Alhamdulilah selesai buat permohonan visa - the most crucial part of the whole preparation process. I suggest take time to read the Guidance Policy carefully before submitting the forms. Kekadang di saat akhir masa tu la ada perubahan polisi, pengemaskinian borang baru dan sebagainya. So always look out for the new updates to make sure you get the latest news & not make the mistake of using the old forms or applying for the wrong category etc.
This year the fees is RM1301. Boleh claim. Tapi kalau kita salah isi dan permohonan ditolak, naya kena apply all over again. Dah buang masa, duit & tenaga kat situ. Quite nerve-wrecking experience sebab risaukan approval. Tapi insyaAllah kalau semua dokumen lengkap & teratur boleh dapat after 2 working days. Efisyen gak derang proses. Berikut dilampirkan rumusan panduan oleh MABECS.
Visa Guidelines- UK General Student Visa (Tier 4) Points Based System
Note: The following guidelines refer to the category of general student (adult student): for post-16 education.
(There is a separate visa category for child student, for children between 4 and 17 years old).
Note: The following information has been prepared by MABECS for guidance purposes only and subject to change. You must check with the relevant authorities/web sites for the latest information, in particular:
The Official Tier 4 policy guidance notes can be obtained from the following web site:
Please note the information here is subject to change. Please check the web site of the UK Visa Application Centre in Malaysia and the UKBA web site, for latest information and updated visa checklists, forms, etc.
1) How many points do I need to qualify for a UK Student Visa?
40 Points
- 30 points obtained from having a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies(CAS) from a Tier 4 sponsor
- 10 points obtained if you can show that you have enough money to cover course fees and monthly living costs (also known as maintenance or funds)
2) What is a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)?
The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) is not an actual certificate or paper document but is a virtual document similar to a database record. Each Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies has a unique reference number and contains information about the course of study for which it has been issued and the student’s personal details.
The Tier 4 sponsor (i.e. University) will also need to provide the student with some of the information they used when they assigned the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, for example course details, documentsthe Tier 4 sponsor has used to assess the student and fees due for the appropriate period of study. The student will need this information to accurately complete his/her application and to make sure that he/she knows which documents to send when he/she applies.
A student cannot make his/her Tier 4 application more than three months before the start of his/her course and the Tier 4 (General) student will be able to come to the UK only up to one month before the start date of the course (for courses that are six months or longer, or for a presessional course that is less than six months).
When is a Confirmation of Acceptance for studies valid?
-has the same details on it as in the student’s passport; and
-was assigned no more than six months before the date of application; and
- has not been withdrawn or cancelled by the Tier 4 sponsor or the UKBA
A Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies cannot be used more than once. If a student’s Tier 4 application is refused, and he/she wishes to make another application, he/she will need to get a new Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies from his/her sponsor.
Claiming Points for a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies
To claim 30 points for a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, the student must provide:
i. The Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies reference number he/she has been assigned by his/her Tier 4 sponsor.
- This number must be written on the Student’s application form
Documents used to get a General student Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
If the Tier 4 sponsor has assessed the Tier 4 (General) student’s qualifications in order to assign the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, the Tier 4 (General) student must provide these qualifications with their application. For each qualification listed, the Tier 4 (General) student must provide either:
i. The original certificate(s) of qualification;
Each document must be the original (not a copy) and must clearly show the:
-applicant’s name;
-title of the award;
-date of the award; and
-name of the awarding institution.
Original provisional certificates are not acceptable
Or
ii. The original transcript of results
Each document must be the original (not a copy) and must clearly show the:
-applicant’s name;
-name of the academic institution;
-course title; and
-confirmation of the award.
The Tier 4 (General) student will need to know what evidence his/her sponsor has included on his/her Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies so he/she can include it with her application. The Tier 4 (General) student must get this information directly from the Tier 4 sponsor before making the application.
3) Where Can I Study?
You must have been accepted to study at a licensed institution listed on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) register of Tier 4 sponsors:
The institution you choose will need to become your “immigration sponsor” and provide you with your CAS.
4)How Much Funds Do I Need to Show?
