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The maintenance requirement for Tier 4 students - how much money do they need?

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General Requirements

  • Before students can be granted entry clearance or leave to remain in the UK under the Tier 4 Student Category, they need to prove they have a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued by a  “licensed sponsor”  which has accepted them for study.
  • They will score 30 points for satisfying this requirement.
  • In addition, they must score a further ten points for having money to cover their course fees and living costs (“maintenance”).

HOW MUCH MONEY IS REQUIRED?

  • The student must show they have enough money in total to cover their course fees for the first year, or for the duration of the course, if shorter.
  • They should check the CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) issued by their sponsor for the amount they need to have.
  • In addition, the student must show they can cover their living costs.  These will vary depending on which part of the UK they are studying in.
  • Some students who have already been studying  for some time in the UK (“established presence”) will not have to show that they have as much money to cover living costs as those who are newly arrived here.

LOCATION OF STUDY

  • If studying in inner London for more than 50 per cent of the time, a student will have to show that they have funds of £1000 per month to cover living costs.
  • If studying elsewhere, only £800 per month needs to be proven to cover living costs.

ESTABLISHED PRESENCE

  • Those students who already have entry clearance or leave to remain as a student and have studied for at least six months here already will have an “established presence” and will only need to show they have the required sum to cover two months living costs.
  • Students without an “established presence” will have to demonstrate they have the required sum for each month of their course, up to a total of nine months.

WHAT ARE THE PERMITTED SOURCES OF THE MONEY?

  • Students can satisfy the maintenance requirement by showing they have money in their own bank account, or that of their parents.
  • If the money concerned does belong to their parents, the student will have to prove the relationship and that their parents consent to the money being used for this purpose.
  • Students can only make use of cash funds in the bank, not evidence of shares, bonds or overdrafts.  Credit cards are not accepted.
  • Loan letters or documents confirming government or other official financial sponsorship will  be accepted.

FUNDS TO BE HELD ONLY IN APPROVED HOME OFFICE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

  • Students should ensure that the funds they rely on to prove adequate maintenance are  held only in an approved Home Office financial institution.  They need to check the Immigration Rules for the current list of financial institutions which are not acceptable, because they do not verify documents to the satisfaction of the Home Office.

TIME PERIOD FOR HOLDING FUNDS

  • Please note that the student must have held the funds relied on for at least 28 days before the application is made, and that period must not have ended more than 31 days before they apply.
  • Strict evidence of funding is required (as set down in the Home Office guidance) apart from in cases where the student is from a designated “low risk country”, as set down in the Immigration Rules.

Immigration law is complex and we recommend that you seek advice before submitting your application.  We can offer an initial free consultation concerning your case, and reasonable fixed fees.  You can contact us on  mleate@jdspicer.co.uk or 0207 625 5590

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Common questions

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Yes, read about the recent cases we've helped our clients with here.

We always keep you updated and give straightforward advice. We will get cases dropped early where the case is weak or should not be prosecuted. We will be upfront with you about where you can benefit from a good result with an early guilty plea, such as a discount on your sentence. As we work on cases across all levels with clients from all walks of life, we are excellent at giving clear, spot-on advice. As an established firm, we can allocate a whole team to your case often at short notice to secure evidence to minimise the damage to you. 

Have you won any awards?

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODY THE LAW SOCIETY AWARDED US IN OCTOBER 2020 WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN CLIENT SERVICE AWARD AND STATED - 

"JD Spicer Zeb demonstrated a clear commitment to client service through their work with vulnerable and diverse individuals in what can be severely traumatic circumstances".

Do you offer free consultations?

Where it is possible, we aim to provide an initial consultation to you. If we can speak to you, we can if required inform you about  –

  • Whether we can take the case on and our relevant experience.
  • Public and private funding benefits.
  • Assistance in applying for legal aid where we are likely to accept instructions.
  • An outline of options in police interview only. We will not advise you on which option to adopt.
  • Providing our free written guide explaining the police station process.
  • The gravity of routine and day-to-day offences you face.
  • Consequences of not attending the court or police station.
  • Consequences of interfering with any witnesses.
  • Retaining any evidence in support of your case.
  • If possible an outline of the elements of the offence that the police or CPS must prove.
  • This consultation will normally be by telephone or email and will only be for as long as we deem necessary to establish if we can act for you. If we cannot usefully give you any advice in this manner then we will not continue with the consultation. We will not discuss the case in depth for you to be able to decide on your plea or any significant aspect of the case, as this cannot be undertaken informally.
  • Referring you, if possible, to other firms for matters out of our specialism or if we cannot help.

Consultations do not apply to the following cases –

  • If we do not intend to take the case on.
  • Road Traffic cases, drink driving, drug driving, driving bans, speeding, no insurance, mobile phone use, points etc.
  • In all cases where we do not have the capacity to take your case or the availability of suitably qualified staff to provide an initial free consultation. This is applicable in all cases but especially where a more senior lawyer is required because of your personal needs or the complexity of the case.
  • Harassment/stalking/ coercive behaviour/malicious communications or road traffic cases and most sensitive cases. These cases are often too complicated to assess in short consultations.
  • The locations concerned may be too distant to represent you adequately or it may not be cost-effective for you or us.
  • The case is too complicated to assess or raises various charges or facts, complexity, or history to be considered informally or in a short consultation.
  • In most Legal aid transfers where legal aid is granted to another firm except in very grave cases, we may assess the case and merits for a transfer.
  • If your relationship has broken down with your existing solicitor or several solicitors.
  • If you have been released under investigation and have already had a police station attendance. 
  • If you hold legal aid with another firm and seek a second opinion.
  • If you are calling on behalf of the client as a friend or family member unless you have full authority and full facts.
  • To businesses.
  • Advising whether you were given good advice by your other solicitor.
  • Whether to decide to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Whether you have an arguable defence in law or factually complicated defences.
  • Any advice you have had after your first court appearance.
  • Any advice on appeal on conviction or sentence.
  • If we feel we are unable to communicate with you.
  • If we are likely to be conflicted or breach our professional rules.

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