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We are delighted that you have chosen to study at
QueensUniversity Belfast. This leaflet provides some brief
informationabout the United Kingdom Border Agencys (UKBA)
PointsBased System (PBS) immigration rules and some
basicinformation about applying for a visa.
1. What is the Points-Based System (PBS)?
The PBS reflects UK immigration rules and includes theconcept of
Sponsorship, in which education providersmust be licensed by the UK
Border Agency (UKBA).
Queens University is a Highly Trusted Sponsor and has aUKBA
Sponsor Licence. For PBS, students apply underTier 4. PBS also
requires Sponsors to record, and whennecessary, report specific
information about students whohave a Tier 4 visa (see Section 7 for
more information).
2. Student visa options
The following are brief details on the various types ofstudent
visas for which you can apply:
Points Based System (PBS) Tier 4 (General) StudentVisa:If your
course is six months or longer and isundergraduate or postgraduate
you must apply for a Tier4 (General) student visa. You can apply
for a Tier 4 visa
for some courses which are under six months in duration.With a
Tier 4 visa you can normally work in the UK andextend or change
your visa route without leaving the UK.For full student guidance on
Tier 4 go
to:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/
Tier 4 Points Required:To apply for a visa under Tier 4 you must
score aminimum of 40 points as shown below:
You can assess your points
at:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/
Full information on maintenance can be found
at:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/
Student Visitor Visa (SVV):You can apply as a student visitor if
you are 18 years oldor over, you want to come to the United Kingdom
to do a
course for up to six months, and you do not want to workwhile
you are here. You will not require a CAS for thistype of visa
application. You will be required to attend aninstitution which
holds a Sponsor Licence.
Some students do not need a visa to enter the UK tostudy for
courses which are up to six months. However,we recommend that all
of our international students obtainan entry clearance visa prior
to coming to the UK. If youdecide not to apply for an entry
clearance visa beforecoming to the UK, please be aware that you
MUST enterthrough a UK port of entry (see Port of Entry Stamp).
You will not be able to switch and apply for an adultstudent
visa while you are in the United Kingdom as astudent visitor. If
you want to apply for an adult studentvisa, you must apply from the
country you live in.
Dependants:You may have husband/wife/children who want to come
tothe UK with you. Your family and friends can come to visityou in
the UK for less than six months, and if they wish todo so they
should apply for a visitor visa. However, newrules state that only
students who are coming to do apostgraduate course of 12 months or
more in length canbring their families to the UK as their
dependants. If youare a postgraduate student who will be coming for
12months or more, your family members must apply for aPBS Dependant
visa. Details can be found
at:http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.php
Port of Entry Stamp:We recommend that you arrive via a UK port
of entrysuch as Heathrow, Gatwick, Belfast, or Manchester.When your
visa is issued to you it grants you entryclearance to arrive in the
UK. When you enter a UK portof entry your visa will then be stamped
by an immigrationofficer granting you leave to enter the UK. This
stamp isvery important as it activates your visa. If you come
viathe Republic of Ireland you will not receive this stamp andyou
may not be deemed as having a right to remain in theUK, and
therefore, to study. If you are planning to arrivein the Republic
of Ireland you must contact our
International Student Support Team for further advice(See
section 8).
For details go
to:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/
3. Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
Some programmes require an ATAS certificate. We willinform you
if you need an ATAS certificate and provide
you with the necessary information to enable you to applyfor
this. An ATAS certificate is free of charge and takesbetween 10 and
20 working days to receive. You musthave this before you can apply
for your visa: therefore, ifyou need to, you should apply for your
ATAS certificate assoon as possible (see Section 8).
4. Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
When you apply for a Tier 4 visa youmust include aConfirmation
of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
number.We will send your CAS details when you accept
anunconditional offer of a place to study at Queens,but we will not
send it to you any earlier than sixmonths before the start of your
course. However, it isessential that you reply to your offer as
soon aspossible.
The CAS number will be included in a letter called aCAS
Statement. This will have importantinformation needed for your visa
application including:o Details of any deposits paid or reference
to any
scholarships or stipends awarded;o The Universitys Sponsor
Licence number;o Details of the information the University
provided on your CAS about your entryqualifications which were
used to make a
decision to offer you a place. You must includethe original
documents (certificates and/ortranscripts) when you apply for your
visa asevidence to verify your qualifications.
The CAS Statement is NOT a mandatory part of thevisa
application. However, we recommend that youuse the CAS Statement
with your visa application as itgives your CAS number and course
details.Your visa application and the CAS information mustshow your
name as it is written in your passport.
