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International Student Office

“Thank you very much for your help. Highly recommended to other international students. Five-star service, well done!!!” Daqing, China

Tier 4 applying in the UK

Tier 4 applying in the UK

If you currently have a Tier 4 or student visa and need more time in the UK as a student, you can make an immigration application in the UK. If you have a Student Visitor Visa or Tier 4 Dependant visa it is not possible to switch into Tier 4 from within the UK.

If you are applying in the UK you should always make your application before your current visa expires. If you wait until your visa has already expired you will be an overstayer and will lose your right of appeal if your application is refused.

Apply Online

Applicants applying in the UK can now complete your application form online at the UK Border Agency website here

Once you have completed the application form online, you can then print it and send this version to UKBA. Please note, if you are sending your application via the International Student Office, you should stop completing the form at the ‘check application’ stage to ensure that any amendments needed can be made when you have an appointment with an Adviser.

What do I need to do?

If you begin to think about your immigration application 2 months before your visa expires you will have enough time to prepare everything properly. It will also make the process less stressful. You can use this flowchart to help you think about what you need to prepare. You need to complete the application form and collect all the necessary supporting documents. The International Student Office will not complete the form for you. Completing the form and collecting the documents may take you some time so start your prepartion early.

How can the International Student Office help me?

If you want your application to be checked, please come into the office and book an appointment. The International Student Office is very busy and we may not have appointments available immediately.

If you want to make your application by post, the International Student Office may be able to check and send your application for you. If you are applying in person, we may be able to check your application before you go to the UK Border Agency. This flowchart explains what you need to do and what ISO will do to help you.

After we have sent your application to the UK Border Agency, there will be things that you need to do. This flowchart explains what happens after we have sent your application.

When we may not be able to help you

If you attempt to book your appointment close to your visa expiry date – we are a very busy office that sees a high volume of students, therefore book your appointment early to avoid disappointment

If you do not have the required documents – if you do not have a document which is required to be sent with your application, we cannot assist you. Only completed applications with every required document can be posted to the UK Border Agency.

If you arrive with an incomplete application form at an appointment – it is your responsibility to complete your application in full before it is checked by an Adviser at an appointment. If you do not do this, then the appointment cannot proceed and you may not be offered a further appointment, due to our busy workload.

If you will be sending your Tier 4 application yourself, pleaser refer to our helpful guide for assistance

What documents do I need?

It is your responsibility to collect all the documents that you need for your application. All documents must be translated into English if they aren’t in English already. If you have a document that requires translation, you can search for a translator here. Depending on your situation you might need different documents to your friends. The application form will help to tell you which documents you need. You will need some, or all, of the following documents:

  • Completed Tier 4 application form
  • Your current passport and any other passports that contain your current UK visa
  • 2 passport photos which have been taken within the last month
  • Payment for your application - you will need a debit or credit card to pay for your application
  • Sponsor letter (if you are sponsored)
  • Financial documents – bank statements, bank letters, savings books etc. You need to hold your funds for a minimum of 28 days and your bank statement must be less than 1 month old on the date you make your application
  • If you are relying on money held in your parents’ bank accounts you will need: Your birth certificate; Your parents’ bank statements; A letter from your parents confirming they are supporting you
  • Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
  • Previous qualifications if mentioned in your CAS. If your CAS states that you are being ‘sponsored on the basis of progress to date’ you do not need to provide qualification evidence
  • Police Registration Certificate if applicable
  • ATAS Certificate if applicable
  • Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if applicable
  • Birth and marriage certificates for dependants (husband / wife and children) if applicable and only if they are applying as part of your immigration application

What documents are not required?

  • University Registration Certificate
  • Unconditional offer letter
  • Any qualifications that are not mentioned on your CAS
  • Tenancy agreements
  • Accommodation receipts
  • Covering letters to UKBA

How much will it cost?

Our service is free of charge to international students at the University of Leeds. However, the UK Border Agency charges a fee. From 6th April 2013 Postal applications cost £406 and applications made in person cost £781.  The cost for each dependant is £305 for postal applications and £680 for applications made in person.

How long will the process take?

Postal applications are taking a long time at the moment and it is not unusual for students to wait 3 months for their application to be processed. Applications made in person at UKBA are decided immediately or within a few days. During busy periods such as September and October, UKBA may not have enough appointments so you may need to send your application by post even if this isn’t your preference.

What if my old visa expires before I get my new visa?

Don’t worry - you won’t be in the UK illegally! As long as you submit your immigration application before the expiry date of your current visa you are entitled to remain in the UK while the UK Border Agency consider your application. It doesn’t matter how long the UK Border Agency take to make a decision.