Making a Tier 4 (General) visa application:

Advice and guidance for Brazilian undergraduate students on the Science without
Borders (SwB) programme in the UK
Please note: This guidance has been drafted to assist Science without Borders (SwB) students with making a
visa application. It does not replace official UK Border Agency (UKBA) policy guidance on how to make a visa
application, and students are advised to always refer to the official UKBA guidance when making an
application.
The University which has offered you a place will also be able to provide you with advice on the UKs
immigration system and making a visa application.

Who is this guidance for?

This information sheet has been created for undergraduate participants on the SwB programme who need
to apply for immigration permission under Tier 4 (General). Tier 4 (General) is the immigration category for
international students taking longer courses in the UK. There are two different types of Tier 4 (General) visas
depending on where you are applying from: Entry clearance and Leave to Remain. As you will be applying
from Brazil only entry clearance will be relevant to you at this point. The process is the same for all
students (with or without a pre-sessional English course.)
Students who will be doing a pre-sessional English language course prior to their main course of study will
need to apply for a second visa to cover their main course of study once they are in the UK. This type of Visa
will be a leave to remain visa and your UK University will support you and manage this process with you
once you have started your pre-sessional English language course here in the UK. There is no need to return
to Brazil or leave the UK to obtain the second visa.

Contents
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Introduction to visas
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
Visa Application
Evidence of financial support
Grounds for refusal
When your immigration permission is issued
University duties to UKBA
Help and other sources
FAQS

1. Introduction
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is the department within the Home Office that is responsible for immigration
into the UK. To study in the UK, you need to apply to the UK immigration authorities for a Tier 4 visa.
If you want to make a successful Tier 4 (General) application, it is extremely important that:

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before you apply, you read and understand the UKBA's Tier 4 Guidance
[http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf ]
- this information sheet is based on version 04/13 of the policy guidance, to be used for all Tier 4
applications on or after 6 April 2013. You should always check that you are using the most recent
version of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance when making your application.
you provide evidence in the exact format required by the UKBA, as explained in the policy guidance
and on the application form
you complete all sections of the form that are relevant to your case, fully and accurately
you have all the documents required to make your application

You should wait until you have obtained your visa before you book any non-refundable tickets for travel
to the UK.

2. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)

You must have a CAS before making an application as a Tier 4 (General) student. A CAS is an electronic
document issued to you by your UK University once you have accepted an offer to study there.
Your university will send you your CAS statement which will include your unique CAS reference number.
You will need to include this reference number on your visa application form.
The CAS statement itself does not need to be submitted along with your visa application but it gives you all
of the information about your course and sponsor that you will need when completing the application form.
If there are any discrepancies between the information used by the university to generate the CAS and your
application form, then your application may be refused.
The CAS statement should tell you:

the 14 digit reference number for the CAS, containing a mixture of letters and numbers
the Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) of the institution (university) where you intend to study
the start and end dates of the course that you intend to study
the title of the course that you intend to study
the tuition fees for the course
any tuition fees that CsF have already paid, or will be paying to the university
any accommodation fees that will be paid to the university
any qualifications or evidence that the institution has used to make you an offer to study the course
(your academic transcript and English language certificate)
an assessment of your English language ability, including any formal qualifications considered

3. Visa Application
To make your application you must include all ORIGINAL relevant documentation for your application; you
will need the following;

CAS reference number

Original letter from CsF confirming official financial sponsorship
Original academic transcript (Portuguese version) and original English language certificate
English translation of academic transcript
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A valid passport (you may also need to include details of any previous passports you may have had.)
Two passport- size colour photographs (See section on Photographs below).

Your documents
You must have the original copies of all documents that your institution has listed in the section 'Evidence
used to obtain offer' of your CAS. You will need to submit these when you go for your visa appointment so it
is a good idea to make photocopies of everything you submit.
Translations
Your original Portuguese documents must be accompanied by the original English translations that you
submitted with your application when you applied to SwB UK. You cannot submit a new or different
translation.
Photographs
An entry clearance application requires two identical passport size colour photographs of yourself.
Photographs must comply with the UKBA's photo guidance; see their website for more information
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/flr/photoguidance0409.pdf

4. Evidence of financial support

As a SwB student you will be officially and financially sponsored by the Brazilian Government for the
duration of your studies. To show this, you will need the carta de benefcios that CAPES/CNPq will send to
you if you have been approved.
Dependants
Unfortunately, SwB undergraduates are not permitted to bring their dependants with them to the UK.

