Limerick Institute of Technology

Tier 4 visas

The Tier 4 (General) student visa is suitable for international students studying a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme lasting longer than six months. When applying for a TIER 4 visa, you must ensure that you can evidence to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that you meet all the academic and financial requirements. BSMI will support you during the process of your Visa application, but you need to be aware of all the relevant information that you need to provide to us at the time of your application.UKVI use a points-based system for visa applications, and you will need 40 points to qualify for a Tier 4 visa. Points are awarded as follows:

30 points for having a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement

Once you have an unconditional offer from us and we have received your 25% tuition fee deposit and you have successfully undertaken a credibility interview with members of BSMI staff, we will send your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies statement (CAS).
Your CAS will include the following details:

• Your unique CAS reference number
• Your name, date of birth and passport number
• Your offer – the title and length of the course and the college details
• Why we have accepted you – the certificates you have provided, your English language ability and if you have studied in the UK before
• The course tuition fees and how much you have paid already
• Our Tier 4 sponsor license number

It is important that you use the same documents to apply for your visa that you did to make your application. This is to ensure that all the information you provide to us is accurate and that your CAS is correct. You will need to apply for your visa using the same information and documents you used for your BSMI application.

UKVI may not award the points if:

• The information on your CAS does not match the information in your visa application
• You are using a CAS to apply for a visa more than three months before the start of your course
• You have used the same CAS before. Each CAS has a unique reference number and can only be used once; if you are making a new Tier 4 visa application, you will need a new CAS statement

10 points for having enough money to support yourself and pay for your course

Course fees

You must show you have enough money to pay the fees for the first year of your course (or the whole course, if less than a year) in an appropriate account for a sufficient period of time. Your CAS will show any money you have already paid to BSMI. This can be taken off the total amount you need to show in your bank account.

Living costs

As BSMI is located outside of London you will need to show £1,015 per month to cover your living costs. You must show you have enough money to cover your living costs for nine months (or the length of your course, if it is less than nine months).

Paying for UK healthcare as part of your student visa application

Students that want to apply for a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK will need to pay a fee to use the National Health Service (NHS) – this is called a ‘migrant health surcharge’. Important information about the migrant health surcharge:

• paying the surcharge gives you access a wide range of healthcare services, including doctors’ consultations
• as a student visa applicant, you will need to pay £300 per year in the UK on a Tier 4 visa
• you must make the payment before you submit or send your visa or immigration application
• you need to make your payment online (https://www.gov.uk/healthcare- immigration-application/pay)
• you cannot obtain a tier 4 visa without making this payment.

How to show you have the required money

UKVI will accept any of the following (or a combination) as proof of the required amount of money:

• Cash funds must be held in a bank account (including advance notice savings and current accounts) for a consecutive 28-day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than one month before your application.
• A letter from a regulated financial institution confirming a loan
• An official financial or government sponsorship

You can use money held in an account owned by your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), providing you show evidence that you are related to them, and you have their permission to use this money. More information can be found at the following link: PDF ATTACHMENT for financial guidance Financial guidance for Tier 4 (General) applicants

UKVI may not award the points if:

• The money is from a credit card or overdraft
• The money is held with a financial institution that cannot be verified by the UK Home Office. UKVI has a list of these financial institutions
• The money has not been in the account for a full 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of your application
• The amount of money shown is not enough when converted to pounds sterling. UKVI will use the exchange rate on the OANDA website  on the date of the closing balance shown on the document provided
• The money is in an account that is not in your name or the name of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) whose permission you have. (For example, money held in a business account.)

Tuberculosis Certificate:

• Applicants will need to obtain a TB certificate if they are studying for over 6 months and have been present in one of the countries listed in Appendix T of the Immigration rules for more than 6 months immediately prior to the visa application: https://www.gov.uk/tb-test-visa/countries-where-you-need-a-tb- test-to-enter-the-uk

Pre- Cas Questionnaire

Once all the submitted documents are assessed and validated by BSMI, we will ask students to complete a PRE-CAS Questionnaire, which will be rigorously checked and compared with the answers given during the Credibility Interview held by BSMI. Please note: If you fail the credibility interview taken with BSMI, you will not be issued a CAS to study your course in the United Kingdom. Please complete the PRE-CAS
questionnaire in an honest and clear way as your answers will be cross- checked with the Credibility Interview to ensure your intentions to study at BSMI is genuine.

Credibility Interviews

• • In addition to the 40 points, you must gain for your CAS and financial evidence, you will be expected to take a Tier 4 credibility interview, either in person at the visa
    application centre via Skype or both. The interview will discuss the course that you wish to study in the UK, where you will be studying, why you have decided to study your chosen course, your personal and financial circumstances, and your future plans after graduation.
  • The interview will also determine if your English language ability is of a suitable standard. These interviews give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are a genuine student, committed to studying in the UK with a clear understanding of what, why and where you will study.
  • At the interview, you should answer in an honest and clear way. The questions that will be asked should relate to you and your decision to study the course you have chosen. Your interview is likely to be between 8 and 30 questions long, depending on what information the interviewer thinks they need from you.
  • Prior to issuing a CAS, all students must attend to BSMI’s credibility interview, which will last about 45 minutes. During this time, BSMI will ask you all the questions relevant to your chosen studies and how studying this course will help you with your future plans

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Essential Reading and Information

Tier 4/Student visa route student visa – https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Financial guidance for Tier 4 (General) applicants
TIER 4 SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE2.O