Transcript THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADVISORY SERVICE (ISAS)

THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
ADVISORY SERVICE (ISAS)
Ms Siew - International Student Adviser
Student Support Services
www.swansea.ac.uk
Overview
• Main differences between student visitor and
Tier 4 General visa
• Travelling in/out of the UK (e.g. to Europe)
• Travelling via the Republic of Ireland (e.g. Dublin)
• Visas for accompanying members of staff
• Useful sources of information and contact
• Questions
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences between a “Student Visitor” and
Tier 4 General visa
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
'Special visitor: Student visitor'
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT) VISA
Under the Points-based system
(Tier 1, 2, 4 and 5)
For courses and maximum stay of
For courses and stay of more than 6
months
up to 6 months
(English language students can stay for
up to 11 months)
Cannot extend for more than 6 months
or switch into any other visa category
from within the UK
Can extend for more time in the UK
(expensive and lengthy waiting time)
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT) VISA
Visa nationals must always apply for
visa before coming to the UK
Non-visa nationals do not need to
apply for visa beforehand but can
request to be granted entry at the
airport on arrival (if coming for a
maximum of 6 months)
ALL nationals must apply for this visa
before coming to the UK. This visa
cannot be granted at the airport on
arrival
Must be at least 18 years old.
If under 18, must apply as ‘child visitor’
Must be at least 16 years old
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
Doesn’t count towards the 5-year cap
on degree level study
Doesn’t tie the student to the institution
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT) VISA
Counts towards 5-year cap on degree
level study (undergraduate and
Masters)
Visa ties the student to that specific
institution
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
Funds – will maintain and accommodate himself
and any dependants adequately out of resources
available to him without recourse to public funds or
taking employment; or will, with any dependants,
be maintained and accommodated adequately by
relatives or friends; and
(vii) can meet the cost of the return or onward
journey;
IR 56K (vii) – (viii)
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT)
VISA
Changed since 6 April 2012
• £1,000 per month (inner
London)
• £800 per month (outer
London)
Presentation of financial
documents must meet
requirements outlined in Policy
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences - Work / placement
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT) VISA
Cannot work (paid or unpaid)
Can work part time during term-time
and full-time during holidays
Degree level students can work 20
hours during term-time
All students can work full-time during
holidays
(for Higher education institutions)
Cannot undertake work placement /
internship
Can undertake work placement /
internship
www.swansea.ac.uk
Key differences - Healthcare
STUDENT VISITOR VISA
TIER 4 GENERAL (STUDENT) VISA
Not entitled to the NHS (National Health
Service)
www.swansea.ac.uk
Student Visitor visa
• Check UKBA website for details for how,
when, where to apply
• Refer to Modernised Guidance (UKBA
website) - Policy and Law
• Useful reference – UKCISA leaflet on student
visitor status
www.swansea.ac.uk
Tier 4 General visa
• Check UKBA website for details for how,
when, where to apply
• Refer to Tier 4 Policy Guidance (UKBA
website) and UKCISA website
• Important to adhere strictly to guidelines laid
out in the policy
www.swansea.ac.uk
Role of the UK institution under PBS (1)
1. Responsible for “sponsoring” the Tier 4
migrant
2. Monitor and report to UKBA - non-enrolment,
suspension, withdrawal, unauthorised
absence, evidence of breach of visa
conditions
www.swansea.ac.uk
Role of the UK institution under PBS (2)
3. Institution issues CAS (Confirmation of
Acceptance of Studies) to students to apply
for a Tier 4 visa
4. Visa refusals affect institution’s Tier 4 licence
to sponsor or bring in international students
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling to the UK
• Upon entry, show University acceptance letter and proof of funds
(£1,000 a month for London, £800 a month outside London for
living costs plus tuition fees)
• Request to be granted “student visitor” status
• Check that the Immigration Officer has stamped your passport. If
they haven’t, you should request they do before leaving the airport.
• If your passport is not stamped, this could cause problems
enrolling. Keep flight ticket and boarding pass in case student
needs to prove where and when travelled later
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling in or out of the UK (FAQ 1)
I am a non-visa national. I want to travel out of the UK (and reenter) before my course ends
If you travel BEFORE your course ends, get a statement of enrolment
from Academic Registry and take it with you. Show it to the Immigration
Officer when your return to the UK and ask to be re-admitted as a
“Student Visitor”.
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling in or out of the UK (FAQ 2)
I am a non-visa national. I want to travel out of the UK (and reenter) after my course ends
If student travels AFTER your course ends, ask the Immigration Officer
to re-admit you to the UK as a “Visitor”. You should NOT be re-admitted
as a “Student Visitor” as you have completed your course. If you come
back to the UK for less than 48 hours to board a flight to your home
country, ensure you have proof of your onward travel to that country.
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling to the UK via the Republic of Ireland (1)
I am a non-visa national but I want to travel to the Republic of
Ireland first before coming to the UK
A: If you come to the UK without Entry Clearance (Visa) and enter via
Ireland, you may not meet an Immigration Officer (especially if travel is
done by ferry) and you will not have an entry stamp put in your
passport.
In this case, it will not be possible to apply for entry as a “Student
Visitor“ on entry. Entry into the UK and study is permitted, but only for a
maximum of three months.
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling via the Republic of Ireland (2)
I am a non-visa national but I want to travel to the Republic of
Ireland first before coming to the UK
If this happens, keep any travel ticket or any proof of date of entry. You
will then have to travel outside the UK and Ireland before the end of the
three-month period, and return via a UK border. Carry your university
letter with you and proof of your finances, so that you can re-enter the
UK as a student visitor. If you are a visa national and you wish to study
for more than six months, you must go to your home country and apply
for a Tier 4 General visa.
www.swansea.ac.uk
Travelling to Europe
• US and Canadian nationals – visas not required for
Schengen countries
• For short stays of up to 3 months as part of a trip for
tourist, private or business purposes
• List of Schengen countries -
• Will need to prove they have enough funds, proof of
plans (travel and accommodation), intentions to leave
Schengen area and medical/travel insurance
www.swansea.ac.uk
Accompanying members of staff (1)
• Category: Business visitor – Visiting
professor accompanying students on a study
abroad programme
• You must be a professor or teacher from an
overseas academic institution
• Refer to institution’s Visa Advisers for questions or
details
www.swansea.ac.uk
Accompanying members of staff (2)
• While in the UK, may undertake a small amount of
teaching, limited to the institution hosting the students they
are supervising
• Must be employed and paid by the overseas academic
institution, and must not intend to base yourself or seek
employment in the UK.
• Must not intend to base yourself or seek employment in
the UK
www.swansea.ac.uk
Useful sources of information
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Students
Affairs) www.ukcisa.org.uk
• UK Border Agency website
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
• UK Institution (University) websites
www.swansea.ac.uk