Transcript UKBA Powerpoint template

Hanoi
Fair: Working for the Asia Pacific e Hanoi Fair:
Visas
Working for the Asia Pacific
11 October 2012
Erica Thurbon
Communications
UK Border Agency
UK Border Agency International
Operations and Visas (background)
• UK Border Agency International Operations and visas is the department
responsible for visa issues overseas at diplomatic missions.
• 2,400 staff in 130 countries around the world
• Over 100 nationalities require visas
• Over 300 places to enrol biometrics
• 162 VACs in 106 countries and overseas territories
• 59 decision making centres in 54 countries and overseas territories.
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Commercial Partners
• Globally we work with VFS and CSC (World bridge) who run our visa
application centres (VACs).
• The VACs play no part in the decision making process
• The VACs collect fees and input the applicant data, including the
enrolment of biometrics
• They also deliver applications to the visa office and collect them
when the decision has been made.
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Visa application process
Application made
– online or at Visa
Application
Centre (VAC)
All applicants
must attend
VAC or visa
section to
provide biometrics
Documents
sent to visa section
or “hub”
Checks
normally take
24-48 hours
Biometric and
biographical details
checked in UK
Further checks
conducted on key
documentation
“Hub and spoke” model
improves efficiency
and consistency
Entrance Clearance
Officer
makes decision
with all information
available
Visa refused
Visa granted
Right of Appeal
(non-PBS cases)
Admin review
(PBS cases)
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Passport and key
documents returned
to VAC
Vignette added
and passport
returned to VAC
Visitor visas review
The UK Border Agency’s position is (and has been for many years) that any
visitor wishing to undertake a course of study (whether it be recreational or
academic) must apply as a student visitor.
Please note;
It is not the case that a general visitor who is admitted as a tourist, changes
their intentions once in the UK and then seeks to enrol on a course of study
can do so, since this was not the category under which they were admitted.
We are aware that it is difficult to identify different categories of visitors who
are non-visa nationals since they all get the same endorsement in their
passports. Some officers will write in the passport ‘SV’ or ‘GV’ but it’s not a
legal requirement for them to do so.
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Student visitors
Visitors are not permitted to undertake a course of study without
permission. Visitors who intend to undertake a short course or period of
study may apply as a student visitor
• For short courses up to six months
• No permission to work
• Extension not permitted in the UK.
• Accreditation can be from one of the previously recognised bodies e.g.
BAC, Accreditation UK, ABLS and ASIC
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Extended Student Visitors
In January 2011, the UK government introduced the Extended Student Visitor
route, targeted specifically at the English language sector.
•
For students on 100% English language courses only
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For courses over 6 months but not exceeding 11 months
•
The visa is valid for 11 months.
•
Students must apply for a visa prior to travelling to the UK – this includes
all non-visa nationals.
•
Other requirements and restrictions - same as 6 month student visitor
route
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Applications for consecutive student visitors
Can you apply for consecutive SVVs?
There is nothing stopping students applying for a second SVV. The ECO does,
however, need to be satisfied with the student’s whole application including their
reasons for coming back into the UK as a visitor
Intentions: Students must clearly explain their intentions to the ECO; if the ECO
questions the student’s intentions, it can be grounds for refusal
Documentation: As with all applications, students must provide evidence to
support claims made in an application. An application MUST be well-supported
with documentation.
The final decision on a consecutive SVV is down to both the student, by providing
relevant evidence and documents, and how the ECO interprets the situation.
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Website and contact (International Group)
Visit and subscribe to our website for all our latest news and
updates as they happen:
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-and-updates/
Partnership and Engagement Team Mailbox – International Group
(London):
[email protected]
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