Length of Course | Place of Study | Maintenance (Funds) Needed |
9 months or less | Inner London | Course Fees + ￡800 for each month of the course |
9 months or less | Outer London Or elsewhere in UK | Course Fees + ￡600 for each month of the course |
More than 9 months | Inner London | First year of fees + ￡7200 to cover the first year in the UK |
More than 9 months | Outer London Or elsewhere in UK | First year of fees + ￡5400 to cover the first year in the UK |
Inner London comprises the following boroughs: Camden, City of London, Hackney,Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Wandsworth and Westminster. If a student wants to check whether the address of his/her main site of study is in inner London, he/she can put his/her Tier 4 sponsor’s postcode in to the ‘About my vote website’ which can be found at(www.aboutmyvote.co.uk). Note: The exchange rate being used to convert Malaysian Ringgit to the equivalent amount in pounds, is that on the OANDA web site: www.oanda.com/convert/classic
* A General student applying from outside the United Kingdom must show that he/she has held the required money for a consecutive 28 day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than 1 month before his/her visa application.
5) My dependents will be coming to the UK with me - how much additional funds do I need to show?
Students who are bringing dependents with them to the UK (for example spouse, and children under 18), will need to additionally show £533 per dependent for London, whilst the sum for the rest of the UK is £400 per dependent. Both figures should be applied per month for the duration of their intended stay in the UK up to a maximum of nine months (though of course they can be granted leave to stay for longer than nine months in line with the principal).
Note: Only Postgraduate students on courses of more than 12 months, or Government-sponsored
students, will able to bring their dependents to the UK
Note: In order for your children (under 18) to join you as a dependent, both parents must be resident in the UK unless you are the sole surviving parent and/or have sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing.
6) What Funds/Financial Documents Are Accepted?
a)Money that can be used
A Tier 4 (General) student can use money held in an account owned by them or by his/her parents. If the Tier 4 (General) student is using funds held by his/her parent he/she will need to show us evidence that he/she is related to his/her parent(s)/legal guardian and that the Tier 4 (General) student has his/her parent(s)/legal guardian’s permission to use this money. The evidence of money held must be of cash funds in the bank (this includes savings accounts and current accounts), as a loan letter or official financial or government sponsorship available to the applicant.
Other accounts or financial instruments such as shares, bonds, overdrafts, credit cards and pension funds are not acceptable, regardless of notice period.
If funds are in overseas currency, the official exchange rate on the OANDA website, which can be found at
www.oanda.com/convert/classic will be used to convert the currency.
b)Money already paid to the Tier 4 sponsor
If the Tier 4 (General) student can show that he/she has already paid all or some of his/her course fees to his/her Tier 4 sponsor before making his/her application this amount can be taken away from the total amount of money he/she will need to show.
If the Tier 4 (General) student can show that he/she has already paid all or some of his/her accommodation fees to his/her Tier 4 sponsor before making his/her application, this amount also can be taken away from the total amount of money he/she will need to show for living costs. This only applies if the Tier 4 (General) student will be staying in university or college arranged accommodation.
c)Official Financial Sponsorship or Government Sponsor
Financial sponsorship is where a Tier 4 (General) student is given money to cover some or all his/her course fees and/or living costs. This financial sponsorship can be used as evidence of money you have.
A Tier 4 (General) student can receive official financial sponsor from Her Majesty’s Government, the Tier 4 (General) student’s home government, the British Council or any international organisation, international company, university or an Independent School.
If the Tier 4 (General) student’s financial sponsor is only covering some of his/her course fees or living costs, he/she must show that he/she has the rest of the money needed.
Note: If a student is currently financially sponsored by a government or an international scholarship agency, or this financial sponsorship ended within 12 months of his/her application being made, the student will need the sponsor’s permissions to stay in or re-enter the UK. The student must provide UKBA with his/her financial sponsor’s unconditional consent in writing. This must confirm that the sponsor has no objection to the student continuing his/her studies in the UK. If the financial sponsor does not give consent, the application will be refused.
