Student Services
Visa advice: Extending your Tier 4 student visa in the UK
Important
- Summary of changes from 6 April 2012>>
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- How do I extend my visa?
- Check and Send Visa Service
- Visa extension workshops
- Documents required
- What if my documents aren't in English?
- When should I apply to extend my student visa?
- What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?
- How long will it take to get my passport back?
- I need to extend urgently so that I can travel - can I apply in person?
- What about my dependants?
- Can I extend my visa at home over the holidays?
- My visa has been refused what shall I do?
- Terms and conditions of using the International Student Advice Service
How do I extend my visa?
Students extending their visa in the UK are strongly advised to use our Check and Send Service to minimise the risk of refusal.
Check and Send Visa Service
- Register on and attend a visa workshop
You must attend a workshop before an adviser can check your application
- Fill in the correct application form and prepare your documents
- Make an appointment with an adviser:
go to the 4 West Student Services Centre / ring 01225 38558 - Ask general advice during a drop-in advice session, 4 West Student Services Centre
- We check your application and documents and send your application to UKBA for you at no extra cost
- We contact UKBA as necessary and oversee your application until UKBA have made a decision and your passport and documents are returned to us
- We return your passport and documents to you and advise you of any further action required
If you
make a mistake on the form or do not include all the required documents
your visa may be refused and you will not be able to appeal that decision. In
order to minimise the risk of this happening, we are offering to send
your application to the UK Border Agency on your behalf via our Check
and Send Visa service, which makes use of a UKBA scheme for universities
to send Tier 4 applications.
It is however your responsiblity to ensure your application is complete and correct.
You must prepare your documents and the application form carefully before attending
your Check and Send Visa Service appointment.
Documents required
Low-risk nationals - some nationalities do not need to provide all supporting documents with their application. However, you must have these documents available on the date of your application as UKBA may ask to see them. If UKBA asks you to submit any documents, your application will be refused if you are unable to provide them. The International Student Advisers must see your documents before sending your application.
1) The application form. You
must print the form yourself (double sided) and bring it filled in to your appointment:
Tier 4 (general) application form...>>
Each dependant must fill in a separate form...>>
Use a black pen.
It is your responsibility to check you have the most recent form when you are ready to send your application.
2) Application Fee - £394 by
post (plus £197 per dependant if applying at the same time) or £716 in
person (plus £358 per dependant if applying at the same time);
Please pay with postal orders - buy these in a post office - they are like vouchers and cost around £25. You will need to pay the full
fee in cash to the Post Office. Make them payable to 'Home Office'.
Write your name and date of birth on the back.
3) Your current passport (and previous passport only if your current visa is in it);
4) Biometric Residence Permit if you have one;
4) Two passport sized photographs. Write your name on the back. These must be identical. UKBA provide strict guidance on photographs required. NB It is your responsibility to check that the photos meet this guidance.
5) A
Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from
the University.
To request a CAS:
1. Log into SAMIS
2. Click 'Student Services Helpdesk' in the top right corner.
3. Select 'Log New Enquiry'
4. Select the appropriate category ('All International Student Visa Advice'
/ 'CAS Request')
5. Enter the title as 'CAS Request'
6. Enter the information on the form - passport number and visa expiry are essential. We cannot produce the CAS until this information has been supplied.
7. Submit the request. Complicated cases can take up to 15 working days in some situations.
Once the CAS has been generated, a CAS Statement will be emailed directly to
your University email account, this must be checked regularly.
The CAS is valid for six months and can be used up to 3 months before the start of your course if starting a new course.
6) Original certificates for all qualifications mentioned on your CAS statement
7) Financial Proof
- You must have:
- £7,200 if you have just completed a pre-sessional English course which was less than 6 months, and this was the first course you have done in the UK, PLUS your first year of fees. - - £1,600 if you have a valid visa and have been studying here for 6 months or more PLUS your first year of fees (or remaining fees if you are extending for less than a year).
- You will need more if you have dependants.
- The required money must have been in the bank account for a consecutive 28 day period.
- Original bank statements covering 28 days (and printed no more than 28 days before date of application). You can use your bank statements or your parents/legal guardian's statements. If you don't have original bank statements you can ask the bank to print one for you - make sure that each page is on headed paper and has your name and accound details on. You can also print an online statement and ask the bank to stamp each page.
- If you are using your parents'/legal guardians' bank statements, you must also provide a birth certificate to prove your relationship with them PLUS an original signed and dated letter from them giving their consent to giving you the money for your study in the UK PLUS an original signature and date on the data protection statement at the end of the application form.
- You can use overseas statements, but if they are not in English, you must also send a fully certified translation by a professional translator. This must include the translator's qualifications, confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document, the date and the translator's signature.
- If you are using overseas statements, you must write the closing balance in pounds sterling on the application form. Use the official exchange rate on the OANDA website.
