Important information about visas required for study in the UK

When you apply for the Student visa you must obtain a Valid Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) and meet other requirements.

If you are a continuing student, you can request your CAS via the My LJMU Portal myservices.ljmu.ac.uk ‘CAS Request for Continuing Student’.

New students will have their CAS issued by our International Admissions Team.

Your new course must start within 28 days of your current visa expiring. Check your CAS confirmation of your new course start date.

You must also meet Academic Progression rules you can read more in Appendix Student Section 14 on the GOV.UK website.

You can apply inside the UK as a student, unless you hold immigration status in one of the following categories:

• Visitor
• Short Term Student
• Parent of a child student
• Seasonal worker
• Domestic worker in a private household
• Permission outside the Immigration rules

If you are applying for a new course, you should apply no more than 3 months before the start date of the course. You should apply only once you have completed your previous course.

If you are extending your visa for a course you have already started, you should apply as soon as you meet the requirements for this visa. We would recommend starting to prepare for your visa application at least two months before your visa expiry date and longer if you need to apply for ATAS clearance.

The last date in which you can make an in-time visa application is the date your visa expires. The International Student Advice Team would not advise waiting so late, just in case of any issues with validity of your application (please see next section ‘Making a Valid Application’)

Do not worry if your visa expiry date passes and you have not received a decision. If you have submitted a valid visa in time (so by your visa expiry date) you can lawfully remain in the UK while you are awaiting your decision.

You make your online application via the government website.

To complete the application you will need to pay:

• The Immigration Health Surcharge. This is £776 a year (and per dependant if applicable). If you are applying for a period of extension of 6 months or less you will be charged £338
• Your application fee which is £558 per applicant (and per dependant if applicable)

How much does the application cost?

The visa application costs £558 for the Standard application. You may be able to pay more to get a faster decision.

Please note:
Although the Standard Services take 8 weeks as long as you pay and submit your visa application prior to your current visa expires, you can continue to stay lawfully in the UK for your decision regardless of how long it may take.

If you are not eligible to use the app, you will be directed to the TLS contact website to make an appointment at a UKVCAS Service point. You will complete the appointment as part of the online application process. After you have registered on the TLS website you can book an appointment at one of their service centres across the UK.

You will then either need to upload your documents, or you can take them along to the Centre, you will have to pay a fee if you upload your documents at the Centre.

You do not need to post anything, so your passport remains with you.

There is also an option to buy ‘add on’ services from UKVCAS, but most students will not need these.

For some courses, you are required to get ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance. You should make sure you do this in plenty of time.

Your LJMU Offer Letter will state if you need to apply for ATAS. If you are, you will need to do this before LJMU will issue you with a CAS.

ATAS applications can be made using the governments academic technology approval scheme.

Please note this is a general guidance list. Please check your UKVI account for a list of documents you will need to submit to support your application.

• Your completed Student Route online form
• Your passport (and previous passports if applicable)
• Your Biometrics Residence Permit (if applicable)
• Your CAS letter
• Acceptable translations (if any documents are not in English or Welsh)*
• Your ATAS Certificate (if applicable)

• As LJMU is a Higher Education Provider with a track record of Compliance you do not need to submit documents of previous qualifications listed on your CAS

Please note:
If either a Government or Scholarship agency was sponsoring you within last 12 months but this has now ended, you will need their written consent to extend your visa.

What is an acceptable translation?

If any of your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must also provide translations.

Each translation must contain:

• confirmation from the translator/translation company that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the full name and original signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
• the contact details of the translator or translation company; and
• (if you are already in the UK and applying for further leave) certificate by a qualified translator and details of
• the translator or translation company’s credentials

Please note:
You will be exempt from meeting the financial requirements if you have been living in the UK for 12 months or more with valid permission at the time of your application (with no significant gaps).
You also do not need to prove your finances if you are applying a Student Union Sabbatical Officer.

If you are not exempt from meeting the maintenance requirements, you will need to show:

• Evidence of your bank statements (or other financial document) covering 28 days and no more than 31 days old at the time of application
• If you are a sponsored student you will need an official financial sponsorship letter

If you are a self-sponsored student and you haven’t had a valid UK visa for 12 months at the time of application, you will need to be able to demonstrate you have enough money in your (or your parents) bank account. You can use money in your partner’s name, only if they are applying with you or already have permission to stay in the UK.

The maintenance fees for living costs for the main applicant are £1171 per month which is capped at 9 months. For example, if you are coming to study for a course of 9 months or more you will need to demonstrate you have £10538 (£1171 x 9 months) along with the full first year’s tuition fee or next year's fee if you are continuing with your course.

