Tier 4- getting everything together

I'm new to this, so I'm trying to understand the documents I need to get together to show the UKBA.

1. I have a letter from the school showing I have a conditional offer, I have since provided all necessary proof to get my status changed.  I still have not received a letter that states my offer is now unconditional.  I'm assuming I need an unconditional offer to get my visa, is this correct?

2. My diploma has not arrived yet.  I have an official transcript that states "Degree Conferred." Will this be good enough?  God only knows when my diploma will show up.

3. I have a letter from my school certifying my loans.  Will this suffice for necessary funds? 

4. Also, do I submit my application and then schedule biometrics, or vice versa? 

Thanks for any help. 

Scratch question 4.  I figured that out. 

1. I have a letter from the school showing I have a conditional offer, I have since provided all necessary proof to get my status changed.  I still have not received a letter that states my offer is now unconditional.  I'm assuming I need an unconditional offer to get my visa, is this correct?

You need an official letter of sponsorship from the school, also known as a CAS, which gives you 30 points towards the visa (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/can-you-apply/cas/#). It is valid for 6 months and the visa must be applied for within this time. If you don't have a CAS, you will not get the 30 points needed and your visa will be refused.

2. My diploma has not arrived yet.  I have an official transcript that states "Degree Conferred." Will this be good enough?  God only knows when my diploma will show up.

The points-based visas are very strict with documentation - if you don't have the exact documentation required, then the visa will be refused.

The UKBA webpage detailing the evidence needed for the CAS to be issued states (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/visa-letter/#):

Assessment based on your qualifications

If your Tier 4 sponsor has assessed your qualifications in order to assign your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS), you must send us these qualifications with your application. For each qualification listed, you must provide:

    * the original certificate(s) of qualification; or
    * the original transcript of results.

We will not accept provisional certificates.

Each certificate of qualification must be the original (not a copy), and must clearly show:

    * your name;
    * the title of the award;
    * the date of the award; and
    * the name of the awarding institution.

Each transcript of results must be the original (not a copy), and must clearly show:

    * your name;
    * the academic institution's name;
    * the course title; and
    * confirmation of the award.

You will need to know what evidence your Tier 4 sponsor has included on your CAS, so that you can include it with your application. You must get this information directly from your Tier 4 sponsor before you apply. We will not provide this information to you.

3. I have a letter from my school certifying my loans.  Will this suffice for necessary funds? 

Not sure - you need an official letter from a financial institution. On the UKBA site, it states that the acceptable form of documentation for a loan is (http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students/evidence/money/#):

Letter from a financial institution confirming a loan

The financial institution must be regulated by the Financial Services Authority or, in the case of overseas accounts, the home regulator. (This is the official regulator for the country where the institution is and where the money is held.)

The loan letter must be dated no more than six months before the date of your application, and must show:

    * your name;
    * the date of the letter;
    * the financial institution's name and logo; and
    * the money (or funds) available as a loan.

This is from another site, hope it helps.

-You get your conditional letter from your school
-then you get your unconditional letter.
- CAS should be sent to you via E-Mail. It lists information they used for them to receive your CAS/acceptance. (i.e the schools license number, the transcripts and documents used for you to be accepted to the school)
-then you fill out an online application at the UKBA website, when you finish doing this it will have you schedule and appointment to get your biometrics (they just take your fingerprints and a face scan) MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR APPOINTMENT CONFORMATION SHEET TO YOUR BIOMETRICS APPOINTMENT they will stamp this and you will have to include it with the rest of your documents
-you will have to turn in your documents (either by mail or in person depending where you live) within two weeks of your biometrics appointment
-the documents you have to bring in or send in include:
You printed application later
A VAF9 Form (hand written application)
Appendix 8 form
your stamped biometrics for
your complete unconditional letter from your school that includes your CAS number
Any original documents used for your acceptance to the school
Your proof of fund which can be a bank statement or letter showing that you have enough money in your account for a consecutive 28 days (7200 + tuition if you're in london, 5400 +tuition if you're outside london
you will also need to include a passport sized photo of you against a light background taken withing the last 6 months (you can get it at cvs or wallgreens)
and your current and all previous passports
I recomend sending photocopies of all original documents if you need to get them back


Also you can pay $100 for in person, or $150 for 48hour processing. I also heard when paying your Fee's online they charge $12 so they can send it right back to you when a decision is made (that is if you arent using an expediter)

Lucky you, im still waiting on my Loan to be certified from school, got my private loan certified only. getting so impatient!!!

Thanks for all the information.  Coincidentally, I just received my CAS via email.  If I have a CAS, do I still need an Unconditional Offer letter?  Or does the CAS function in that capacity?
Thanks very much.

Hi there, 

Just to chime in what everyone else is saying....

1. Once you accept the unconditional offer, your CAS is issued. I was going to hold on to my actual acceptance letter, as I wouldn't have gotten the CAS without having been accepted.

2. As long as your official transcript clearly states the degree you've earned, and the date that it has been conferred, then you should be fine.  My university would always seal them in an envelope, and stamp it all over the place, saying something like "only official if sealed"  So, before they seal it, make sure it has all the information exactly how you need it.

3.  Yes, it should suffice.  This is what I was told by the University of Nottingham:

Visa Application- in a previous email I referred to a process for adding the information about your loans to your CAS statement. This system has changed as a special agreement has been reached with the UKBA in the US. The UKBA will accept a specific visa letter from the University confirming the loans we have originated for you. We will produce these letters for you once the loan origination has been completed.

  (it goes on with some school-specific details, but you get the point)

  Good luck! I'm applying tonight (pending any disasters)--just finished gathering all my supporting evidence for Appendix 8.

the transcript thing, on another site, people have applied and had visa's granted after unsealing the envelope, and just sending the transcript itself, not sealed...so either way your fine.

Thanks PS.  I think I'm going to shoot for Wednesday to submit my application.  Just to clarify, and excuse me for being a bit thick, but I want to make sure before I start harassing my Uni.  

Because I have the CAS, I don't need any additional proof that my offer is unconditional.  Is this correct?

The transcript looks like it will definitely be okay.  I have a sealed copy, as well as an open one.  It says Degree Conferred, the type of Degree, and the date conferred in the upper right hand corner underneath my name.

Good luck with your application PS and I hope you'll keep us posted.