Visa Update – April 2013
Lorraine Clark
International Student Services
Coordinator (Immigration)
Brunel International Immigration Office
• Responsible for giving immigration advice, to both potential
and existing students and Agents
• Able to offer a Tier 4 application service, using the UK
Border Agency Home Office’s Student Batch Scheme, for
Brunel University and LIBT students already in the UK. This
service includes:
– A thorough check of their application and supporting documents
– Dealing with all correspondence, allowing the students to relax and
concentrate on their studies.
Services we can provide
Throughout the year we also offer:
• Drop-in visa enquiry sessions
• Prompt, detailed responses to emailed enquiries
• A checking service for those who apply for their visas
by themselves
• Published information sheets
• Media screens across campus displaying updates
Renewing a Tier 4 visa
• For students already in the UK and progressing to
follow-on courses, we offer the Special Batch Scheme.
This includes:
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Complete guidance throughout the process
Help with completing the application
Checking all the supporting documents
Sending the application through the Special Batch Scheme
Dealing with all correspondence until the new visa arrives
Less chance of application rejection or refusal.
• Students are able to enrol and start their next course,
while waiting for the visa to be processed
Changes to the UK Visa system
During 2012-13 have included:
• The introduction of online Tier 4 applications for applications made inside the UK
• Further additions to the list of ‘Low Risk’ countries
• Interviews - concentrated on applicants from countries considered to be ‘high
risk’
• Tuberculosis screening for certain nationalities
• Changes to rules about overstaying
• Visa curtailments issued to students who do not enrol or who leave their studies
early
• Increase in processing times for ATAS applications
• Closure of the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) route and the introduction of the Tier 1
(Graduate Entrepreneur) scheme and the new Doctorate Extension
Scheme
Be aware….
• UKBA guidelines and policy continue to change
frequently
• Students must make sure they keep up-to-date with
changes in policy and law
• Sources of information include:
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The Immigration Rules
Tier 4 Policy Guidance
A TIER 4 visa affects many things…
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Types of course students are permitted to study
Length of course permitted
Whether a student can change institutions
Permission to work
Whether a student can bring dependants
- All of these things also depend on WHEN students applied
for their visa and if they will be studying with a Highly
Trusted Sponsor
Contact the Immigration
Office
Email: [email protected]
• Lorraine Clark
International Student Services Coordinator (Immigration)
Tel:
+44 (0) 1895 267709
Email: [email protected]
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International Student Services Officer (Immigration)
Tel:
+44 (0) 1895 267489
Email: [email protected]