Revised forms now available include: 

• Tier 4 (General) student
• Tier 4 (Child) student and
• Points-based system dependant

These forms are only to be used if you are applying ‘in country’ from within the UK.

Forms for overseas applications are available on the visa services website.

Points-based system: Revised policy guidance for tier 4 of the points-based system and for PBS dependants

Revised versions of the policy guidance for tier 4 of the points-based system, and of the PBS dependants policy guidance, have now been published.

Other key changes that are included in the revised guidance are highlighted below: 

Proof of availability of finances – transitional arrangements

There are transitional arrangements in place that allow applicants to show they have the money needed to meet the maintenance requirements of tier 4, on the day that they apply, rather than for a period of 28 days prior to their application. 

Proof of availability of finances – loan documentation

 The policy guidance allows applicants to provide a letter from an appropriately regulated financial institution confirming availability of funds in the form of a loan.

Slight revisions have been made to the required content of these loan letters, to allow for the fact that they will not always include an applicant’s account number.

Official financial sponsorship

Prior to 1 June 2009, there was no provision for a tier 4 migrant’s official financial sponsor to extend their financial sponsorship to the family members of the tier 4 migrant.

From 1 June 2009 a tier 4 migrant’s official financial sponsor will be permitted to extend their financial sponsorship to cover the tier 4 migrant’s dependants.

Electronic signatures on visa letters

Visa letters must be signed and dated by an authorised official (original or electronic signature).

The policy guidance has been revised to clarify that either a digital signature or a scanned signature will be accepted as an ‘electronic signature’ for these purposes.

Maintenance requirements – inner and outer London

Applicants studying in inner London are required to show a higher level of funds to cover their living costs than those studying outside London.

The definition of who the higher maintenance requirements apply to has not changed, but has been altered to clarify the fact that the higher maintenance requirements apply only to those who will be studying in inner London and that applicants who will be studying in outer London, or elsewhere in the UK, will be assessed against the lower requirements.

Date of application

The date of application will be taken to be the following:

For applications made in the United Kingdom

• where the application form is sent by post, the date of posting
• where the application form is sent by courier, the date on which it is delivered to the UK Border Agency of the Home Office

For applications made outside the United Kingdom

the date that the fee associated with the application is paid.

This means the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on how you paid for your visa application, for example, at a British Diplomatic Post, visa application centre or online.

See also: Make sure your college is on the Tier 4 Sponsors Register before renewing your visa, which outlines details of the new 56 page ‘TIER 4 (G)’ form (APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OF LEAVE AND BIOMETRIC IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT UNDER TIER 4 GENERAL STUDENT).

This form replaces the FLR form, clearly requests the ‘Sponsor Licence Number’ in section 3.  

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Since Tier 4 of the Points based System was implemented on 31 March this year, colleges must be licensed by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to take international students on student visas. 

In country students already in the system do not come to light until they want to extend their visas. 

The new 56 page ‘TIER 4 (G)’ form (APPLICATION FOR A GRANT OF LEAVE AND BIOMETRIC IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT UNDER TIER 4 GENERAL STUDENT), which replaces the FLR form, clearly requests the ‘Sponsor Licence Number’ in section 3. 

Evelie, an OISC registered adviser with Bison UK, has advised several students this week whose visas are expiring but are studying at colleges not yet licensed by the UKBA. 

Some have even been told by the non-registered college that their “applications have been sent to the Home Office”, which leaves the students in a very dangerous position since the application, in the unlikely event that it had been submitted, would be rejected. 

Evelie was worried that they could be left stranded if their visas expired. She said:  

“The students are being kept in the dark by the college, which has applied for the sponsor licence, whilst the clock is ticking on their visas.

“If their visa expires they will have to leave the UK and could be branded an ‘overstayer’.

“Others have had their applications returned by the UKBA advising them to “register with a licensed college”. 

You can check the Sponsors Register on the ‘Sponsoring students under the points-based system for immigration‘ of the UKBA website. 

Colleges appearing on the register will be given a Tier 4 ‘A’ or Tier 4 ‘B’ rating based on a scoring system, but the main point is that they must be listed. 

Colleges not yet listed may be one of the hundreds of educational institutions still be going through the accreditation process with one of the accreditation bodies such the British Council, BAC or ASIC. 

ASIC publishes a directory of colleges accredited or currently going through the process.

Once a college is accredited it can apply for a Tier 4 licence, which will take around six weeks and involve an inspection visit by a UK Border Agency officer.   

Cynthia Barker, Centre Manager of Majestic College, which has received its Tier 4 Licence, said the whole accreditation and licensing process could take up to nine months.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Studying in the UK, Settlement, Citizenship, Sponsorship, extending Work Permits, Visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk