course of study’
• A CAS makes up 30 points of your 40 points requirement
for a Tier 4 (G) Student visa
• A CAS Number is ‘not an actual certificate/document on
paper document’
• A CAS is an electronic document, with a number, relating
to the offer of study (including what qualifications were
used to get the offer and Tuition fees for the course). It
also contains other details about the applicant.
• The information in the CAS is sent to UKBA’s
database.

5. Immigration Office
f How can I get my CAS?/
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL How do I use it?
• Meet the conditions of your offer for the course at
Brunel.
• Brunel University only issues a CAS once all conditions of
an offer for a course have been met
• The CAS information given to you (in an email from our
International Admissions Office) will help you to
complete the Tier 4 (G) application form (if applying from
inside the UK) or VAF9 application form and Appendix 8
Student Self Assessment form (if applying from outside
the UK- also known as applying
for Entry Clearance)

6. Immigration Office
f Maintenance (Funds)
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL – what is it?
• The ‘Maintenance’ requirement is evidence you have enough
money for your Tuition fees and Living costs
• The ‘Maintenance’ requirement makes up 10 points of your
40 points requirement to get a Tier 4 (G) Student visa
• You have to show you have this money (funds) when applying
for the visa

7. Immigration Office
f Maintenance (Funds) –
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL How much is it?
• All Tuition Fees IF the course lasts 12 months or less.
• Tuition Fees for the first year of the course ONLY, if the course
is over 12 months in length
PLUS
Living Costs (figure set by UKBA) of:
• £800 per month of the course up to a maximum of 9 months
(£7,200) – based on studying in ‘Outer London’ (Brunel
University is classed as ‘Outer London’)

8. Immigration Office
f Maintenance (Funds) –
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL How do I show it to UKBA?
• The documents you need to show depend on whether you are
considered to be: ‘Officially Financially Sponsored’ or a ‘Self-
Funding’ Student.
• An ‘Officially Financially Sponsored’ student is someone who
is funded/sponsored by:
‘Her Majesty’s Government, the Tier 4 (General) student’s
home government, the British Council or any international
organisation, international company, university or an
Independent School’
• An Uncle/Friend/Parent is not an Official Financial Sponsor.

9. Immigration Office
f Official Financial Sponsorship –
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL documents required
• You will need an original document from the Official Financial
Sponsor
‘A letter of confirmation from his/her Official Financial Sponsor on official
letter-headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial
sponsor; and have the official stamp of that organisation on it.
The letter must show:
• the student’s name; • the name and contact details of the official financial
sponsor; • the date of the letter;• the length of the sponsorship; and • the amount
of money the sponsor is giving to the student or a statement that the student’s
official financial sponsor will cover all of his/her fees and living costs.’
• If your sponsor only pays your Tuition Fees YOU must provide
evidence that you yourself have the living costs.

10. Immigration Office
f Self Funding Student
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL - How do I show it to UKBA?
• Evidence of cash funds (Shares, Bonds, Overdrafts, Credit
Cards, Pension Funds – NOT acceptable)
• Account must be in yours/parents /Legal Guardian’s name(s)
• Money must have been held for a consecutive 28 day period
ending no more than 1 month before the date of application
• Can use: Bank Statement/Bank Letter/Bank Book/Loan Letter
• Specific Format – see UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance Document

11. Immigration Office
f Money Held by Parents
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL – Additional Documents
• You are required to show additional documents:
‘i. the student’s birth certificate showing names of his/her parent(s);
ii. the student’s certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal
guardian;
iii. a Court document naming the legal guardian of the student.
The document use must be the original legal document or a notarised copy.
PLUS
i. a letter from his/her parent(s) or legal guardian.
The letter must confirm:• the relationship between the student and his/her parent(s)
or legal guardian; and• that the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their
consent to the student using their funds to study in the UK’.
• If you are applying inside the UK you also need your parent to
complete Declaration Page 27 of the
Tier 4 (G) application form

12. Immigration Office
f Self Funding Student
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL – Warning
• If using account from overseas check that it is a bank that the
UKBA accepts – see list of ‘acceptable financial institutions’ in
the UKBA Tier 4 Policy Guidance
• If using overseas currency – use OANDA.com to work out the
figure in £ (UK Pounds Sterling). Use the smallest figure during
the consecutive 28 period and calculate the converted
amount using the date of the end balance.
• You must show the documents in the correct format, showing
the information required as listed in the Tier 4 Policy
Guidance document

13. Immigration Office
f Other Documents
BRUNEL
INTERNATIONAL Needed?
Other Main Documents:
• Original Qualifications listed in the CAS (Evidence to Obtain
Offer)
• ATAS certificate (if applicable)
List of Documents depends on where you are applying from:
• If outside the UK see UKBA Supporting Documents Guidance
Tier 4 (General)
• If inside the UK see UKBA Help text for Tier 4 (General)

14. Immigration Office
f Where can I get
BRUNEL
more information about Tier 4?
INTERNATIONAL
• UK Border Agency (UKBA) -
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Please read all guidance available on UKBA website to ensure
you meet the requirements and provide documents in the
correct format.
• UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) -
http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/index.php
This organisation provides useful information and advice
sheets on a range of different topics including Tier 4 Visas
• Brunel University Immigration Office (Brunel International)
You can email us with queries at
Immigration@brunel.ac.uk