CREDIBILITY INTERVIEWS:INFORMATION AND ADVICE

How to use this guide:

• Read this guide carefully before you apply for your visa.

• Pay attention to the ‘Common Reasons for Refusal at Interview’ section, making sure you avoid all of these.

• Read this Guide along with the University of Bedfordshire’s guides ‘Applying for your Tier 4 visa overseas’ and ‘Applying for your Tier 4 visa in the UK’ in order to prevent your visa being refused.

• Contact us if you have any queries – see the back of this booklet for details

• Only apply for your visa if you are sure you can fully answer all the questions the interviewer might ask you!

What is the purpose of a credibility interview?

The interview is to check that you are a genuine student and that you do not wish to come to the UK for any other purpose. In order to assess this, you may be asked questions about the studies you are planning to undertake in the UK, your future plans and your background and immigration history. You may also be asked how you intend to cover the financial cost of your life and study in the UK, and why this cost will be worthwhile.

If there are concerns about your credibility, your Tier 4 visa application can still be refused even if you score the 40 points required. The University will not issue another CAS to you.

Will I be called for an interview?

The UK Home Office intends to interview most Tier 4 students so you must be prepared to be called for an interview when you apply for a Tier 4 visa.

You will usually be sent an email asking you to attend an interview so you should check your email (including the ‘junk’ folder) regularly. If you are applying in the UK you will be sent an email and a letter will also be posted to you containing the same information. Your visa application will be automatically refused if you are asked to attend an interview and you do not do so without providing a satisfactory explanation.

If the Home Office still has queries regarding your application after your first interview, they may call you back for a second interview at a later date.

Section 1: General Information

Do not be alarmed by this, but it does indicate that they will want to clarify certain issues with you, so you should be prepared to provide more detailed answers than those you originally provided.

At what stage of my application will the interview take place?

If you are called for an interview, the interview will take place when you attend a visa application centre when you are called to submit your biometric information, such as your fingerprints.

What can I expect if I am called for an interview?

The interview will take between five minutes and half an hour. It may be face to face but is usually via video link, similar to Skype. Once you have completed the interview, a typed record of the interview will be sent to the Entry Clearance Officer who will make a decision concerning your visa application. They will take your answers into account when deciding whether to grant you a visa.

The interview will be conducted in English and therefore the interviewer will also be assessing your ability to hold a conversation in English. You should therefore let them know immediately if the connection is bad as they may mistake your inability to hear for an inability to understand.

If you feel unwell and are concerned this may affect your performance at the interview, you should also inform the interviewer.

Section 2: Typical QuestionsYou must be sure that you can answer each of the questions stated below fully and truthfully before you apply for your visa. If you cannot, you must not apply for your visa.

Why have you chosen to study in the UK?

Given that you could have studied in your home country, or in an alternative country, why is it that you have chosen to study in the UK? There are many other English speaking countries which offer courses to overseas students – for example, Australia, USA, Canada, and New Zealand.

What is it that attracted you to the UK instead of one of those? The British Council offers lots of reasons to choose a UK education: http://www.educationuk.org/global/main/why-choose-a-uk-education/

Why did you choose to study at the University of Bedfordshire?

There are lots of universities in the UK. You should consider why you chose the University of Bedfordshire rather than any other.

Location: Why the UK and Why Bedfordshire?

Was it because it offered your chosen course? There may be many courses in the same subject area as the one you plan to study at Bedfordshire. What was it specifically about the Bedfordshire course which you prefer? Was it specific modules? Was it the facilities we offer on campus? If so, what was it about these features that were particularly attractive? Was it the location? If so, why?

More information about the University is available at: www.beds.ac.uk

The Course: Course Content and How the Course will help you

Why did you choose the course you have applied for?

Of all of the courses on offer in the UK, and at the University of Bedfordshire specifically, what was it about the course you have chosen that made you choose that course? You should think about the process you went through when you were deciding which course to study, and how you decided on your chosen course. You should also consider how the specific modules and course content influenced your decision making: you will be expected to know what the course units are called and what you will be taught. You will be expected to know how you will be assessed and what skills and knowledge you expect to gain from the course. Reliable information can be gained by checking the University of Bedfordshire website.

Undergraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/how-toapply/courses/undergraduate

Postgraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/how-toapply/courses/postgraduate

You may also be asked at the interview how long your course will last, how much your tuition fees will cost and what qualification you will gain when you complete your course. This information is presented clearly on your CAS letter.

Please note: Coming to study your course of study at Bedfordshire because you hope to gain a work placement during the course is not an acceptable reason for coming to study!

How do your studies fit into your plans for the future?

Taking a course of study in the UK is an expensive and challenging task. Therefore, you should have a good reason for deciding to do it. You should think about how your qualification will benefit you throughout your planned career. This might relate to what other people who have finished this course have gone on to do afterwards: has it helped them? It is also important to consider how the course complements previous courses you have completed and work experience that you have already gained. Information about career opportunities provided by the courses at Bedfordshire is available on the University’s website.

Undergraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/undergraduate

Postgraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/how-toapply/courses/postgraduate

Finances: How you will pay for your studiesand how you will make the money back

How will you fund your stay in the UK, including the cost of your studies?

When you apply for your visa, you must submit evidence of your ability to fund your stay in the UK. You should know exactly where this money has come from and where any extra money will come from that you will require to fund your entire stay in the UK. This money may come by means of sponsorship. If that is the case, you must be clear as to what the conditions of the sponsorship are, and what precisely it covers. If you have obtained the money by taking out an educational loan, you will need to explain very clearly how you intend to pay this money back.

In order to answer this question satisfactorily, it is essential that you are aware how much money you will need when in the UK. Refer to the living costs stated on your offer letter, and make sure you know how much your accommodation in the UK will cost.

Please note: It is a good idea to take any evidence you have of money being available to you, such as a bank statement, with you to the interview, so you can prove that what you say is true.

Employment: Working in the UK

Do you plan to work in the UK?

You must be aware of the regulations concerning working in the UK whilst holding a Tier 4 visa. If you are applying for entry clearance to the UK under Tier 4, the main purpose of your stay must be to study – not to work. You cannot rely on funds from working to pay your course fees and living costs.

Any work you do undertake should complement your studies. If you do intend to work, you should therefore think about how your intended employment will build upon and develop the skills and knowledge you will gain by means of your academic course.

For more information about working regulations under Tier 4 see paragraph 266-290 of the UK Home Office’s Tier 4 Policy Guidance, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/514308/T4_Migrant_Guidance_Apr_2016.pdf

AccommodationWhere do you plan to live during your studies?

You should investigate your accommodation options and be able to say where you plan to live. You must consider how far it is from the University and how you will travel to your classes.

DependantsIf you have a spouse and/or children, you must also be prepared to answer questions about them, such as whether they will be joining you in the UK and what they will be doing there.

Previous Study: Returning to study and academic progression

If you have previously studied in the UK, why are you returning?

You should consider how the course you are taking will develop the knowledge and skills you gained previously, and how this further development will assist you later on in terms of your career goals and financial aspirations. If you did not successfully complete your previous course of study, you should be prepared to explain why this occurred and why this will not happen again.

How does your new course constitute academic progression from your previous studies undertaken in the UK?

You should think about how your proposed course represents academic progression from your previous studies, especially if that previous study was undertaken in the UK. This is particularly important if your study is at the same academic level as your previous course, such as if you are moving from an MSc to another MSc, MA or MBA. You must be able to explain how the new course is related to the previous course for which you were given Tier 4 leave or how the previous and new course combined support your genuine career aspirations. You will have been asked to explain this on your personal statement when you applied to the University of Bedfordshire for a place on your new course. You should be prepared to explain this again at your interview.

If your last course of study was taken a long time ago, why are you returning to study now?

You should be clear why it is that you have chosen to return to study, and why the return to study will benefit you in terms of your future career. You should consider why now is a good time for you to return to study, and why you did not return to study before.

If you require an extension to your current visa to complete your course, can you explain why?

