Archive for 'student visa'

Applications from Overstayers

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 at 1:28 pm  
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Changes to applications from overstayers from 1st October 2012

Following the UKBA announcement in June 2012, see news of changes to applications from over-stayers , from 1st October 2012 applications for further leave will be refused if you have overstayed your leave by more than 28 days at the point you made your application. The new rules already apply to applications made under the family migration route and, from 1st October 2012, will apply to applications under the remaining routes which were made on or after 9th July 2012.

If you have limited leave to remain you must ensure you apply to extend your leave in good time if you are applying for further leave under:

  • the points-based system;
  • all working and student routes;
  • visiting routes;
  • long residency routes;
  • discharged HM Forces; or
  • UK ancestry routes.

If you have limited leave to remain you must ensure you apply to extend your leave, if needed, in time. If you wish to remain in the UK after the 28 day period you should leave the UK and reapply for a visa.

Switching from study to Tier 2

The rules changes do not affect the existing requirement for migrants seeking to switch from a study route into Tier 2 of the points-based system. If you are seeking to switch from a study route into Tier 2 you must have valid leave to remain at the point you make your application.

Applying under Tier 4

If you are applying to extend your Tier 4 (Student) leave the gap between the end of your current leave and the start of your studies must be no more than 28 days.This change will affect all Tier 4 applications for further leave to remain that are made on or after 1st October 2012

Advice for students to the UK

Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 at 3:07 pm  
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Advice for students preparing to come to the UK to study

If you are a student looking forward to traveling to the UK to begin your studies here this year you can now start preparing for your journey. As part of your preparation the UKBA want to help you ensure that you have everything you need to get through the UK border as securely and quickly as possible.
This advice explains some of things you can do to help with this.
1. Make a note of a suitable UK contact including full name, address and a phone number which will be required when you complete your landing card.
2. Ensure you complete your landing card before you meet the Border Force officer in the UK.
3. If you carry your passport in a protective wallet, please take it out before you present it to a Border Force officer.
4. Never give false or misleading information (including forged or counterfeit documents) to a Border Force officer.
5. Have your university confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) letter and medical card (if you have one) in your hand luggage that you carry with you on to the aircraft. If you don’t have a CAS letter, please bring thorough details of your course of study.
6. There are restrictions on food products that you can bring to the UK from outside the European Union, even for personal use. Restrictions apply to products made from meat, dairy, fish, eggs and honey, as well as some fruit, vegetables and plants (e.g. bulbs, seeds, cut flowers and tree bark).
7. There are also restrictions on the amount of goods such as tobacco, alcohol and gifts you can bring in the UK. If you exceed your allowances all of your goods can be taken away from you.
8. Never bring in counterfeit goods, illegal drugs, firearms (including realistic imitations), offensive weapons (including knives) or indecent or obscene material.
9. Make sure you are familiar with the conditions of your visa including the number of hours you are allowed to work.
10. You must declare any sums of cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent in another currency) if you are travelling from a country outside the European Union.

With this information above you can ensure you pass through the UK border securely and as swiftly as possible. There is more useful information here: https://www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa

 

New interviews for student visas

Monday, July 9th, 2012 at 3:50 am  
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This summer, 2012,  UK border agency officers will be given new powers to interview international students and refuse visas if they are not satisfied the applicant is genuine, immigration minister Damian Green announced today. The targeted interview system will be introduced ahead of the summer surge in student applications. Officers will concentrate on uncovering abuse in countries where it has been most prevalent.

Across the globe high-risk applicants will be identified and asked a number of questions about their immigration and education history, study and post-study plans, and financial circumstances. During the next year it is expected the agency will carry out up to 14,000 student applicant interviews.

Following a successful pilot, UK Immigration Minister Damian Green has announced that a targeted interview system for students will be introduced this summer and will concentrate on high-risk applicants.

If you are a student, you may be interviewed and asked a number of questions about your immigration and education history, study and post-study plans, and financial circumstances. We expect to interview up to 14,000 students in the next 12 months. We will refuse visas if we are not satisfied that you are a genuine student.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: ‘With more interviews and greater powers to refuse bogus students we will weed out abuse and protect the UK from those looking to play the system.

‘Under the current system UK Border Agency officers are unable to refuse some applications even if they have serious concerns over the credibility of the student – we are toughening up the system to ensure genuine students benefit from our country’s excellent education sector.

‘Britain is open for business to the brightest and the best migrants but the message is clear – if you lie on your application form or try to hide your true motivation for coming to the UK then you will be found out and refused a visa.’

Today’s announcement follows an interviewing pilot carried out by the agency last year to tackle concerns about the legitimacy of some applicants. More than 2,300 student visa applicants were interviewed in 13 overseas posts with the aim of testing how effective face-to-face interviews would be – in addition to existing strict application processes that consider fraud and other factors.

Under a pilot system carried out by the Home Office late last year, around a fifth of the applicants were refused entry to the UK based on their interview. The Home Office concluded that one of the main issues was the inability of interviewees to display the required level of English. Some were unable to answer basic questions in English without the aid of an interpreter – despite stating on their application forms that they had the necessary language qualifications to study at higher and further education standards in the UK.

Other government .  Over 450 colleges are no longer able to bring in students from overseas. In addition the number of student visas issued has fallen by 21 per cent over the last year. The new powers will come into force on 30 July 2012.