Documents Needed to Claim Points for Maintenance(funds)
To claim 10 points for Maintenance (funds) a Tier 4 (General) student must show evidence that he/she:
-has paid all or part of his/her course fees and accommodation fees to his/her Tier 4 sponsor;
and/or
-is receiving official financial sponsorship; and/or
-has enough money to cover his/her remaining course fees and living costs, if any.
a)Documents needed to show money already paid to the Tier4 Sponsor
A Tier 4 sponsor can include details of the money the Tier 4 (General) student has already paid to them on his/her Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. If a Tier 4 (General) student’s Tier 4 sponsor has included details of money paid to them on a Tier 4 (General) student’s Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, no further documents are needed to show that this money has been paid. If the Tier 4 (General) student does not know if his/her Tier 4 sponsor has included this information he/she will need to check this with his/her Tier 4 sponsor. Any money for fees and maintenance that are not shown on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must be shown by the Tier 4 (General) student.
If a Tier 4 (General) student’s Tier 4 sponsor has not included details of the money the Tier 4 (General) student has already paid on the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies, the Tier 4 (General) student must send:
An original paper receipt issued by the UK Tier 4 sponsor confirming that the Tier i. 4 (General) student has paid:
-all of his/her fees; or
-the amount that has been paid.
b)Documents needed to show official financial sponsorship or government sponsor
A Tier 4 sponsor can include details of Official Financial Sponsorship that they are giving to the Tier 4 (General) student on his/her Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. No further documents are needed to show this Official Financial Sponsorship. If the Tier 4 (General) student does not know if his/her Tier 4 sponsor has included this information he/she will need to check this with his/her Tier 4 sponsor.
In all other circumstances a Tier 4 (General) student who is being given Official Financial Sponsorship must provide:
A letter of confirmation from his/her Official Financial Sponsor on official letter-i. headed paper or stationery of the organisation of the official financial sponsor; and have the official stamp of that organisation on it.
-the name and contact details of the official financial sponsor;
-the length of the sponsorship; and
-the amount of money the sponsor is giving to the student or a statement that the student’s
official financial sponsor will cover all of his/her fees and living costs.
c)Documents needed to show money available to theTier4 (General) student
A Tier 4 (General) student must show that he/she has held the required money for a consecutive 28 day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than 1 month before his/her application.
The following documents can be used to show money available to the Tier 4 (General) student:
i. Personal bank or building society statements covering a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 1 month before the date of the student’s application:
-the student’s or their parents(s)/legal guardians name; and
-the date of the statement; and
-the financial institution’s name and logo; and
-the amount of money available.
Ad hoc bank statements printed on the bank’s letterhead are admissible as evidence (this excludes mini-statements from cash points).
If the student wishes to submit electronic bank statements from an online account these must contain all of the details listed above. In addition, the student will need to provide a supporting letter from his/her bank, on company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements provided.
Alternatively an electronic bank statement bearing the official stamp of the bank in question will be accepted. This stamp must appear on every page of the statement.
We will not accept statements which show the balance in the account on a particular day as these documents do not show that the applicant holds enough funds for the full period needed.
If a student wants to use a joint account as proof of his/her money, he/she must be named on the account along with one or more other person.
ii. Building society pass book covering a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 1 month before the date of the student’s application.
-the student’s or their parents(s)/legal guardians name; and
-the financial institution’s name and logo; and
-the amount of money available.
iii. Letter from the student’s bank confirming funds have been held for a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 1 month before the date of the application.
-the student’s or their parents(s)/legal guardians name; and
-the date of the letter; and
-the financial institution’s name and logo; and
-the money in the student’s account; and
-that there is enough money in the account (to cover your course fees and living costs).
iv. Letter from a financial institution regulated by either the Financial Services Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, the home regulator (official regulatory body for the country the institution is in and where the money is held) confirming funds have been held for a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than one month before the date of the application.
-the student’s or their parents(s)/legal guardians name; and
-the date of the letter; and
-the financial institution’s name and logo; and the money in the student’s account.
v. Letter from a financial institution regulated by either the Financial Services Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, the home regulator (official regulatory body for the country the institution is in and where the money is held) confirming the loan.
The loan letter must be dated no more than 6 months before the date of the application. The student’s letter from the financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority or home regulator must show:
-the student’s name; and
-the date of the letter; and
-the financial institution’s name and logo;
-the money (or funds) available as a loan; and
Loans held in a parents(s)/legal guardians name cannot be used as evidence of money held by the student.
