Protecting your Tier 4 immigration status. International Student Support

Transcription

1 Protecting your Tier 4 immigration status International Student Support

2 Issues covered today Understanding your and the University s Tier 4 obligations & conditions Intermission & visa implications Doctorate Extension Scheme visa (DES) Correcting visa mistakes Working during your studies Schengen visas and traveling to Europe

3 the resources Our website us UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) Immigration drop in sessions normally daily 2-4pm. We can contact UK Visas and Immigration on your behalf if there are any immigration problems. Tier 4 guidance: understand prepare and then we can support you!

4 Understanding your conditions and obligations Study condition tied to institution Police Registration Work condition up to 20 hours per week term time ATAS clearance No recourse to public funds Provide a copy of your current passport/visa Inform Sussex if you switch visa categories Keep contact details up to date with Sussex, UKVI and the Police Keep in contact with supervisor and contact someone if there is a problem OVERSTAYING YOUR VISA IS AGAINST THE LAW DO NOT BREACH THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR VISA

5 Understanding the University s obligations The Research Student Administration Office (RSAO) has an obligation to report certain information to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and to ensure every student has the right to study researchstudentoffice@sussex.ac.uk Non enrolment or late enrolment Attendance monitoring Deferring or intermitting from studies Leaving your course or institution Completing your course early Changing course Switching to a different immigration category Breaking your immigration conditions Important us reporting these situations can affect your visa DO NOT BREACH THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR VISA

6 taking intermission o r w i t h d r a w i n g f r o m y o u r s t u d i e s University has to notify UKVI within 10 working days Your visa will be curtailed (cancelled) 60 days to leave the UK or apply in another category Keep contact details up to date with UKVI No longer studying so leave asap Must stop any employment immediately Do not attempt to re-enter UK on your visa New CAS before resuming studies Periods of authorised absence of 60 days or less will not be reported to UKVI and will mean that your visa will remain valid. Contact RSAO for more info. Intermission where a student takes time away from studies and is temporarily deregistered from the University.

7 Extension issues Supervisor and Research Student Administration Office can advise on academic extensions If granted a CAS you will be issued with an extra 4 months after your thesis submission date New visa should then cover any viva and correction period CAS sent to international student advisers who will release after finances verified (new amounts) Remember ATAS a new certificate is needed every time you make a visa application. Also if your visa was applied for on or after 6 November 2014 you need to apply for a new ATAS certificate within 28 days of your research proposal significantly changing or your course end date changing +3 months Contact an adviser for immigration advice when approaching thesis submission to make sure you understand visa requirements SHORT TERM STUDY VISA CAN BE USED FOR VIVA!

8 Doctorate Extension Scheme 12 month visa after PhD for employment Tier 4 so will need a CAS & 2030 (maintenance requirement) CAS issued after viva, when passed unconditionally or submitted minor corrections Very few restrictions on employment Must have a Tier 4 visa and apply before PhD formally completed Sussex still has monitoring responsibilities Contact an adviser for advice before thesis submission to discuss timings and eligibility YOU MUST APPLY BEFORE YOU FORMALLY COMPLETE YOUR PhD

9 Correcting visa mistakes Common mistakes visa end date, name, work conditions, police registration, sponsor no. Time limit to report BRP errors is 10 days Please with details of any errors and we will advise further REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR VISA AS INCORRECT CONDITIONS MAY APPLY TO YOU!

10 Working issues Obtain a national insurance number: Employers have legal duties to employees minimum wage, working hours including breaks/holidays, duty to provide wage slips etc. A Tier 4 visa holder cannot be self employed, take a permanent full-time job, work during any period of overstay or after withdrawing from their course Please see us or Careers and Employability Centre CEC (based in the library) PGR students do not have a holiday! Be careful if you have more than one job no more than 20 hours per week in total You cannot work more than 20 hours per week until ALL academic commitments are complete. onalsupport/working/workingdurin gstudies DO NOT BREAK YOUR WORK CONDITIONS

11 Non EEA nationals may be required to apply for a Schengen visa before travelling to Europe One visa will cover travel in a number of European countries Valid for up to 3 months in any 6 month period Normally you need at least 3 months left on your UK visa on the date you ll return to the UK from Europe Check the individual embassy website for complete details on how to apply Watch out for thieves! You can find more information on travelling in Europe on our webpages: /internationalsupport/im migration/travelling TAKE CARE OF YOUR PASSPORT, VISA OR BRP

12 Graduation Issues Visa normally valid for 4 months after course end so should cover graduation Not recommended to leave the UK once studies have finished and then re-enter on same visa Remember if you complete your course early, your visa may be curtailed internationalsupport/im migration/graduation immigration@sussex.ac.uk with any questions

13 Contact us: International Student Support Bramber House, Level 2 immigration@sussex.ac.uk Phone: Drop in sessions check website for times but normally daily 2-4pm