Advice from VISA Team
How do I apply?
When: You should make your
application as early as possible.
However, you cannot apply more
than three months before the start
date of your course, as stated on
your Confirmation of Acceptance for
Studies (CAS). If you submit your
visa application before that, it will be
refused. When you apply from outside
of the UK the ’date of application’ is
the date that you pay for your visa
application online.
Where: You must make your
application while in your home country
or the country where you are officially
resident. However, if you are a national
of North Korea, you cannot make your
application online. You will not usually
be allowed to make a Tier 4 (General)
application from outside of your home
country or the country where you are
officially resident. If you want to submit
an application in another country, you
should contact the British diplomatic
post there to find out if it can be
accepted.
How: All students, except those living in
North Korea, will apply online.
You can find the application form
online: www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa.
When you are completing the
application form, make sure that
you have all the details of your CAS
available. Your CAS will have all the
answers you need about your course,
previous qualifications and financial
details. You need to specify a location
in the UK where you will collect your
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
Once you have prepared all of your
documents, completed the application
and attended your appointment at
the Visa Application Centre, you must
send your application and supporting
documents to the Embassy. The
application will tell you the address to
post your documents. You must only
send original documents with your
application.
Where documents are not in English
(or Welsh), translations which meet
UKVI requirements, must be included
with the original documents. This must
include:
• Signature and date of the translator
• Details of the translator/translation
company’s credentials and contact
details
• Confirmation that it is an accurate
translation of the original document.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
The immigration health surcharge is
a financial contribution to the UK’s
National Health Service. It is a single
payment made at the time of your
visa application (if you are applying
online) and applies to students and
dependants.
If you are coming to the UK to study (or
join family in the UK as a dependant)
for more than six months, you will be
required to pay £150 per year of your
visa. If this period of leave includes part
of a year that is less than 6 months or
less, the amount payable is £75.
Your visa will include a period after the
end of your studies which is included
in the payment. For example, on a
12-month study programme you may
have a 16-month visa and would need
to pay £225 (£150 full year + £75-part
year).
Your visa will not be granted if you do
not pay the healthcare surcharge and
your application will be delayed if you
do not pay the correct amount. Please
contact the VISA Team if you require
clarification.
If you are applying for a visitor visa or a
visa for less than 6 months, you do not
need to pay this healthcare surcharge.
Low Risk National
If you are a national of a country listed
on Immigration Rules Appendix H
(Tier 4 Documentary Requirements)
and applying from your home country
or the UK, you can apply under the
differentiation arrangement.
This means you are not normally
required to submit bank statements or
documents used to obtain your CAS.
However UKVI can request them at any
point during your application. If they are
requested and you do not provide them
within the specified timescale, your visa
application may be refused. GCU may
request to see these documents also.
Visit the Home Office website for a list
of countries this is applicable: www.gov.
uk/guidance/immigration-rules
Biometric Appointment
As part of the visa application, you will
have your fingerprints and photograph
taken at your nearest Visa Application
Centre to provide your biometric
information. All Tier 4 Students are
required to provide this.
What is a Credibility Interview?
Credibility interviews assess your
genuine desire to study in the UK and
you are expected to demonstrate your
English language ability.
You may be asked to undertake an
interview with an Entry Clearance
Officer as part your visa application.
If you are called for an interview, the
interview will take place when you
are called to submit your biometric
information, such as your fingerprints.
If you fail to attend the interview, your
visa application will likely be refused.
Will I have to attend an interview?
If you are applying for a Tier 4 (General)
visa from overseas you should expect to
receive a short credibility interview.
If you are applying for a Tier 4 (General)
visa from the UK, you may be required
to attend an interview as the Home
Office need further information to make
a decision on your visa application:
• To explain any differences between
the supporting documents you have
provided, and the information in your
visa application form
• To allow the caseworker to access
whether academic progression
requirement is met, and that it
matches your career plans, if you
have previously studied a course
which is at the same level as the new
course.
At the interview you will be expected to
provide reasons for choosing to study
at GCU. When making this assessment,
the caseworker may consider the level
of both courses, the subject matter of
the new and previous courses; your
education history; your reason for
wishing to study the new course and
whether the justification statement
sufficiently explains why you are
applying to study a course at the same
level.
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