TIER 4 Student Visa

General Student Visas (TIER4) - Visa for 6 months or longer (you may also choose Long Term Visitor Visa upto 11 month)

Important Visa Update as of the 21st of April, 2011.

The TIER4 Student Visa system has changed on the 21st of April, 2011. Students are not able to work with the TIER4 Student Visa in the United Kingdom.

To apply for this Visa you currently have to have an English level of Intermediate (European Framework - B1). Before accepting you on the course, you will need to prove your level of English by providing an IELTS, TOEIC, Cambridge exam certificate, etc. or equivalent of them. Shane Global will also conduct a written level test and a Skype interview to ensure you meet the necessary requirements.

The UK Border Agency will level check the students on arrival at the airport.

Required IELTS Score for Applying TIER4 Visa

You will need an overall band score of 4.0 - 5.0 with no less than 4.0 in any of the modules.

What is IELTS?

IELTS is an international language test. You are tested in four modules - listening, reading, writing and speaking. You get a point between 0 and 9 on each module.

There is a point system with 0 to 9 points:
9 – Expert user: can fully operate by language and completely understand it.
8 – Very good user: fully operate by language, have some slight inconstant mistakes. In uncommon situations can appear some misunderstanding. Can argument with detailed statements.
7 – Good user: Operate by language despite of small mistakes and misunderstanding. In general he operates by difficult language and understands detailed explanation.
6 – Competent user: In general he speaks effectively despite of mistakes and misunderstanding. Can understand complicated language, especially in common situations.
5 – Modest user: operates by language partially, can understand the general sense in most of situations despite of many mistakes. Can communicate in common situations.
4 – Limited user: can communicate only in situations he practiced in. Often has problems with understanding and speaking. Cannot use complicated language.
3 – Extremely limited user: understand only general sense in familiar situations. Often fails to communicate.
2 – Intermittent user: real communication is impossible, except for very basic, using separate words or short sentences in familiar situations. Has serious difficulties in reading and writing.
1 – None user: have no language skills except for several words.
0 – Did not attempt the test: it’s impossible to evaluate the level of knowledge.

What is "band score"?

Band score is the average score of each module point.

Study Requirements

To obtain a student visa you must be studying for a minimum of 15 hours per week (15 x 60 minutes).

Please note: our lessons are 50 minutes long. To comply with visa regulations you must study 20 LESSONS per week.

For more information on studying in the UK go to: UKBA - Studying in the UK or email us for more details.

Extending your Tier 4 Visa in the UK if you have completed a 6 month course in the last 4 months

You can only apply to extend a Student Visa while in the UK if your current visa is a Tier 4 Full Student Visa. If you have a Student Visitors' Visa and you want to study for longer, you must return to your home country and apply for a new visa at your local British Consulate.

What documents do I need?

You will need to provide similar documentary evidence to the documents you presented for your first visa interview in your home country:

• Visa letter or CAS from an approved education provider registered with the UKBA.
• Proof of funds to cover your course funds and monthly maintenance costs - bank statements proving the required amount of money has been in your bank account for 28 days before you submitted your visa application

Cost of CAS (Visa Letter) is £20.

When Should I Apply to Extend my Stay?

If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom to extend your stay, we suggest you should apply in the last four months of your permission to stay if possible. This is because as soon as we give permission to stay (your application is approved), your new approved education provider (the one who issued your visa letter) becomes responsible for you.

Date you can Apply

You can apply when you have your visa letter, and no later than six months after you are given your visa letter (this will be the date on the visa letter).

The date of your application if you are applying by post or courier from inside the United Kingdom

If you send your application by post, the date of application is the date of posting.

If you send your application by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to the UK Border Agency.

The date of your application if you are applying in person inside the United Kingdom

If you want to apply in person at any of the five public enquiry offices, you must make an appointment by phone on 0870 606 7766.

The public enquiry offices offer a same-day service, at a premium fee, for considering straightforward applications for permission to stay in the United Kingdom. They cannot consider complex applications.

Public enquiry offices are very busy and appointments cannot be guaranteed before your current permission to stay (known as 'leave to remain') runs out, so we strongly advise you to submit your application by post where possible.

Waiting Times

It should take between 4and 14 weeks after you give your biometric information to process your visa.

Please note that this timescale is a guideline only, and some cases may take longer to consider.

The service standard is that we will decide 75% of applications within four weeks.

Photographs

You must provide two recent passport photographs of yourself and any partners or children that are applying at the same time as you. All the photographs must have the name of the person in the picture written on the back.

All the photographs should:

- measure 45mm x 35mm; and

- be in colour; and

- be taken against a light grey or cream background; and

- be clear and of good quality; and

- not be framed or backed; and

- not be digitally altered, for example, you cannot use Photoshop to change anything in the image; and

- be full face, without sunglasses, hat or head covering unless you wear this for religious reasons.

The photograph you send will be used on your visa (known as vignette) which is fixed in your passport if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom, or in your ID card if you are applying from inside the United Kingdom.

You must send your original passport or travel document and the original passport or travel document of all any partners, children or parents.

What if I need my passport back before my application to remain in the United Kingdom is decided?

If you need your passport for identification reasons, such as opening a bank account, before the UKBA decide your application, they will return your passport. You should send your passport back to the UKBA as soon as you have used it to confirm your identity. The UKBA will not be able to decide the outcome of your application until you have returned it to thems. Obviously this may delay the decision of your application.

If you ask for your passport back so you can travel outside the common travel area, when the UKBA send it back to you, your application is automatically withdrawn, even if you decide not to travel. If you decide not to travel and still want to stay in the United Kingdom, you will need to apply again and pay a new fee.

If you need to ask for the return of your passport, contact the Immigration Enquiry Bureau.

Do you need help to apply for a course or a visa?

Enrol with one of our local agents who can help you with your paperwork.

Email us to receive more information about our agents in your country.

WE DO NOT OFFER CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS.

• IF YOU APPLY FOR A COURSE WITH A CERTIFICATE THAT STATES THAT YOU HAVE A LEVEL OF ELEMENTARY OR ABOVE, AND  WE DISCOVER THAT YOU ARE A  BEGINNER WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT SCHOOL - YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS AT EXTRA COST UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO JOIN AN ELEMENTARY CLASS.