1. Visitors Staff Immigration Team
A guide to the immigration rules for visitors
February 2015
Staff
Immigration
Team

2. Staff Immigration Team
James Baker – Staff Immigration Team Leader
Tel: (2)89908 /
Natalie Goldsmith – Staff Immigration Officer
Tel: (2)89912 /
Tim Currie – Staff Immigration Officer
Tel: (2)89903 /
Angela Dolby – Staff Immigration Assistant
Tel: (2)89904 /
Humanities / MPLS / Colleges A – P
Lisa Crook – Staff Immigration Assistant
Tel: (2)89919 /
Medical Sciences / Social Sciences / Colleges Q – W
David Richardson – Staff Immigration Admin assistant
Tel: (2)89926 /
Website:
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3. What we do
Advise departments, colleges and migrants on Tier 2 and Tier 5 process and requirements.
Process Tier 2 and Tier 5 Certificate of Sponsorship applications.
Process Tier 2 and Tier 5 leave to remain applications on behalf of migrants.
Hold data for Tier 2 and Tier 5 migrants centrally.
Advise departments, colleges and migrants on visitor visa requirements
Advise departments and colleges on right to work in the UK.
Manage complex cases and matters of non-compliance with external legal input where necessary.
Provide a legal referral service for non-Tier 2 and Tier 5 matters.
Provide regular training on Tier 2, Tier 5, right to work and visitors.
Report to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee on immigration and right to work compliance.
Represent the collegiate University’s comments and concerns with immigration policy to the Home Office.
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4. Current news
New screen

5. Content What is a visitor?
Who does/ does not require a ‘visitor’ visa?
Types of visitor visa
Business visitors
Academic visitors
Permitted Paid Engagement visitors
Visitor restrictions
Application process

6. What is a visitor?
A person who is a national of a country from outside the EEA who wishes to come to the University to take part in an academic/ business activity which requires the visitor to obtain a visa or immigration stamp.
Not general tourists or visitors from within the UK/EEA

7. Who does not require a visitor visa/stamp?
UK nationals
Nationals of the following EEA countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Those from a country not on the list above but are already in the UK on a visa which permits work (Tier 1, spouse, EEA family permit, indefinite leave to remain etc.)
Not sure? Check with SIT

8. Who requires a visitor visa?
Anybody who does not fall in to any category on previous slide
All non-EEA nationals need to enter the UK under an immigration category appropriate for the visitor activity in which they intend to take part
NB. Tourists from outside the EEA may not take part in any activity within the University other than typical tourist activity (e.g. visiting the museums and public libraries)

9. Types of visitor visa General visitor (known as tourist visa)
Business visitor
Academic visitor
Permitted Paid Engagement visitor
Academic, Business and PPE require formal letter of invitation from department/college
Templates available at

10. General visitor (tourist)
Issued to those who are visiting the UK to take part in general tourist activities (vacation, visiting friends and family etc.)
Permitted activity within the University:
Visiting colleges, museums, libraries etc. which are open to the public
Departments and colleges do not need to be concerned/perform any checks on general visitors

11. Business visitor
Someone employed overseas but who wishes to come to the UK to do business on their own/their employer’s behalf.
Permitted activity within the University:
Attending meetings, interviews or conferences
Arranging deals or negotiate trade agreements or contracts and carrying out fact finding exercises; 
Conducting site visits;
Speaking at a one-off conference;
Interpreting or translating for visiting business persons, provided the interpreter/translator is employed by the overseas company and is coming solely to provide this service for the visiting company member;
Board-level Directors attending board meetings in the UK provided they are not employed by a UK company (may receive fee)
Sharing knowledge or experience relevant to an international project that is being led from the UK as an overseas scientist or researcher (but not carrying out research).

12. Business visitor
Restrictions and requirements specific to Business visitors:
Cannot be paid (although payment of reasonable expenses and subsistence is permitted) – except directors attending board meeting
Can only visit UK for up to six months
Employment (paid or unpaid) is prohibited
Typical uses within the University:
Attending a job interview;
Attending a conference;
A researcher attending a meeting to discuss future research collaborations
A presenter speaking at a conference;
An expert in a particular field coming to share knowledge/advise on a particular area of expertise in relation to an international project led in the UK.

13. Academic visitor
A person on leave from an overseas academic institution who wishes to make use of their leave to conduct research, exchange information on research techniques, take part in a formal exchange or act as a senior medical doctor or dentist.
Permitted activity:
Academics on sabbatical leave from an overseas academic institution to carry out research (e.g. to carry out research for a book);
Academics (including doctors) taking part in arranged exchanges. Salary should continue to be paid by overseas institution;
Academics coming to share knowledge or experience or to hold informal discussions with academics at Oxford (but not conducting research on University hosted projects);
Academics taking part in a single conference or seminar
Experienced senior doctors and dentists, (i.e. those considered to be top of their field of expertise) coming to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice.

14. Academic visitor
Restrictions and requirements specific to Academic Visitors:
Must have been working at an overseas HEI/ in the field of their expertise immediately prior to applying as an Academic visitor;
Should not conduct collaborative research (Tier 5 is required);
Cannot be paid (payment of reasonable expenses permitted);
Can only visit UK for up to twelve months.
Typical uses within the University:
A researcher visiting the University’s libraries or museums to do research for a book they are writing;
A researcher visiting the University to share information about a particular research technique they have been using overseas/ to receive information about a technique used at Oxford (but not conducting research on University projects);
A researcher taking part in a formal exchange where an Oxford colleague goes overseas and a member of the overseas research team comes to Oxford;
An eminent senior doctor coming to Oxford to teach and collaborate on research.