You should be able to explain why you were unable to complete your course within your existing period of leave. You should also be able to explain what you have completed and what you are still required to do for your chosen course. You should be clear about any paid work you have done and plan to do and you must be able to explain how you will be able to make satisfactory academic progress without needing further extensions.

Why is it worthwhile for you to spend so much money choosing to study in the UK?

You should consider why it is profitable for you to invest so much money gaining a qualification from the UK, rather than remaining in your home country studying or working. Are the advantages of gaining the degree really enough to outweigh the costs? To answer this question you should know what the expected costs are and how your qualification and UK experience will enable you to make this money back later on.

Immigration History: Meeting visa conditions and previous refusals

If you have previously studied in the UK, you must be sure that you complied with all your visa rules, such as limits on the number of hours spent working each week or registering with the police, if required. If you have previously experienced a visa refusal you should also be able to explain why that happened, what you learnt from that, and why it will not happen again. You may also be asked about any other previous UK visas or visa refusals you have had and visas or visa refusals you have had for other countries around the world.

Additional questions on credibility:

Apparent discrepancies

You may be asked additional questions during your credibility interview if the Entry Clearance Officer needs to clarify any apparent gap, discrepancies or contradictions in your application or during your interview. If these cannot be satisfactorily explained, you will be liable to have your visa refused.

Section 3: English Language

Section 4: If your Visa is Refused

You will be refused a visa if you are unable to communicate well without using an interpreter. If it is necessary for you to accept the services of an interpreter, you will be considered unsuitable for study in the UK.

If your visa is refused for any reason, it is essential that you let the University know straight away. We will then do all we can to assist you if we

Section 5: Common Reasons for Refusal at Interview

In our experience, refusals will most often occur because the visa applicant does not know:

• Why they are coming to the UK to study the course instead of staying in their home country or going to another country• Why they chose this University instead of others and what facilities the University offers• Where in the UK the University is • Why they have chosen the course they have applied for• What is taught on the course they have applied for, how it is assessed and what they expect to learn• Why the qualification will help the applicant fulfil their career dreams more effectively than if they did not have the qualification• What they intend to do after completing the course and how their studies fit into this• How the applicant is funding their studies• Why the course will be financially profitable – why it is worthwhile spending so much on the course and how it will allow the applicant to make the money back• Why they are returning to study after a gap in studies (if applicable)• Where they plan to live during their studies

If you are not sure you could confidently answer all of these questions fully and truthfully when you are asked, you should not apply for your visa! You must be sure of the answer to these questions before you apply. Simply stating that ‘Bedfordshire is a good University with excellent courses and facilities that will help me get a good job’ is not acceptable! You must provide more detail.

The interviewer will expect your English language level during the interview to be at the level stated on your CAS letter. If it is not, you will be refused your visa.

believe you have valid grounds to challenge theEntry Clearance Officer’s refusal decision. Our contact details can be found at the end of this booklet.

Date of publication: May 2016

Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this guide is accurate at the time of publication. However, regulations relating to Tier 4 visas can change and this guide should be read alongside current UK Visas and Immigration applicant guidance. The content is provided for information only. It is not intended to amount to advice upon which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking or refraining from any action on the basis of the content of this publication.

While all reasonable care and diligence has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this guide, the University of Bedfordshire does not warrant its accuracy and disclaims any liability, legal or otherwise, resulting in any injury, damage, direct or indirect loss (which is not foreseeable), consequential or economic loss or any other loss suffered as a result of the use or reliance upon information contained in this guide to the extent that such losses are foreseeable. Nothing in these terms of use excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence or our fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability that cannot be limited by English law.

Useful Links

About Bedfordshire: www.beds.ac.uk

Undergraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/undergraduate

Postgraduate courses: http://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate

About studying in the UK: http://www.educationuk.org/global/main/why-choose-a-uk-education

Contacts:

If you are starting a new course, any queries should be sent to your admissions team:

http://www.beds.ac.uk/international/international-applications/contactus

If you are continuing a course, any queries should be sent to: visaadvice@beds.ac.uk

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