International Student Office

Tier 4 applying overseas

Applications for Tier 4 student visas should be made in your home country. If you don’t live in your home country, you should make your application in the country in which you usually live. If you are a Study Abroad / Exchange student or if you are coming for short periods of research, please read this page and the sub-pages which relate to your situation.

If you are applying for a Tier 4 visa, the earliest you can make your application is 3 months before your course start date. Applications which are submitted more than 3 months before the course start date will be rejected by the embassy.

Recent changes to the UK immigration system mean it is very important that you prepare your entry clearance (visa) application with great care and attention to detail.

Key points to remember

• Make your immigration application at your nearest UK Visa Application Centre. This will help reduce any additional travel costs that you may incur as part of the process.

• Each application centre may have a slightly different process so please check before making your application. You can find out what to do on the above link.

• If you have general questions about applying for a student visa, send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

• You will need to complete form VAF9 and Appendix 8 to apply as a student under Tier 4

• Read the guidance information carefully before completing your application

• Check whether you need a tuberculosis test

• All supporting documents must be originals. Photocopies will not be accepted and could result in your application being refused

• All supporting documents must be translated into English if the original is in another language. You must use an independent translator to translate documents and include a signed declaration from the translator with your application

• From 6th April 2013 Tier 4 visas cost £298.  You must pay this fee in local currency in the country in which you make your application

• You must have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) before making your visa application. The University will send you your CAS by email. Please check your emails carefully. Do not attempt to make a visa application without a CAS - you will be refused

• Your CAS will indicate the qualifications that the University of Leeds used to make you an offer. You need to provide original copies of all qualifications mentioned on your CAS

• A CAS can only be used once. If your application is refused or rejected, do not attempt to make another application using the same CAS. You can request a new CAS using the contact email addresses in the email which delivered your first CAS

• If your application is refused or rejected, please email a copy of the refusal letter to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  Wait for our advice before making a new visa application

• You can make your visa application up to (but not more than) 3 months before your course starts. Read the course dates on your CAS carefully before making your application

• There are strict rules about how much money you need to have access to for your living expenses. In most cases (if you are a new student) you will need to show that you have a minimum of £800 per month to cover the first 9 months of your course. This makes a total of £7200 plus tuition fees for the first year of your course

• You must hold the money in an account in your name, or your parents’ name, for a minimum period of 28 days before making your application

• You will need to provide a bank statement or letter from your bank confirming that the money has been held for a minimum of 28 days. This letter or statement must be less than one month old on the date that you make your application

• If you do not have the required amount, or haven’t held it in your account for 28 days, or use a bank statement which is more than one month old, your application will be refused

• Some applications are now being sent to other countries for processing. This means that it can sometimes take longer than it used to. You can check the visa processing times for your country so that you know what to expect

• Please prepare your application carefully and double check that you have included good quality, original documents with translations into English if necessary

Further information on making a student immigration application overseas is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.