UK partially lifts suspensin on Tier 4 student visa application
The UK Border Agency yesterday announced partial lifting of the Tier 4 visa application suspension in Bangladesh with some changes from today.
Earlier, the British government temporarily suspended new general student applications in Bangladesh on February 1 this year.
“The suspension will be lifted for students who want to study the following higher education courses: foundation degrees (including the Scottish HND in (3) below), and degree and post graduate courses.
The suspension is also lifted for Child Students,” said a British High Commission release. Suspension on the remaining courses will be lifted from August 12.
However, the UK Border Agency will continue to keep the suspension of English language courses under review.
Tier 4 applicants are required to make an appointment at a visa application centre in order to submit their visa applications free of charge. Guidance on how to schedule an appointment is available on the website: www.vfs-uk-bd.com.
On 12 August, the UK Border Agency will introduce a secure English language test requirement for Tier 4 (General Student) visas worldwide. Applicants, who are studying courses below degree level, excluding a foundation degree and an English language course, need to pass the test taken with a UK Border Agency-approved provider before the applicant applies for a CAS from the sponsor.
Information about secure English language tests and the list of test providers of English language tests are available at http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/aboutus/newsroom/?view=News&id=22573942.
It is important that applicants follow the current Tier 4 guidance carefully, complete their applications fully and submit the correct supporting documents. There have been some significant changes to the policy in 2010.
If applicants submit fraudulent documents or false information, their visa applications will be refused. They also face an automatic ban on entry to the UK for the next 10 years for any category of visa.
Applicants may be requested to attend an interview with the UK Border Agency as part of the visa application process.
Tier 4 (General Student) visas are for people coming to the United Kingdom for their post-16 education. Tier 4 (Child Student) visas are for children between the ages of 4 and 17 to come to the UK. Those aged between 4 and 15 may only be educated at independent fee-paying schools. Applicants aged 16-17 years studying on courses at NQF level 3 or above have a choice of making an application either in the Tier 4 General Student category or the Tier 4 Child Student category.
Tier 4 of the points based system was reviewed earlier in 2010 and a number of significant changes have been introduced. The main changes are as follows:
The electronic CAS has replaced the Visa Letter. Students who are studying below degree level, excluding foundation degrees, are permitted to work a maximum of 10 hours per week (a reduction from 20 hours). Their dependents are not permitted to work unless they qualify in their own right under the points based system.
Students who are studying a course of 6 months or less are not permitted to bring their dependents with them.
A new “highly trusted sponsor” designation has been introduced for education providers that can offer courses at National Qualification Framework level 3 and Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 6 and below.
To study courses below NQF level 6, students need to be competent in English language to level B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Until now, it has been the education provider's responsibility to test this.
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