Study Abroad in the United Kingdom
Tier 4 Student Visa Information
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Please read all of this information very carefully.
Who Should Apply?
You must apply for a PBS Tier 4 Student Visa if:
- You are participating on an internship; or
- You are studying in the UK for more than six months; or
- You intend to work or intern while studying abroad
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The Basics
Because you will need to include documentation sent in your visa pack, you should not begin online application until you receive this information from Arcadia.
The application process for the Tier 4 Student Visa requires you to:
- Complete an online application for entry clearance
- Undergo a biometrics appointment (enroll your fingerprints and facial image at a USCIS office)
- Mail your complete visa application—including materials that will be sent to you from Arcadia University—to the British Consulate in New York City (for applications made from within the United States)
After you complete your biometrics appointment, you will need to submit all of your application materials to the British Consulate within two weeks.
If your application is incomplete and this window of time closes, you will need to reapply from the beginning and re-pay all visa application fees.
Any Tier 4 Student Visa applicant who is a national of a non-majority English speaking country must meet the minimum English language requirement relevant to their course of study. For information on which countries are considered to be majority English speaking, please visit the UK Border Agency website.
If you are applying for the Tier 4 visa and are NOT a national of majority English speaking country, you will need to show proof that you meet the minimum English language requirement. For most students, this will mean providing a recent score report from an English language test.
The UKBA has published a list of approved English language tests, as well as the minimum grade required for each test. For more information, please contact your Program Manager.
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Visa Pack
Approximately two months before your departure, you will receive a visa pack from Arcadia University. At that time, you should begin the visa application process.
Once you receive your visa pack you should apply for your visa immediately.
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