For students applying from overseas, the loan funds must be available to the student before he/she travels to the UK, unless that loan will be an academic/student loan from his/her country’s national government and the loan will be released to the student by his/her national government or via his/her Tier 4 sponsor on arrival in the UK.
There must be no conditions placed upon the release of the loan funds to the student, other than the student making a successful Tier 4 application.
A Tier4 (General) student using money held by his/her parents
If a Tier 4 (General) student is relying on money held by his/her parents(s)/legal guardian, he/she must show that he/she is related to his/her parent(s)/legal guardian. Tier 4 (General) students must provide one of:
i. the student’s birth certificate showing names of his/her parent(s);
ii. the student’s certificate of adoption showing names of both parent(s) or legal guardian;
iii. a Court document naming the legal guardian of the student.
The document use must be the original legal document or a notarised copy.
If a Tier 4 (General) student is relying on money held by his/her parents(s)/legal guardian, he/she must also show that his/her parent(s)/legal guardian has given their permission for the Tier 4 (General) student to use this money. The Tier 4 (General) students must provide:
i. a letter from his/her parent(s) or legal guardian.
-the relationship between the student and his/her parent(s) or legal guardian; and
-that the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their consent to the student using their funds to study in the UK.
Parental Consent(Tier4 (General) students under 16 and17 years old students only)
Letter of parental consent
A 16 and 17 year old Tier 4 (General) student has the legal right to live independently in the UK, and so may make their own arrangements for accommodation. However he/she requires the consent of his/her parent(s)/legal guardian to do this and to travel to the UK (if they applying from overseas).
Tier 4 (General) students who are 16 or 17 years old and living independently must provide:
i. A letter from their parent(s) or legal guardian, confirming:
-the relationship between the parent(s) or legal guardian and the child;
-that the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their consent to the application;
-that the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their consent to the child student living independently in the UK;
-that the parent(s) or legal guardian have given their consent to the child student’s independent travel to the UK.
The letter must confirm if the parent(s) or legal guardian has legal custody or sole responsibility for the child. If they have sole custody they must sign the letter. If they do not, the letter must confirm that each parent or legal guardian agrees to the contents of the letter and must be signed by each parent or legal guardian.
7) What is ATAS?
ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) is designed to ensure that people who are applying to study certain sensitive subjects in the UK do not have links to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes.
Students applying for some postgraduate courses and research programmes in the UK may need to apply for an ATAS certificate, before they apply for a visa.
Students intending to pursue an undergraduate course in the UK, do not need to obtain an ATAS certificate.
Note for those doing an MEng undergraduate programme:
If you are doing a MEng that begins in the UK, you do not need an ATAS certificate regardless of the JACS code.
However if you are joining a MEng programme part-way through and have done the rest of your studies outside the UK, then you may need an ATAS certificate. Your CAS from the university should indicate whether you need an ATAS certificate and you need to also check to see if your JACS code is one of the ones on the Taught Masters list.
Further information on ATAS is available at:
If you are applying to study for a course which required an ATAS certificate, you must provide a print-out of the ATAS clearance certificate. If this is not provided, your application will be refused.
A student will need to apply for a new ATAS if:
• he/she changes his/her course, or
• the area of research/modules change for the course he/she originally applied to, or
• he/she moves to another institution, or
• his/her Visa was issued on or after 30 November 2007, and he/she needs further permission to stay for writing up a thesis.
8) Where Do I Apply for a UK Visa?
VFS Global
Suite 19.06 19th Floor,
Wisma MCA, 163 Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: (03) 21649323
9) How Do I Apply for a UK Visa?
b) You first need to make an On-Line Visa application:
- Please ensure you choose the correct visa application type when selecting the category i.e.
- Purpose of Application: PBS Tier 4 student
- Type of Application: chose correct category amongst the following:
- Tier 4 (General Student)
(note: to be chosen by privately funded students)
- Tier 4 (General) Dependant Partner
- Tier 4 (General) Dependant Child
- Tier 4 (General) (Sponsored) Student
(note: to be chosen by government sponsored students, ,university sponsored students, etc)
- Tier 4 (Child) (Sponsored) Student
If you have chosen the wrong category, you should submit another application and you will be sent a new reference number, to the email address you gave as part of the application security process.