If you have paid any of the tuition fee to LJMU and this is written on the CAS or is demonstrated on an official receipt, you can deduct this from the amount you need to show in your bank account.

The money needs to in your account for a minimum of 28 days. The financial evidence you use should be no more than 31 days old at the time you apply.

You can use your parents bank statements also, if you do, you must also show your original birth certificate (officially translated if not in English) along with a letter of support from your parents to say they are happy for you to use their funds.

Evidence you can use to demonstrate your finances:

• Personal Bank Statements
• Letter from your Bank
• Certificate of Deposit
• Loan Letter

Your financial evidence should:

• Have your name or your parent’s/legal guardian’s name and the account number
• Be on official stationary or an electronic record
• Be printed or electronic (not handwritten)
• Include the date of the statement
• Include information about the bank, such as contact details or a branch code
• Show transactions and amount held over time

A bank letter should contain information as above in Bank Statements. The letter can state the balance and the length of time held (it must state in the letter you have held the required funds for a minimum of 28 days).

The bank letter should be on headed paper and provide contact details for the bank and signed by an official from the financial institution.

This is a certificate issued by a bank to confirm that the named person has deposited or invested a specific amount of money. Certificates of deposit are accepted if they meet the following requirements:

• the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application
• the certificate of deposit shows that you have held the funds for at least 28 days
• you must be able to access the funds held at any time

If you are applying for your visa from overseas the loan must be available to you before you travel to the UK. This rule doesn’t apply if your government gives you a loan after you arrive in the UK, or if your loan for living costs goes to your university to pass on to you.

Any other type of loan will not meet the Student route requirements. If you want to use money from a different kind of loan, you must move it to a bank or building society account in your name (or your parent's). Then use one of the other types of proof listed above.

For details about money and living cost rules, please read Appendix Finance on the UK government website.

Evidence from more than one bank account

Where evidence from two or more accounts is used, the caseworker should make a decision based on:

• the closing balance of the account that most favours the applicant (providing it falls within the required 31 day period up until the date of application)
• any additional evidence of funds available on the date of that closing balance and at any point during the 28 day period linked to the closing balance used

An official financial sponsor is defined in the guidance as:

• The UK government
• Your home government
• The British Council
• Any international organization
• An international company (the Home Office has not defined ‘international company but it seems to mean a company with a trading presence (an office) in more than one country
• A University
• A UK Independent School

If LJMU is sponsoring you and has included details of this on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) no other documents are needed to show official financial sponsorship

The sponsor letter needs to contain the following information:

• Your name
• The name and contact details of the official financial sponsor
• The date of the letter
• The length of sponsorship
• The amount of money the sponsor is giving you, or a statement that all course fees and living costs will be covered

Please note:
If you official financial sponsor is not covering all of your courses fees and maintenance, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the additional amount.

If you are a national of a country listed in Paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules there is no need to submit evidence of finances or qualifications, however the Home Office may ask you at any time to provide them, so you should have all documents ready.

It can take 8 weeks to receive a decision if you have opted to apply via the Standard Service. Please note the International Advice Team will not be able to request updates from UKVI on your application until the 8-week timeframe has elapsed.

Getting your visa decision

• You’ll get your visa decision by email.
• If your application is successful, you will receive an eVisa as proof of your immigration status.
• Check your eVisa carefully to make sure all the details are correct.
• If you see any mistakes, report an error to UKVI.
• For help, please email internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

If everything is OK with your eVisa, please upload a copy of your share code via the LJMU Portal International Student Documents Upload.

Applying for a Student visa outside of the UK is referred to as ‘Entry Clearance’.

In order to apply for entry clearance as a Student visa you must have a current passport, obtain a valid electronic document Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) and meet the 70 points.

• Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) – 50 points – LJMU will issue your CAS
• Sufficient money to cover your tuition fees and living costs (or evidence of official sponsorship) - 10 points
• English Language Requirement – 10 points

A CAS is an electronic document that LJMU issues to you when you are made an unconditional offer.

You will need your CAS reference number to enter onto your online Student application form. The CAS itself is not required for your Student application, but it gives you all of the information about your course and Student sponsor, and some of the information about money that you need to complete your Student application form. Your CAS is valid for 6 months.

If you are a new student your CAS will be issued by LJMU’s International Admissions Team.

If you are a continuing student, you can request your CAS via the My LJMU Portal ‘CAS Request for Continuing Student’

LJMU is required to assess your ability to read, write, speak and understand English. The method of assessment will vary. LJMU will tell you how it will assess your English and the level of English you must have, which is subject to minimum levels set by the Home Office.

