With years of experience in international education, up to date knowledge of UK admission trends, native English speaker, and receiver of the British Council’s “Educational Consultant Qualification” Suzanna is committed to helping students carry out a comprehensive plan for successful studying in the UK.
For those who haven’t gotten done, and those who have chosen to study abroad and don’t know about it, Suzanna has prepared a Tier4 (General) student visa application guide for everyone.
Chinese students studying in the UK need to apply for a Tier 4 Student Visa.
Students need to meet the 40 points required by the Border Agency (Border Agency points-based system):
(1) 30 points by getting a University Admission Confirmation Letter (CAS);
(2) 10 points from proof that you have enough funds to study abroad to pay for your courses and living expenses.
The British visa categories for international students are the Tier 4 General Student Visa and the Tier 4 Junior Student Visa.
If you are 16 years old you can apply for a general student visa (level 4). To study in the UK and you must:
☑️ Be Admitted to a school in the UK
☑️ Can listen, speak, read, write and understand English
☑️ Have sufficient funds to support yourself and pay for related courses
☑️ Be from outside the European Economy (EEA) or Switzerland
☑️ Meet other eligibility requirements
Visa applications can be submitted as early as three months before the start of your courses. The visa processing time is usually 15 working days.
❶ Visa application form
All UK visas in China must be completed through the UK Visa Immigration Office (UKVI) online application system which needs:
(1) Fill in and submit the application form online-https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier4
(2) Complete the appointment with the Visa Application Center online;
(3) After completing the online application, you can download the form and material list, print it out and sign at the corresponding location.
❷ A valid passport
Requires a validity of at least 6 months, at least blank pages on the front and back of the same page, and used passports. Passports can be obtained from the public security bureau or immigration bureau where the household registration is located.
❸ CAS (student admission confirmation number)
Provide in the visa application form.
❹ Biometric card
If you have studied in the UK before, you can use your old card if it is still valid.
❺ Tuberculosis test certificate
If you stay in the UK for more than 6 months, you must submit a tuberculosis test certificate from an authorized clinic.
❻ Health care surcharge
Most applicants will need to pay and obtain an IHS reference number when applying online.
❼ Academic and technical review certificate
If your school acceptance letter requires you to submit it, such as ATAS certification.
❽ Pay the application fee online
From July 6, 2018, Chinese students no longer need to submit proof of funds, academic qualifications or proof of English proficiency when applying for visas. However, all Chinese students still need to meet the Tier 4 visa requirements. The UK Visas and Immigration Service reserves the right to request complete documents from applicants by random inspection.
These three types of materials still need to be prepared in accordance with the original requirements.
You can find detailed information on the required documents from the following UKVI website
link: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa/documents-you-must-provide
The full name of CAS is Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. In short, CAS is a virtual document similar to a database record. Each CAS has a unique reference number that contains course information and student information. The university will not start CAS processing until three months before your start date. The CAS is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
Students must prove their knowledge of the English language when they apply for a visa. This usually means passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT). Students must be able to demonstrate they can speak English to the required standard (B1 or B2), when interviewed by UK Visas and Immigration officers.
If the student cannot hold a simple conversation without an interpreter the student may be refused. These interviews can take place at the Visa office in the students’ home country by Skype, but they may also be interviewed on arrival to the UK by immigration officers.
If you will stay in the UK for more than 6 months, you will need a tuberculosis (TB) test and a chest X-ray to check for tuberculosis before your first entry.
If the results of the X-ray examination are unclear, you may also be asked to provide a sample.
If the test shows you are tuberculosis free, you will get a certificate valid for 6 months from the date of the X-ray examination. This is required for a UK student visa applications.
Chinese citizens who have been in the UK for longer than 6 months or more will receive a Bio-Information Card (BRP), which is a voucher to work, study and use public services in the UK.
Students will need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of their application. Students will then have to collect their biometric residence permit within 10 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK (even if they actually arrive at a later date).
Any individual holding a bioinformatics card can enter or leave the UK during the validity period of the bioinformatics card.
With a Tier 4 visa, you have enough time to complete your courses in the UK and stay for a period of time after (depending on the type and duration of the courses).
You can arrive in the UK before the classes start:
If the course lasts 6 months or less, it can be up to 1 week in advance;
If the course lasts more than 6 months, it can be up to 1 month in advance.
Major Course Duration:
For more than 12 months, the visa covers the length of the entire course plus 4 months after the end of the course;
6 months or more, but less than 12 months, the visa covers the entire length of the course plus a 2-month course after the course;
For less than 6 months, the visa covers full-length courses and 7 days after the course ends.
Visit the UKVI site for a full overview of the Tier 4 Points-Based System policy guidance. The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website is another important site for you to check – it has clear, useful information about visas.
Regarding the application for study abroad and visa, you can scan the QR code below and leave a message to ask CURIO’s admissions counselor.
WeChat ID: CurioEducation
