Transcript Slide 1

International students:
Working in the UK
Martin Donkin
International Students Adviser
International students:
Working in the UK
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Working during your studies
Tier 1 (Post Study Work)
replaced IGS and SEGS in June 2008
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Tier 1 (General)
replaced HSMP in June 2008
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Tier 2 for sponsored skilled
workers
replaced Work Permit November 2008
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Staying in the UK for another
reason
Earnings and taxes
National Insurance number
Working during your studies
Most students who are in the UK 6
months or more:
“able to work as authorised by the
Secretary of State”
You can work
Short-term students, some others:
Employment and recourse to public funds
prohibited’
‘No work or recourse to public funds’
You cannot work
Working during your studies
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maximum 20 hours a week
during term-time
No limit between end of your
course and the end of your
visa (should be Oct 31 for UG,
Jan 31 for PG)
Not because you need the
money for living costs
No self-employment
No professional sports or
entertainment
No permanent career vacancy
Tier 1 (Post Study Work)
In June 2008 it replaced International Graduate
Scheme (IGS), Science and Engineering
Graduates Scheme (SEGS)
Allows students to work in the UK for up to 24 months
after completing their course
Transitional status to other longer-term work statuses
like Tier 1 General (formerly HSMP) and Tier 2
(formerly the Work Permit scheme)
Who can apply for PSW?
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Must not have not done
PSW IGS or SEGS before
Must achieve 75 points
for attributes
+ 10 points for
maintenance
+ and 10 points for
English language
If applying in the UK, must
have a student status.
Who can apply for PSW?
75 points from attributes:
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UK recognised degree (20 points)
from UK recognised or listed body including QM (20)
studied with immigration status as student or dependant (20)
Applying within 12 months of notification of qualification (15)
Who can apply for PSW?
+ 10 points for
maintenance
£800 in your personal
account for at least 3
months, statement dated
no more than 1 month
before application
£2800 if applying outside
the UK
+10 points for English
language
Automatic if you have 75
points for attributes
Where and how to apply
In the UK
 Form Tier 1 (PSW)
 www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
At an embassy in your own country
 Form VAF9
Read the guidance:
 www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk
 Attend an advice session at the Advice and Counselling
Service (check website for dates)
When to apply
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As soon as you can show that you have
successfully completed your course, and that
you satisfy the maintenance requirement; or
In the UK anytime before your student
permission expires (should be +4 months); or
In your home country up to 12 months after
receiving your result
4-14 weeks postal application in UK (£400)
In person “same-day” service at Croydon (£600)
What else?
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You can apply for PSW once
only
Sponsored students
(fees and maintenance)
must get approval of sponsor
Your dependants can switch to PSW dependant as
part of your application if they are already in the UK
as your dependant. If they are here with another
status, they need to apply in home country.
Unmarried and same sex partners can be dependants
for PSW, but not for a student
Does not lead directly to settlement (ILR) only as part
of 10 years long residence
When to start work
Student rules:
 you can work full time between
the end of your course and the
end of your student permission
(and beyond, if you are still
waiting for the PSW decision)
BUT
 You cannot fill a full time
permanent career vacancy
 You cannot work as a
professional sportsperson or
entertainer
What kind of work?
No restrictions:
 Not connected to your
course
 Can be temporary
 Can be part time
 Can be full time
 Can be permanent
 Can be self-employment
After (or during) PSW
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Switch to Tier 1 General as
soon as you are eligible
Switch to Tier 2 after 6
months in the same job
under PSW
Switch to Tier 2 for a
sponsored skilled job
Switch back to student (but
no more PSW)
Work for up to 2 years then
go home
Tier 1 General
highly skilled workers
75 Points for:
 educational qualifications
 Recent earnings
 UK experience
 Age
10 points (each) for:
 English language
 Available maintenance funds (£800)
 www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
Tier 1 (General)
highly skilled workers
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Specialist skills and experience
Points-based system: 75 points
needed for qualifications,
recent earnings, UK experience
and age
No sponsor
Most new graduates are not
eligible
Can switch from PSW as soon
as you are eligible
3 years initially, then 2 more
Can apply for ILR after 5 years
Tier 2
sponsored skilled workers
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Allows licensed employers to hire
someone to come to the UK to do a
specific job for a specific period, up to 5
years.
Employer applies for Certificate of
Sponsorship for every Tier 2 applicant
(£170)
More work and expense for employer
than PSW, but some employers may still
prefer it.
Must be a genuine vacancy. Unless a
shortage occupation, vacancy must be
advertised nationally and have no
suitable existing local person for the job
Further concession for those on PSW:
you can switch to Tier 2 after working
in same job for 6 months.
ILR after 5 years
Other schemes
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An elected sabbatical post with the Students Union:
12 months, then go home or continue studies
Tier 5 (Youth Mobility) for nationals of Australia,
Canada, Japan and New Zealand: 2 years
An established artist
Start a business with
£200,000
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
Tier 1 (Investor)
Staying in the UK for another
reason. Can you work?
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Spouse, civil partner,
unmarried partner or same sex
partner of a settled person: 2
years initially, then ILR. Can work
throughout.
Right of abode or ancestry.
Commonwealth nationals. ILR
after 5 years. Can work
throughout.
Long residence (10/14 years).
ILR. Can work.
Spouse or civil partner of
someone with limited leave
(student, Work Permit holder, etc.)
Same leave as spouse/CP. Can
work.
Earnings and taxes
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National Minimum Wage
from 1/10/09:
18-21 years old: £4.83 an
hour
22+ years old
£5.80 an
hour
Income Tax 2009/10:
less than £6475
none
£6475.01 - £34,800
20%
National Insurance:
£105+
11%
National Insurance Number
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If you already have one,
you don’t need another
Apply when you are
offered a job or when you
start work
Apply at JobCentrePlus
www.jobcentreplus.co.uk
Show employer your
application letter
Wait up to 16 weeks, but
meanwhile you can work
and get paid
Further advice on your right
to work in the UK
www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk
www.workingintheuk.gov.uk
www.ukcisa.org.uk