You will need evidence you meet the financial requirements. Information about this is contained in this under ‘Evidence of finances’ heading

When to apply:

• You should apply for your visa in plenty of time for your course starting
• You must apply before you travel to the UK
• You should apply no more than six months before the start date of your course
• No later than six months after your CAS was issued

For some courses, you are required to get ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance. You should make sure you do this in plenty of time. Your LJMU Offer Letter will state if you are required to apply for ATAS. If you are, you will need to do this before LJMU will issue you with a CAS.

ATAS applications are made online.

You should apply for the Student visa in the country in which you are living. All applications for the Student visa are made online.

You can start the application at any point as the application will save your information as you go. However, you will not be able to submit the application form without a valid CAS and you should ensure you have all the documents that are required for your visa application ready at the time you apply.

You can check online for updates to the status of Visa Application Centres in your country.

Ensure you have all the relevant documentation you need to attend the appointment.

The application fee is £558 per applicant, paid as an equivalent in your local currency.

Some of the Visa Application Centres (VACs) charge an additional fee to process your visa application. If you do not wish to pay this additional fee, you will need to attend a difference VAC.

It may be possible at your VAC to pay extra for a priority or super priority service to get a decision quicker. To check the services offered at your local VAC, select your country from the list of Visa Application Centres.

The IHS entitles you to use free healthcare services under the National Health Service. The fee is £776 a year for students coming to study a course of 6 months or more.

If your visa includes part of a year that is six months or less you will be charged an additional 50% of the annual charge for this period (£388). If your visa includes part of a year that is more than six months, you will have to pay the full annual change or this period.

You can use the IHS calculator tool on the UK Government website to check how much you will have to pay.

The Student visa application form will calculate the amount that you need to pay and ask you to pay it before you can complete your application. After you have done this you will receive an email containing your IHS reference number. This number will automatically be included on your application form cover sheet.

To make a successful Student visa application you must meet all the Student visa requirements and provide evidence in the required format. Your documents can be copies or originals.

Please note this is a general guidance list. Please check your UKVI account for a list of documents you will need to submit to support your application:

• Evidence of your Official financial sponsor (if you are a sponsored student)
• Evidence you meet the English Language Requirement (if applicable)
• Acceptable translations (if any documents are not in English)
• Your ATAS Certificate (if applicable)
• Your completed Student visa application form
• Your valid passport (and previous passports if applicable)
• A valid TB test if applicable
• Evidence of you meet the financial requirement
• Receipts for any tuition fees you have already paid (unless they are written in your CAS)

• As LJMU is a Higher Education Provider with a track record of Compliance you do not need to submit documents of previous qualifications listed on your CAS

If any of your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must also provide translations.

Each translation must contain:

• confirmation from the translator/translation company that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• the date of the translation
• the full name and original signature of the translator, or of an authorised official of the translation company
• the contact details of the translator or translation company; and
• (if you are already in the UK and applying for further leave) certificate by a qualified translator and details of
• the translator or translation company’s credentials

You will need to show:

• Evidence of your bank statements (or other financial document) covering 28 days and no more than 31 days old at the time of application
• If you are a sponsored student you will need an official financial sponsorship letter

If you are a self-sponsored student, you will need to be able to demonstrate you have enough money in your (or your parents) bank account. You can also use financial evidence in the name of your dependant partner but only if your dependant is applying at the same time as you.

The maintenance fees for living costs for the main applicant are £1171 per month which is capped at 9 months. For example, if you are coming to study for a course of 9 months or more you will need to demonstrate you have £10538 (£1171 x 9 months) along with the full first year’s tuition fee.

If you have paid any of the tuition fee to LJMU and this is written on the CAS or is demonstrated on an official receipt, you can deduct this from the amount you need to show in your bank account.

The money needs to in your account for a minimum of 28 days. The financial evidence you use should be no more than 31 days old at the time you apply.

You can use your parents bank statements also, if you do you must also show your original birth certificate (officially translated if not in English) along with a letter of support from your parents to say they are happy for you to use their funds.

• Personal bank statements
• Letter from your bank
• Certificate of deposit
• Loan letter

Your financial evidence should:

• Have your name or your parent’s/legal guardian’s name and the account number
• Be on official stationary or an electronic record
• Be printed or electronic (not handwritten)
• Include the date of the statement
• Include information about the bank, such as contact details or a branch code
• Show transactions and amount held over time

A bank letter should contain information as above in Bank Statements, although rather than transactions the letter can state the balance and the length of time held (it must be written in the letter you have held the required funds for a minimum of 28 days).