5. Grounds for Refusal

What are the "general grounds for refusing" visa applications?
Under UK immigration rules an application can be refused under the "general grounds for refusing". The
UKBA has detailed internal guidance on the general grounds for refusing with separate guidance for
applications made from your home country (entry clearance) or in the UK (leave to remain).
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/modernised/general-groundsrefusing/)
However as long as you follow all the procedures correctly it is very unlikely that your application will be
refused.
Students who have previously visited or lived in the UK
NB: This is only relevant for students who have previously visited or lived in the UK.
UKBA can refuse an application by someone who has an unpaid invoice for medical treatment from the
National Health Service (NHS) from a previous stay in the UK, or if they stayed in the UK longer than their
visa allowed them to. Please see UKBA guidance mentioned above for more details.

6. When your immigration permission (visa) is issued

Check that it includes all the correct information:

your name and date of birth. A Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) will also have your place of birth;
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that you are a Tier 4 (General) student;

the Sponsor Licence Number (SLN) of the institution that you intend to study at (some BRPs show
the CAS number instead of the SLN, but this is ok);
that the start and end dates of the permission are correct (see the paragraph The length of your
Tier 4 (General) visa);
on any work restrictions (see paragraph on work restrictions);
any instructions to register with the police.

When you apply for your visa in Brazil

Your visa is issued as a vignette (sticker) in your passport. If there is anything wrong with it, ask to have it
changed immediately, before you travel to the UK. It is very difficult to make changes to your immigration
permission once you have arrived in the UK.
Your institution should tell you the last date that you will be allowed to enrol on your course- this date might
have been included in your CAS statement. Make sure you contact your institution and SwB UK immediately
if, for whatever reason, you believe that you will not be able to arrive in the UK in time for the start of your
course.
The length of your Tier 4 (General) visa
As a Tier 4 (General) student, the length of your visa (your immigration permission) will depend on the
length and type of course that you are studying.
You will be able to come to the UK up to 1 month before the start date of your course (the start and end
dates will be written on your CAS). You can use the table below to see the length of visa that you will be
issued, depending on whether or not you will be doing a pre sessional English Language course before
starting your main course of study:

Type of course
Main course of Study

Pre-sessional English
courses (PSE)
Pre-sessional English
courses (PSE)

Length of course
12 months (undergraduate
students, no PSE)

Length of stay allowed

The full length of the course
+ 2 months after the course
end date

6 months or more
(undergraduate students
with 6 months PSE)

The full length of the course

+ 2 months after the course
end date

Less than 6 months

(undergraduate students
with 3 months PSE)

The full length of the course

+ 1 month after the course
end date

It is a good idea to make a note of the date that your immigration permission ends; this will be written on
your visa. You must not remain in the UK after this date, unless you have already submitted a further
immigration application to extend your Tier 4 visa.
Conditions attached to your immigration permission
Your Tier 4 (General) immigration permission has some conditions. The restrictions applied to each condition
will be stated on your entry clearance vignette (sticker), or on your Biometric Residence Permit. For
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example, details on whether you are allowed to work whilst you study will be stated on your entry clearance
vignette or on your Biometric Residence Permit.
Study at your intended institution
You must enrol and study at the institution that issued the CAS which you submitted as part of your
successful Tier 4 (General) student application.
For more information about this condition, and the rules about changing Tier 4 sponsor after arriving in the
UK, see the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website Protecting your Tier 4 student
immigration status [www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/protect_t4_status.php]
Work restrictions
International students studying at a UK university can work up to 20 hours per week, or full time in the
holidays. However as specified in your contract with CsF Brazil, SwB students should not work during their
scholarship and should instead focus on their academic studies and use their monthly stipend.
Registration with the police
At the time of publication Brazilian students are required to register with the police once they have arrived
in the UK:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/appendix2/
Registering with the police is just a formality that many international students have to do on arriving in the
UK. The police in the UK are very friendly and so this is nothing to worry about. If you have any questions
about this your UK University will be able to advise you. For more information about this condition, please
see the information sheet: Protecting your Tier 4 student immigration status
"No recourse to public funds"
This just means that as an international student here in the UK on a temporary basis you are not permitted
to access 'public funds', such as tax and housing benefits.
Please note: Using the National Health Service (NHS) does not count as accessing 'public funds'.

7. University duties to report immigration matters to the UKBA

All Tier 4 sponsors have specific sponsor duties. These duties are outlined in Annex 2 of the Tier 4 of the
Points Based System Policy Guidance:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf
and include notifying the UKBA if

You have successfully obtained immigration permission as a Tier 4 (General) student using a CAS, but
you do not enrol on the course before the last day of the enrolment period.
You fail to attend a class or lecture, or submit work for a specific number of times, and your
institution has not agreed to your absence or non-submission of work.
You withdraw from your studies before you have finished your course.