15. NB: Any activity under the PPE route must be paid
Permitted Paid Engagement visitor
A route which enables certain groups of individuals to come to the UK to take part in specified paid activity.
Permitted activity:
Visiting lecturers invited to give one or a short series of paid lectures in their field of expertise;
Visiting examiners or assessors who are highly qualified academics in their field of expertise to examine students or participate in or chair a selection panel as part of the institution’s quality assurance processes.
NB: Any activity under the PPE route must be paid

16. Permitted Paid Engagement visitor
Restrictions and requirements specific to PPE Visitors:
Must be coming to work in their area of expertise and/or qualifications
Must relate to their main occupation overseas
Research prohibited
Must be paid (no minimum payment specified by the Home Office)
Can only visit UK for up to one month
Typical uses within the University:
Lecturers coming to teach in their field of expertise where they are not replacing the role of a member of staff;
External examiners where they are paid a fee.

17. Visitor restrictions Business, Academic and PPE visitors must:
Intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit
Be able to maintain and accommodate themselves (and any dependants) without using public funds
Be able to meet the cost of an onward or return journey
Not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits
Not intend to take paid or unpaid employment
Not intend to produce goods or provide services within the UK
Not intend to undertake a course of study as the main purpose of the visit (any incidental study must not exceed 30 days in total)
Not be a child under the age of 18
Not intend to marry or form a civil partnership
Not intend to give notice of a marriage or civil partnership
Not intend to receive private medical treatment
Not be in transit to a country outside the common travel area.

18. Application process 4 1 2 3
Visa nationals and Academic Visitor coming for 6+ months
Agree visit
Letter of invitation
Visa application (made overseas)
Arrival in the UK
Non-visa nationals (except Academic Visitors coming for 6+ months)
Agree visit
Letter of invitation
Leave to enter (made at airport in the UK)
Arrival in the UK

19. Visa nationals/non-visa nationals
Apply in advance for a visa to enter the UK for any activity (tourist, Business visitor, Academic visitor, PPE visitor, work etc.)
List at 1
List includes China, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Ukraine.
Non visa nationals:
Do not require a visa in advance for a visa of less than six months
Apply for entry under appropriate immigration category at the UK port of entry by presenting documentation confirming the purpose of the visit
Applies to any nationals not on above Home Office list
E.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan

20. Step 1: Agree visit Usually informal arrangement between academics
Ensure that PI’s and academics keep HR informed of any visitors and with the progress of arrangements
Agree purpose of visit and establish whether a visitor route is appropriate , and if so which route – not sure, contact James/Natalie
Agree dates of visit
Agree payment of expenses or fee (if PPE), if applicable

21. Step 2: Letter of invitation
Once visit agreed, provide letter of invitation to visitor
Templates available on website
Avoid too much detail
Print on department/college headed paper
Signature required
Alert visitor to conditions of their visa (on second page of letter)

22. Step 3: Visa application
Visitors who fall into the following categories will need to make a visa application in advance of travel:
Visa nationals
Academic visitors visiting for more than six months
Visitors from non-visa national countries do not apply for a visa in advance (unless they are an Academic Visitor coming for more than six months)
Non-visa nationals announce purpose of visit at UK airport, present necessary supporting documents and are ‘stamped’ into the country under the appropriate visitor route

23. Visa application Visa nationals and Academic visitors over six months:
Make visa application in advance. Cannot travel until visa granted.
Online applications in most countries
Need to enrol biometrics (fingerprints and photographs) at Visa Application Centre
Apply around three months before arrival date
Academic and Business visitor applications - visitor-visa/apply
PPE visitor applications - visa/apply

24. Entry application
Non-visa nationals (except academic visitors over six months):
Arrive at immigration control at the airport
Announce purpose of visit as Business, Academic, PPE visitor – not tourist
Present necessary evidence – may face questions
Receive ink stamp in passport

25. Required documents
When applying for a visa in advance of travel/ applying for entry on arrival in UK, migrants may be asked to provide:
Passport (current and potentially previous)
Current photograph (applications in advance only)
Evidence of marital status (if bringing spouse)
Evidence of current employment
Bank statements, payslips, other evidence of overseas income
Details of accommodation in UK and return travel bookings
Letter of invitation from Oxford
Any information about activity to be undertaken
Evidence of working at HEI/in field of expertise prior to application (academic visitors) i.e. letter from overseas employer
Evidence that a paid engagement relates to expertise, qualification, occupation (PPE visitors) – qualification, letter from overseas employer, publication record etc.

26. Step 4: Arrival in UK
Visitor to report to appropriate departmental/college HR/ admin person on first day before visit commences
Copy, sign and date the passport details and visa/immigration stamp
Retain for duration of visit along with a copy of the letter of invitation and any information confirming intended activity
Applies to all Business, Academic and PPE visitors except Business visitors coming for one day or less

27. Summary
Visitors from outside of the EEA must enter UK under appropriate visitor immigration category
All will require a letter of invitation from host college/ department
Keep in touch with PI’s/ academics to ensure that they keep HR informed of any overseas visitors
General/ tourist visa holders may only take part in typical tourist activities
Visa nationals and Academic visitors over six months require a visa in advance of travel
Non-visa nationals apply for entry when they arrive at immigration control at UK airport
Must check passport and visa before visit commences and copy and retain

28. Questions
Staff
Immigration
Team