The bank letter should be on headed paper and provide contact details for the bank and be signed by an official from the financial institution.

This is a certificate issued by a bank to confirm that the named person has deposited or invested a specific amount of money. Certificates of deposit are accepted if they meet the following requirements:

• the certificate of deposit must have been issued within 31 days of the date of application
• the certificate of deposit shows that you have held the funds for at least 28 days
• you must be able to access the funds held at any time

If you are applying for your visa from overseas the loan must be available to you before you travel to the UK. This is unless it is an academic or student loan from your country's national government and will be released to you when you arrive in the UK, or it is a loan for your living costs that is paid to your Higher Education Provider for passing to you.

Any other type of loan will not meet the Student route requirements. If you wish to use money from any other type of loan, you need to transfer the funds to a bank or building society account in your name (or a parent's name) and use one of the other forms of evidence listed above.

Where evidence from 2 or more accounts is used, the caseworker should make a decision based on:

• the closing balance of the account that most favours the applicant (providing it falls within the required 31 day period up until the date of application)
• any additional evidence of funds available on the date of that closing balance and at any point during the 28 day period linked to the closing balance used

Please read Appendix Finance on the government website for information on finance and maintenance requirements

If you are in receipt of financial sponsorship

A financial sponsor is defined in the guidance as:

If you are a national of a country listed in Paragraph ST 22.1 of Appendix Student of the Immigration Rules there is no need to submit evidence of finances OR qualifications, however the Home Office may ask you at any time to provide them, so you should have all documents ready.

You will prove your identity as part of the application. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• give your fingerprints and a photograph (biometric information) at a visa application centre
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account

The Home Office will interview most students before granting them immigration permission to come and study in the UK. Your request to attend an interview will be emailed to you, so please keep checking your inbox and ‘junk’ and ‘spam’ folders as it may go there.

During the interview the Home Office will ask you a number of questions about your course, why you have chosen to study this and why you have chosen in this location.

The Home Office must be satisfied that you are a genuine student and that your English Language ability is at the correct level. If they are not, your visa may be refused.

During the interview, if you have any connection problems (if virtual) or can’t hear it is important that you advise the Home Office staff member of this.

In most cases you should receive a decision within 3 weeks, however processing times can be longer. There may be priority services available for an additional fee. You can check this with your VAC (Visa Application Centre). If you are concerned your application is taking a long time please contact the International Advice Team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

From 15 July, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will no longer issue physical Entry Clearance Vignettes (visa stickers in passports) for Student visas. Instead, students will receive their visa as a digital status called an eVisa. Instructions on how to access your eVisa will be provided in your Visa Decision Letter, which may be sent to you by email or as a physical document. It is very important that you keep your Visa Decision Letter safe, as it serves as official proof that you have been granted permission to study in the UK.

It is also really important that you check all the details on your eVisa are correct. Your eVisa is how you demonstrate your immigration status to your University, employer and landlord through share codes. You can read more about eVisas.

If you see any errors with your eVisa please contact internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk for advice.

If everything is OK with your eVisa, please upload a copy of your share code via the LJMU Portal.

It is only possible to change to a new course of study at LJMU with an existing Student visa in very limited circumstances.

You will need to check first with your Programme Leader whether it is possible from an academic perspective at the time you want to make the change.

You need to meet the following conditions to be able to transfer to a new course of study at LJMU with an existing Student visa:

• You would normally need to change your course at the beginning of your studies.
• Your Student visa is for full time study at degree level study or above.
• The new course is at the same level or higher.
• The new course end date must be within the existing validity of your Student visa.
• Your new course should be related to the previous course, or both your previous course and your new course represent “genuine career aspirations”. If a change of course is permitted with your existing visa, LJMU will report the change of course on your CAS to UKVI.

If your proposed transfer of course does not meet all the above requirements, then it may not be possible to transfer to a new course of study with your existing Student visa.

Adding a work placement or a study abroad period to your course of study (where this option is available) is usually possible within your existing Student visa, but only if the work placement or study abroad period is an assessed and integral part of the new course.

If you are permitted to add an integral and assessed work placement or study abroad period, you will need to apply for further permission to stay in the UK as a student, as the addition will mean that the new end date of your course will be later than the current expiry of your visa.

You can apply for your visa extension either before the placement or study abroad period starts or at the end. You must submit your visa application before you can enrol on your final year of your course.