The CAS must be used within six months of it beingissued to
you.
You cannot apply for your visa more than threemonths before the
start date of your course.
The start date will normally be defined as the startdate of the
Orientation Programme for International
Students or the date your classes start. If you plan toarrive on
a different date you must let us know whenyou plan to arrive. This
is very important as we mustinform the UK Border Agency (UKBA) if
you do notarrive on time (see Section 7).
When your visa is issued to you it will include ourUniversity
name and our Sponsor Licence number.
You can have a CAS from a number of Universitiesbut you can only
use one to apply for your visa. Thismust be the CAS issued by the
University whichprovides the programme you will study. You
musttherefore be sure where you want to study.
Visa letter or Confirmation of Acceptance forStudies (CAS)
30Maintenance and Funds est 10
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) 30
Money fees and living expense 10
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.phphttp://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.phphttp://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.phphttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.phphttp://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/your_family.phphttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/can-you-apply/money/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/
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If you use the CAS from Queens and, before youtravel to the UK,
change your mind and want to studyat another University, you must
tell us so we caninform the UKBA and you can re-apply for your
visawith a CAS from a different Sponsor.
If you use the CAS from Queens and arrive in the UKand then
change your mind and want to study atanother University, you must
tell us so that we can tellthe UKBA that we are cancelling your
visa. You willneed to re-apply for a new visa in the UK with
yournew Sponsor. The application to do this will cost atleast
386.00. You may not be able to start studyingat your new University
until the UKBA make adecision about your application, depending on
thestatus of the institution in which you want to study.
You must take original qualification documents andevidence of
finances available (bank statements,sponsorship information etc) to
your visa appointment.
When you receive your CAS statement you must tellus:
(1) If any information is not accurate; and(2) if you later pay
any deposits to Queens
by emailing the Admissions and Access Service, seesection 8 for
details.
5. Applicants already in the UK
If you are currently in the UK and want to stay as a Tier
4student, you can switch into Tier 4 if you currently holdleave (a
visa) in one of the following categories:
International Student Support will be happy to help and
adviseyou with your application.
6. Documents you must bring to Queens
You need to ensure that you bring your originaldocuments to
verify your qualifications when youcome to register as a student at
Queens. Yourimmigration documents (passport, visa and
ATAScertificate) will be copied and checked to make sure you
have the right to study in the UK before you can start
yourcourse. If applicable you must bring your ATAS certificatefor
us to copy.
7. Sponsor obligations
The following outlines key Sponsor obligations whichQueens
University is required to undertake as a Sponsor:Recording
(includes):
Keep a record of your passport andvisa(s)/immigration
documents;
Keep an up-to-date record of your address inthe UK including
your email address andtelephone number(s);
Keep a copy of your ATAS certificate (ifapplicable)
Reporting (includes):
Inform the UKBA if you defer your studiesbefore arriving in the
UK;
Inform UKBA if you do not arrive on theexpected date to start
your course;
Monitor your attendance and inform the UKBA ifyou miss expected
contact points pleasespeak to your School about what these
contactpoints are;
Inform UKBA if you change or withdraw fromyour studies;
Inform the UKBA if you change to anotherSponsor or change your
visa status;
Inform the UKBA if you breach any of theconditions of your
visa
Full details of Sponsor obligations can be found
at:http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance/guidancefrom31mar09/sponsor-guidance-t4-050911.pdf?view=Binary
8. Important contact details
International Student Support:[email protected]
Admissions and Access Service:[email protected]
UKBA visas for studying in the
UK:http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
(ATAS):http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/atas/
Studying at Queens: Visas
and the Points BasedSystem
December 2011
Science and EngineeringGraduates Scheme
Postgraduate doctor ordentist
Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland
Scheme
International GraduateScheme
Work Permit HolderProspective Student
Student Union Sabbatical OfficerTier 2 (MoR)
Students writing up a thesisTier 2 (ICT)
Student NursesTier 2 (General)
Student re-sitting an examTier 1 (Post Study)
All tier 4 categories Student
Science and EngineeringGraduates Scheme
Postgraduate doctor ordentist
Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland
Scheme
International GraduateScheme
Work Permit HolderProspective Student
Student Union Sabbatical OfficerTier 2 (MoR)
Students writing up a thesisTier 2 (ICT)
Student NursesTier 2 (General)
Student re-sitting an examTier 1 (Post Study)
All tier 4 categories Student
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