CHANGES TO STUDENT IMMIGRATION from 4th JULY 2011

The next phase of changes to the student immigration system came into effect on 4 July 2011. Please see below for a summary of the changes that the ISA team feel are likely to affect students at UEL and their dependants.

For an overview of the recent changes, and information about the changes coming into effect over the next year, please see UKBA website

You can find also find information on the changes on the UKCISA website

Please note that these changes will apply to students who are applying on or after 4 July 2011 and will not apply to those with existing immigration permission.

Tier 4 Students

Evidence of student funding

• Students will be required to sign a declaration that the funds they present to meet the maintenance requirement are genuinely available for use in coming to the UK to study. An immigration officer/ Home Office caseworker may check that the funds continue to be available.

• UKBA will refuse applications where the bank statements are from a bank which they cannot trust to verify the statements. Paragraph 167 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance states that a  “list of financial institutions which do not satisfactorily verify financial statements” will be published on www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/studying/financial-institutions.pdf

At the time of updating this section (13th July 2011) this link has not yet been made available.

• UKBA have introduced a streamlined process for low risk applicants applying in the UK or the country of which they are national, going to Highly Trusted Sponsors, in general waiving the requirements to provide documents beyond the CAS and passport/ identity document. The list of low risk countries/nationalities includes: Argentina, Australia, British National Overseas, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Trinidad & Tobago, United States of America. A full list can be found in Paragraph 12 of the Tier 4 Policy Guidance.

However, UKBA may still request documents from these nationals - so it will be necessary to prepare them anyway.

Your family’s immigration

If you are applying to bring or keep your family in the UK, the student will have to be:

•  on a Post Graduate course (NQF 7 and above) of more than 12 months long, or

• a Government Sponsored student on a course of 6 months or longer (can be below postgraduate level)

OR

• applying for an extension to a Tier 4 dependant visa at the same time as the main applicant in the UK, within 3 months of both the main applicants’ and the dependant’s visa expiring, if the applicant previously had leave for a course of more than 6 months .

As this category is very restricted, it is important to read Paragraph 36 of the Dependant’s Policy Guidance http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/pbsdependantspolicy11.pdf to ensure that you and your family are eligible.

If you have had or are due to have a baby whilst you are studying at UEL, please email isa@uel.ac.uk for specific advice

For information on applying for a dependant visa, please see  Student Dependants section

Time allowed as a student

• Where students are not moving up to the next NQF level. i.e. from Undergraduate to Postgraduate study, the University will have to vouch for academic progression OR confirm that the course complements or enhances your previous study.

ALWAYS CHECK THE RULES IN PLACE AT THE TIME YOU MAKE ANY VISA APPLICATION

Produced by: University of East London – International Student Advice team. Updated: 13/07/11.

Website: www.uel.ac.uk/isa 
Email: isa@uel.ac.uk