- If you receive official financial sponsorship by a government, government agency, an international organisation, international company or university, you will need a letter from your sponsor with full details of the amount you will receive. If your fees and maintenance are paid in full by your sponsor, they must also consent to you extending your time in the UK. The letter must be stamped and on headed paper.
- You can show a receipt for fee payments and take this off the amount in your bank account. You can obtain receipts from Student Finance.
- You can show a receipt for University accommodation payments up to a maximum of £1,000 and take this off the amount in your bank account. You can obtain receipts from Accommodation Services.
- Lists of overseas financial institutions which are not accepted by UKBA
8) Your Police Registration Certificate. If you are required to register with the police this will be stated in your passport. Please make sure it has your current address on it. More information...>>
9) Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
Certificate
Important: if you need an ATAS certificate,
apply early! There are often delays in processing ATAS applications.
If you are a postgraduate or MEng student and you hold a student visa you may need to get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate. Please see the FCO website for more information.
References for ATAS applications - one of your referees must be an academic from your home country. If this is a problem for you, please see an International Student Adviser.
UKBA only accepts original documents. Photocopies or faxes are unacceptable. Please remember to photocopy your passport and any other documents you consider important for your records.
What if my documents aren't in English?
You must also send a fully certified translation by a professional
translator. This must include the translator's qualifications, contact details and signature, confirmation
from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original
document and the date.
Be careful with translations obtained overseas and used for visa applications overseas - UKBA requirements are different when applying overseas.
When should I apply to extend my student visa?
- You should apply as soon as you have all your documents ready.
- You can apply up until the day (Monday - Friday) before the last date of your leave to remain/visa (your visa remains valid once posted). However, it is a good idea to send your application to UKBA around 3 months before your current visa is due to expire.
- If you apply late you will be classed as an 'overstayer' and you will not be given the right to appeal if you are refused. You may also not be able to apply for entry clearance overseas for 12 months.
- Note that if your application is returned as invalid or refused, and your previous visa has expired, you will need to show the higher maintenance requirements.
It is very important that you send your application on time before your visa expires.
- If you do not have all your documents ready before the expiry date, it is still very important to send the application (you may be able to send the documents at a later date).
What is a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)?
All students extending their leave to remain in the UK will be given a Biometric Residence Permit which will contain personal data and your immigration details. The process is as follows:
- International Student Advice Team will check and send your application;
- You will receive a letter from UKBA at your home address asking you to enrol your biometrics. It is essential that you do this quickly - your application will not be looked at until your biometrics are recorded and may be returned invalid if not completed within the specified time frame.
- Enrol your biometrics either:
- at a Post Office offering the service: nearest to Bath are in Bristol (The Galleries, Broadmead) and Keynsham (44 The High Street), or
- book an appointment (it is your responsibility to book your appointment within 15 working days (Monday - Friday) of receiving the letter). The appointment will be at a Biometric Enrolment Centre. The nearest ones to Bath are Cardiff and Croydon (South-East London);
Please note that your visa will now be recorded on your Biometric Identity Card and not in your passport.
How long will it take to get my passport back?
Processing time can be between 4-12 weeks. It can take longer if extra checks are required or in busy periods. Consider this if you are planning to travel and make your application early.
We advise you to wait until your visa and passport are returned until you book any tickets.
Your passport and Biometric Residence Permit will be sent to the International Student Advice Team - we will email you when they have both been received.
I need to extend urgently - can I apply in person?
Yes. You can extend your visa in person by attending a Public Enquiry Office (PEO).
In person: This costs £716. Most students go to the Public Enquiry Office (PEO) in Cardiff or Croydon (south east London). You will need to make an appointment. Please see the UK Border Agency website for details of how to book an appointment and how to find the PEO.
A decision will normally be made on the day. However, Biometric Residence Permits (which will have your visa information on them) are not issued on the day - they will be posted to you within 5 days.
UKBA only allows people with less than 6 weeks left of their student visa to apply in person. If you have more than 6 weeks left, we advise you to apply by post.
You are strongly advised to bring your application in to be checked by an adviser during a drop-in advice session before attending your appointment.
Check and send service for in person applications: We are part of a Universities service with Cardiff Public Enquiry Office. We will check and send your application and stay in touch with the caseworker to monitor your application. This is also £716 and takes 1-2 weeks. For Universities only - please discuss with an adviser.
What about my dependants?
Dependants application form and policy guidance...>>
Dependants must apply on a separate form but you should send their application in the same envelope as yours if applying together.
You will need to show evidence that you have £450 for up to two months (or nine months if you have been studying in the UK less than 6 months) to support each dependant (so, normally this will be £900 per dependant).
Note that if you are sponsored and your sponsor is paying for your dependants to live in the UK also, the sponsor's letter must state the amount they are providing for the dependants.
Note that the application fee is higher if dependants apply separately to you.
Can I extend my visa at home over the holidays?
Yes - see our applicants pages for further information...>>
You will need to follow above instructions to obtain your CAS.
My visa has been refused what shall I do?
We will advise you if your application has been refused and make an appointment to discuss your options.