If, after discussing with your Programme Leader you decide to add a work placement or study abroad period, please contact the International Advice Team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk for further advice on visa and immigration related implications of making such a change.

If you have been issued with a CAS for your course of study, which includes an assessed and integral work placement or study abroad period, but you are not able to undertake the work placement or study abroad period, you should speak to your Programme Leader in the first instance. Your Programme Leader will confirm with LJMU’s Registry Services if the removal of your work placement or study abroad period is possible with your existing Student visa.

If it is possible to remove the work placement or study abroad period, without otherwise changing the course of study, then it may be possible to continue and complete the course with your existing Student visa.

Where it is possible to continue studying on the same course but removing the work placement or study abroad period with your existing visa, LJMU will notify UKVI of the change of circumstances on your CAS. Removing a work placement or study abroad period from a course of study will normally result in the end date of the course being significantly earlier, often by a year.

LJMU will notify UKVI of early completion of your studies and UKVI will normally cancel your Student visa to 2 or 4 months from the early completion date. UKVI will normally email a notification of cancellation to the email address you provided with your visa application.

You must attend all scheduled classes, lectures, seminars, assessments and other activities required as part of your course of study.

However, if you need to take some time away from your course of study at LJMU for exceptional or important reasons, for example due to illness or medical appointments, you should discuss with your Programme Leader the reasons and the length of time you need to take off, in the first instance.

Taking a short absence of a few days or a couple of weeks and which allows you to continue your studies without interrupting your registration on your course of study, and within the existing period of time on your student visa, may not have any impact on your visa.

However if you are unable to complete your studies within the original expected completion date for any reason, you should contact the International Student Advice team for advice on your circumstances on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.

You must speak to your Programme Leader first to have the absence approved. You must also record the absence MyLJMU portal > My Services > Report a Short Term Absence

Taking a longer period of leave of absence from your studies, for example an academic year will affect your Student visa. This is because the Student visa sponsorship rules require LJMU to withdraw sponsorship where a student is on a leave of absence from study for longer periods.

In cases where you request a longer period of absence and it is granted, LJMU is required to notify UKVI that you are taking a break from your studies and withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa. Where LJMU notifies UKVI of a withdrawal of sponsorship, UKVI will contact you to inform you of this fact and that they will cancel your visa to 60 days from the date of the notice.

If you take a break from studies and that break is one where LJMU must notify UKVI and withdraw sponsorship, we advise that you make arrangements to leave the UK within 60 days of taking a leave of absence. Once you leave the UK, you should not try to return to the UK using your Student Visa even if the curtailment date has not yet been reached.

Sometimes it is necessary for a student to complete reassessment, resit exams or to repeat a period of teaching with or without attendance required. You should discuss your situation with your Programme Leader.

If you have a resit exam or reassessment to complete prior to progressing to the next level of your course of study or to complete your studies, if there is no break in study, you will normally be able to continue your studies with your existing visa. This is normally the case if there is no leave of absence or break from study during term-time and your existing Student visa is valid to cover the additional period required to complete the resits.

If you are required to take a break from studies or are otherwise not required to attend during a period of term-time, this will have an impact on your visa. This is because the Student visa sponsorship rules require institutions (such as LJMU) to withdraw sponsorship where a student is not required to attend or participate in active study for longer periods during term-time. This is normally where the where it exceeds 60 days.

In such cases, LJMU is required to notify UKVI that you are no longer studying and withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa. Where LJMU notifies UKVI of a withdrawal of sponsorship, UKVI are supposed to contact you to inform you of this fact and that they will cancel your visa to 60 days from the date of the notice. UKVI will normally email a notification of cancellation to the email address you provided with your visa application (or any subsequent update).

You will then need to request a new CAS and apply for a visa overseas to come back to the UK.

It is unusual to complete your course of study earlier than the date stated on your CAS except in a few cases such as changing course, where permitted, or an agreed early completion of a PhD.

If you think that you are on track to complete your course of study early by more than a few weeks on your CAS, you should discuss this with your Programme Leader.

If it is confirmed that you will be completing your course of study early (earlier than the date stated on your CAS), LJMU is required to notify UKVI of the change of circumstances on your CAS. LJMU will notify UKVI of early completion of your studies and UKVI will cancel your Student visa to the normal additional extra time given at the end of a Student visa. In most cases in these circumstances, curtailment would be 2 or 4 months from the early completion date depending on how many additional months you were originally granted.

For any questions about any changes to your course and the visa implications of those, please contact the International Advice Team on internationaladvice@ljmu.ac.uk.