Completing an application form for a Tier 4 (General) student visa outside of the UK
Information on applying for entry clearance under Tier 4 of the Points Based System is available on the UK Visas website.
In particular please refer to the Tier 4 General & Child student visa application guidance document INF29
If you are applying for a Tier 4 (General) student visa from outside of the UK then you must complete the following two forms:
Application form VAF9 – PBS Migrant - available on the UKBA website
and
PBS Appendix 8 General Student self assessment form - (Appendix 8 is only available as a PDF document and must be completed manually).
If you are submitting your application form online, please note that you will usually only complete application form VAF9 online. You will then need to print off Appendix 8 and submit it with your supporting documents. If you are in any doubt about how the process works or the forms you need to complete in your country, please see the UK Visas website.
Please note that these application forms are sometimes amended and that if you are not applying online you must always ensure that you use the most recent version of the application forms. You can check this by visiting the UK Visas website.
Please read the VAF9 Guidance notes carefully before making your application. The guidance notes are available on the right hand side of the UK Border Agency Tier 4 information page.
It is also important that you read the Tier 4 Policy Guidance before you complete your application form as this contains all of the requirements for making a successful Tier 4 application.
Tier 4 Policy Guidance (PDF)
You may also find it helpful to read the UKCISA information sheet Making an immigration application as a Tier 4 (General) student in your home country.
You can find a guide to the current visa processing times in your home country at the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website - Guide to visa processing times.
Application fee
The application fee for Tier 4 (General) student applications made outside of the UK is currently £220 (payable in the local currency).
Please contact your local visa application centre for confirmation of the fees in your country and methods of payment.
Tuberculosis (TB) screening
If you are applying for a visa to come to the UK for longer than six months and you are resident in one of the following countries then you will need to get a certificate confirming that you do not have tuberculosis (TB) before you apply for your visa:
- Bangladesh
- Ghana (which also processes applications for Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Niger)
- Kenya (which also processes applications for Eritrea, Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Tanzania)
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Thailand (which also processes applications for Cambodia and Laos)
For more information about Tuberculosis testing please see the UKBA applying for a visa information.
Any questions?
We understand that applying for Tier 4 visa can be confusing; if you have any questions regarding how to complete the application forms then please contact us.
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk
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Please note that the above information is subject to change; please check the UK Border Agency’s website for updates. The information herein provided is given in good faith for information only purposes. The information herewith provided is not intended to nor does it constitute legal advice. St George’s, University of London does not warrant the accuracy of the information provided and accepts no liability whatsoever as any claims arising from reliance thereon.
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