The UKBA can bring your immigration permission to an end early if they are notified of one of these issues.
This means, it is very important that, as far as possible, you attend all your classes and lectures and submit
coursework when it is due. If you have problems doing this, you should let a member of staff, for example,
your tutor or student adviser, know as soon as possible so that you can discuss your options with them.
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It is very important that you notify your institution if you are ill and cannot attend or submit work, or if you
have to miss your academic commitments for any other reason. Your institution may ask you to submit
further evidence to confirm the reason for your absence, for example a letter from your doctor.

8. Where to go for help and other useful contacts

Please refer to UKBA's Tier 4 of the Points Based System Policy Guidance for detailed guidance on how to
make your visa application:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf
The UK Council for Student Affairs website (UKCISA) also has a lot of information to support and advise
international students on a range of issues - http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/
Remember you can also get advice from the university who has offered you a place when making your
application.

9. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. How do I make my application?
A. As you will be applying from Brazil you can make an online application via the visa4uk website
http://www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk/Welcome.htm
Q. When should I apply?
A. The date when you apply for entry clearance must be:
before you have travelled to the UK; and
no more than three months before the start date of your course; and
no later than six months after your Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) was issued by the
UK university where you are going to study
Q. How much does it cost to apply?
A. At the time of writing, 298, paid as the equivalent in your local currency.
Q. What is biometric data and how do I give it?
A. As part of the Tier 4 (General) application, you are required to provide your biometrics (your facial
photograph and fingerprints). You will be required to choose from one of the three VAC locations (Rio de
Janeiro, Sao Paulo or Brasilia) to make an appointment to give your biometrics as part of your visa
application for entry clearance. The appointment will be made online as part of the application process.
Q. Do I have to go for an interview as part of my visa application?
A. Maybe. You may be asked to attend a credibility interview to demonstrate that you are a genuine
student coming to the UK to study. As a Science without Borders student it is extremely unlikely that you
will be asked to attend an interview.
Q. Can I apply without sending my supporting documents and then send them in at a later stage?
A. No. All the documents in support of a visa application must be sent together, when the visa application is
submitted.
Q. I still havent received my CAS (Certificate of Acceptance for Studies) number confirmation. Can I apply
for my visa?
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A. No. The CAS reference number is mandatory and without it a visa application cannot be processed.
Q. I still havent received the confirmation letter from CsF Brazil. Can I submit my application?
A. No, if you do not produce a valid sponsorship letter from CsF Brazil confirming that you have been granted
a full scholarship you will be expected to demonstrate that you will be able to cover your tuition fees and
accommodation costs yourself.
Q. What is the study level of my course?
A. You will be studying at NQF level 6.
Q. What is an ATAS certificate?
A. An ATAS certificate is only applicable to postgraduate students applying for either a Masters course or a
PhD. It is therefore not relevant to SwB UK undergraduate students.
Q. I have had all my original supporting documents translated by a Sworn Public Translator. In this case
can I send only the translations and not the originals?
A. No. We will always need to see the originals and the translations
Q. How long will it take for my visa application to be processed?
A. UKBA have a target to process 90% of Tier 4 applications in a maximum of 15 working days (3 weeks)
counting from the date the biometrics are given.
Q. When can I travel after my visa has been issued?
A. The validity is clearly stated on the visa which is stuck in your passport. The valid from date is the date
from which you can enter the UK. You cannot travel before the valid from date.
Q. Can I stay in the UK for a bit longer than the valid until date stated on the visa?
A. No. The valid until is the latest day you can remain in the UK. You cannot stay in the UK after the valid
until date unless you obtain an extension of leave from the Home Office. If you stay longer without
obtaining an extension of leave you risk being banned from entering the United Kingdom for up to 10 years.
Q. Where can I find the official guidance on Tier 4 (General) visa applications?
A. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students
Q. Will I be allowed to work whist in the UK?
A. As specified in your contract with CsF Brazil, SwB students should not work during their scholarship and
should instead focus on their academic studies and use their monthly stipend.
Q. I plan to do some travelling during the time I am in the UK. Can I travel outside the UK using the same
Tier 4 visa?
A. Yes, the Tier 4 is a multiple entry visa so if you wish to travel outside the UK there is no problem, as long
as you do this within the validity of your visa.
Q. What should I do if my visa application is refused?
A. In the unlikely event that your visa application is refused, please contact the SwB UK office immediately by
emailing sciencewithoutborders@international.ac.uk

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