This On-Line Visa application Form needs to be printed out and signed.
c) For student visa applications, other form that needs to be completed is the Self-Assessment form (also referred to as Appendix 8)- this form is not required for dependents
d)Please refer to the UKBA Checklist for supporting documents, to determine the supporting documents that need to be included with your application.
e) All these forms need to be brought to the Visa Application Centre, in person, together with supporting document for processing.
f) You are encouraged to make an appointment on-line before visiting the Visa Application
Centre:
10)What Documents Need To Be Enclosed with a Student Visa Application?
All the documents enclosed with the application must be original and genuine. You must also provide a photocopy of all documents
Documents that are not in English need to be translated. You may wish to contact the following organisations for these services:
-Malaysian Translators Association (c/o Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka): Tel: 03-21424381, 21442506
-Should you need to submit your birth certificate, an English language version of this can be obtained from the National Registration Department (Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara) branch offices:
http://www.jpn.gov.my/a) Signed on-line application form (VAF9 PBS)
b) Signed Appendix 8 self assessment form (not required for dependents)
c) Current passport with at least one double sided page free for the visa vignette and any old passports
d) Visa Fees
e) One recent coloured and unframed passport size photo- please refer to UKBA guidelines with regard photo guidance/specification
f) Original documents of relevant certificates, qualifications or other evidence mentioned by your sponsor in CAS
g) Current Malaysian Immigration Status (for non-Malaysians)
h) Consent letter for 16 and 17 year olds signed by both parents
i) Evidence of any outstanding course and accommodation fees and required maintenance funds as specified in the points based system policy guidance
j) If applicable, a letter from your official sponsor stating the duration and the amount of the award
k) For dependents:
- evidence of relationship to sponsor (e.g. marriage certificate, civil partnership registration or birth certificate- if these are in a language other than English, these need to be translated into English)
- financial evidence showing evidence that the principal applicant can support the dependents
- a copy of the pages from the principal applicant’s passport/travel document showing permission to stay, if principal applicant is already in the UK.
l) Itemised list which all the applicant and dependents should prepare, indicating all supporting documents that have been included with the visa application
11) How Much Is the Visa Fees and How Do I Pay The Fees?
Further Information on Amount and Modes of Payment May be Obtained From:
Please note that the Visa Fees is Subject To Change
- By cash across all Alliance Bank Counters (not through the cash/cheque deposit machines)
- By cashier's order/ banker's draft issued from any bank and can be submitted at the VFS UK visa application centre and payable to "VFS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd." payable in Kuala Lumpur only.
- By online fund transfer if you have an Alliance Bank savings or current account with personal internet banking access (alliance online PERSONAL) to Payee Corporation: VFS (M) S/B FOR UK VISA FEE, Account number: 14185-0-01-001313-7,
Please note: Options 1 to 3 are surcharge free. Applicants using options 1 and 3 must wait until the next working day after making their payment before submitting their visa application and supporting documents at the VFS visa application centre. For option 2 applicants can purchase a cashier's order/banker's draft from any bank and submit their visa application the same day at the VFS UK visa application centre, during opening hours.
Applicants outside Kuala Lumpur:
If you are staying outside Kuala Lumpur, the bank drafts which you purchase must be payable in Kuala Lumpur. Banks will charge a fee for the purchase of cashier's orders/banker's drafts. This fee must be paid by the applicant.
12) How long will it take for my visa to be processed?
Currently, processing times range from 5 to 15 days.
13) What are the consequences of providing false or forged documents/information?
If a student provides false or fraudulent documents with the student visa application, lies or withholds information, s/he will be refused and may be banned from making further applications for up to 10 years
Important: Always declare any previous visa/entry clearance refusals, in your visa application. Failure to do so may mean that you are deemed to have provided false information and hence refused and may be banned from making further applications for up to 10 years.
14) What biometric data do I have to provide?
All UK visa applicants (with the exception of Right of Abode Applications and Children below 5 years) are required to submit their applications in person at the UK Visa Application Centre where they will have their fingers scanned and a digital photograph taken. Applications cannot be processed if an applicant refuses, or cannot provide, acceptable biometric data.
source: MABECS Sdn Bhd - 4th July 2011
