September 14th, 2020
Yesterday, the Home Office announced its plans to close the Tier 4 Student route and replace it with the ‘Child Student’ and ‘Student’ routes.
The changes are being introduced to give effect to the Government’s plan to create a global visa system which applies equally to all individuals coming to the UK to work or study, including EEA nationals. Tier 4 is the first route to be simplified and streamlined.
Student Route will replace the current Tier 4 visa in the new UK’s Points-Based Immigration System on at 9:00 am (British Time) on 5 October 2020.
It will affect Student and Student dependant applications made on or after then, regardless of the date on which a CAS was assigned. Applicants who have a valid CAS issued before 5 October at 9:00 under the Tier 4 route will be able to use it for an application under the Student route.
The Student and Child Student routes will apply to both EEA nationals (as of 1 January 2021) and non-EEA nationals.
What is new?
A student will be required to meet a minimum of 70 points in order to be awarded Student/Student Child status, i.e.