A CAS (Certificate of Acceptance for Study) is a unique number that is essential for each Tier 4 Student applicant to make a visa application. The university enters details about the student, course and qualifications into theHome Office's database to confirm the university's sponsorship of the student and the unique number is generated and will be provided to the student via email in the form of a CAS statement.Your CAS statement should be submitted with your application when you apply for your visa.

Your dependants (husband, wife or children) can apply for immigration permission to join or remain with you in the UK only if:

• You are government-sponsored and your cours (at any level) is over six months long OR
• You are doing a postgraduate level course of 12 months or longer at a Higher Education Institution OR
• You had a Tier 4 or Pre-Tier 4 student visa for your previous course where the course was over six months long AND:
• Your visa is valid or expired no more than three months before this immigration application AND
• Your new immigration application is for a course over six months long AND
• Your dependants already have Tier 4 Dependant or Student Dependant visas AND
• You apply for immigration permission at the same time as your dependant
  If your family member(s) wish to join you in the UK as your dependant(s), they will need to make an application for a UK visa at their nearest visa application centre in their home country. For information on how to apply for a dependant visa from overseas, please visit the Home Office website at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/partners-families/

The UK Border Agency have announcement that they will be conducting interviews with every Tier 4 general student visa applicant, from the beginning of April 2013. This is Worldwide and not targeting any particular country.

The purpose of these interviews is to ensure the entry of genuine international students into the UK. These interviews can be conducted either face- to- face, over the telephone or via video link facilities and will be conducted by Visa Officers.

You should not worry about the interview; you must remain confident during the interview and do your very best and we look forward to seeing you in Cardiff soon.

Depending on which country you are from, you may be required to provide a medical certificate confirming that you are clear of Tuberculosis. For information on whether this applies to you, please visit the Home Office website at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/beforetravel/visas/applying/.

Depending on which country you are from, you will either be required to make an application online or you will need to complete application form VAF9 which can be downloaded from the Home Office website.

ALL student’s, whether they are applying online or using application form VAF9 are also required to complete Application form VAF9 (Appendix 8).

For information on how to apply in your home country (including how to apply online) and to download application forms VAF9 and Appendix 8, please visit the Home Office website at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/apply-outside-uk/

The below PDF guides have been produced by the university to help you complete application forms VAF9 and VAF9 (Appendix 8). The guides should be used in conjunction with the Tier 4 Policy Guidance and VAF9 Guidance Notes produced by the Home Office.

It is essential that you take the time to prepare all of the necessary documentation that will be required to allow you to make a strong visa application. The required documents are listed below although not all of them will be applicable to you:

• Passport(s)
• CAS Statement
• Two passport photographs
• Personal Bank statements, parents' bank statements or bank loan letter confirming funds for tuition fees and living costs have been maintained for a consecutive 28 day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of application.
• Sponsorship letter (Only applicable if you are officially sponsored by a government or international organisation or company and they are agreeing to cover some or all of your tuition fees and living costs during your time studying in the UK).
• Education certificates (the relevant certificates will be listed on your CAS statement)
• ATAS certificate (Only if you have been advised by the university and if this is stated on your CAS as a requirement)
• Birth certificate (Only applicable if submitting parents' bank statements or as proof of name change)
• Letter from parents ( Only if you are using your parents' bank statements. The letter should confirm that their money will be used for your fees and living costs).
• Marriage certificate (if you are also applying for a visa for your husband or wife)
• Translations (Any document that has not been written in English must be translated by an official translator and contain the translators qualifications, stamp, date and confirmation that the translation was based on the original document).
• Police Registration Certificate (Only applicable for certain nationalities when extending their visa inside the UK).
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) (Only applicable for students making visa extension applications inside the UK who have previously been issued with a BRP)

You must show that you have maintained your tuition fees (minus any fees that you have already paid to the university), plus living costs of £800 per calendar month of the course you are due to study, but up to a maximum of 9 months. Eg. For students studying on a 12 month course, Home Office will calculate living costs as £7,200 (£800 x 9months).

However, if you have a current student visa and have just finished a course of 6 months or longer or are continuing on a course of which you have completed at least 6 months, during the period of time you have had your current visa, your living costs will be calculated at a reduced rate of £1,600 only.

The total amount of money you will be required to show for tuition fees and living costs must be maintained in you/your parent(s) bank account for a consecutive 28 day period, ending no more than 31 days before the date of application. (Please note that this advice is only applicable to students who are due to study in an institution based outside London).

Your visa will be granted for the length of your course plus an additional:

• 7 days if your course is less than 6 months long
• 2 months if your course is more than 6 months but less than 12 months long
• 4 months if your course is more than 12 months long
• 1 month if you are studying a Pre-sessional course which is less than 6 months long

If you obtain a Tier 4 Student visa to study at Cardiff Met, you will be able to work part-time during your studies for a maximum of 10 or 20 hours per week, depending on the type of course you are studying. The number of hours you are permitted to work per week will be stated on your visa. You will also be permitted to work full-time hours during official university vacations.