Your Tier 4 (General) student visa
If you obtain your Tier 4 (General) student visa before you come to the UK then it will normally be in the form of a of a sticker or vignette in your passport.
If you obtain your Tier 4 (General) student visa from within the UK it will normally be in the form of an identity card known as a ‘Biometric Residence Permit’.
As soon as you receive your visa you should check that all of the information on it is correct; in particular you should check:
- Your personal details
- That it says ‘Tier 4’
- That it contains St. George’s Tier 4 Sponsor licence number (please contact us if you do not know what this is)
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk - That it has the correct start and end dates (see below)
If any of the information on your visa is incorrect it is important that you have it corrected as soon as possible.
If you applied for your visa in your home country then you should contact the Visa Application Centre where you applied for your visa immediately. You should do your best to have your visa corrected before you travel to the UK.
However, if you are unable to have your visa corrected before you come to the UK, for example because you do not notice the error until a later date, then please contact us and we will do our best to assist you.
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk
If you applied for your visa from within the UK you should contact the UKBA immediately using the contact details on the letter that accompanied your Biometric Residence Permit. If you require assistance with this then please contact us.
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk
Visa length
Start date:
Main courses of study
If your course is less than six months long then you will be able to come to the UK seven days before your course start date.
If your course is six months long, or longer, then you will be able to come to the UK one month before your course start date.
Pre-sessional courses (that is courses that prepare you for a main course of study)
You will be able to come to the UK one month before your course start date.
Please refer to paragraphs 80-82 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance for more information.
End date:
Main courses of study
If your course is less than six months long then your visa should end seven days after your course end date.
If your course is at least six months long but less than 12 months then your visa should end two months after your course end date.
If your course is 12 months long, or longer, then your visa should end four months after your course end date.
Pre-sessional courses (that is courses that prepare you for a main course of study)
If your course is less than six months long then your visa should end one month after your course end date.
If your course is at least six months long but less than 12 months then your visa should end two months after your course end date.
If your course is 12 months long, or longer, then your visa should end four months after your course end date.
Please refer to paragraph 83 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance for more information.
Students who receive official financial sponsorship
If you receive official financial sponsorship for your studies in the UK and your financial sponsor places a limit on how long you can stay in the UK then this may affect the length of your visa. You should be granted a visa until the date specified by your official financial sponsor plus the additional periods listed above, (however, you will not be granted longer than the periods listed above).
For example, if the start date of your course is 19 September 2011 and the end date of your course is 17 July 2015 but you are receiving financial sponsorship from the Malaysian government and they have stated in your financial sponsorship letter that they will only sponsor you until 1 July 2014 you will only be granted a visa until 1 November 2014, (that is the length of your financial sponsorship plus four months).
Travelling to the UK
We recommend that you read the UKCISA information sheets about Arriving and living in the UK before you come to the UK.
We also recommend that you carry the documents that you used to obtain your Tier 4 visa in your hand luggage when you travel to the UK, (for example your CAS statement and English language qualification). Although having a Tier 4 visa should be sufficient to enter the UK you might be questioned about your reason for coming to the UK when you arrive at the border.
Registering with the police once you have arrived in the UK
If your visa states that you must register with the police then you must do this within seven days of arriving in the UK. Failing to do so can have serious consequences for any future visa applications you may make, as well as your current immigration permission in the UK.
You can register with the police by visiting the Overseas Visitors Records Office in Borough. The address is:
Ground Floor, Brandon House
180 Borough High Street
Borough
London
SE1 1LH
The nearest underground station is Borough, which is on the Northern line.
The office is open between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday, although it does sometimes close early during busy periods. You can telephone 020 7230 1208 for recorded information about the procedure.
You will need your passport, visa and the registration fee of £34.
If you are accompanied by any dependants then please check their visas to see if they are required to register with the police. If registering with the police is a requirement of their visa then they must register in person within seven days of arriving in the UK.
Once you have a Police Registration certificate you must let the police know if any of the following information changes:
- Your personal details, such as your name or marital status (including your address)
- The length of your visa
- Where you are studying
- Your passport details
Travelling abroad during your time in the UK
Tier 4 (General) student visas are multiple entry; this means that you can travel in and out of the UK during your time in the UK and your visa will remain valid until its expiry date. However, you must make sure that you have suitable immigration permission to enter the country that you are travelling to; for more information you should contact the embassy or consulate of the country that you intend to visit.
Working whilst in the UK
When you receive your visa, you should check what it says with regards to working. If it says any of the following then you are allowed to work whilst in the UK:
- Work (and any changes) must be authorised
- Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State
- Work as in Tier 4 Rules
- Restricted Work. P/T term time. F/T vacations
- Restricted work term time
- Work limited to max 20 hrs per week during term-time
- Work limited to max 10 hrs per week during term-time.
If your visa says either of the following, you must not work while you are in the UK:
- No work
- Work prohibited
For more information, including how many hours a week you are allowed to work, please see Working during your studies on the UKCISA website.
Changing course or institution
Tier 4 visas are issued to allow you to study a particular course at a particular institution, as per the information on your CAS. Therefore if you wish to change institution then you will need to obtain a new Tier 4 visa, (or if you applied for your current visa before 5th October 2009 you will have to apply to the UKBA for permission to switch institution).
If you want to change course you won’t necessarily need to apply for a new visa, but you should still seek immigration advice before you change your course.
Therefore please contact us for more information if you are thinking about changing your course or your institution.
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk
Extending your Tier 4 visa while in the UK
If your current visa is not long enough to cover the duration of your course, (for example because you need to re-sit exams), then please contact us.
email: visaadvice@sgul.ac.uk
We will be happy to offer you an appointment to discuss the Tier 4 application process. We also offer a ‘Tier 4 checking service’ to check your Tier 4 application form and supporting documents before you submit them to the UK Border Agency.
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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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