Anthony Dangerfield and Rosie Bell Student Immigration Anthony Dangerfield and Rosie Bell International Student, Academic Division

International Student Office Visa advice Oversee University’s student immigration compliance responsibilities Support student mobility activities Administer some specific international funding awards Maintain and develop information and guidance for international students on webpages

Why is this important? Tier 4 Sponsor licence granted by the Home Office. Enables University to accept students from outside the EEA. Institutions have responsibility for students they support in coming to the UK. Sponsor licence requires the University to undertake a number of compliance responsibilities.

University’s responsibility Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance, version 06/2017: A sponsor has a duty to comply with all aspects of the Immigration Rules and sponsor guidance, and support immigration control, including taking steps to ensure that every student at your institutions has permission to study in the UK throughout the whole period of their study. Responsibility to advise the student appropriately.

Who requires a visa to study in the UK? All nationals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland European Economic area = European Union + Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway Switzerland part of the single market

Student visas Two options: Tier 4 visa Short-term study visa

Tier 4 Tier 4 used for: Full-time degree courses Visiting students longer than 6 months Visiting students with work placement University ‘sponsors’ the student’s visa. CAS issued to confirm sponsorship. Visa linked to a specific institution.

Tier 4 visa application requirements Academic qualifications Evidence of finances Evidence of English language proficiency ATAS clearance if applicable Finances – need to show evidence of course fees + £1015 per month for living expenses. Held for a consecutive 28 day period. Some countries also require TB clearance certificate.

ATAS certificate Security clearance check for PhD / Masters students in certain science / technology subject areas. All relevant students on time-limited visas studying on courses of 6 months+. Apply to Foreign and Commonwealth Office via online application. Takes about 20 days. Requires ATAS statement from Department.

Tier 4 – vignette issued in passport

Tier 4 - BRP Tier 4 visa, in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit, collected on arrival in the UK:

Tier 4 compliance responsibilities For students sponsored under Tier 4: Retain application documentation. Assess and keep records of English language proficiency. Ensure students hold a valid visa and passport. Monitor attendance on studies. Report to the Home Office a student’s change of circumstances. Hold students’ up-to-date contact details.

Working on Tier 4 Term-time up to 20 hours a week but University regulations more restrictive. Full time during official vacation periods but cannot fill a permanent vacancy. Work placements allowed in vacation periods or during term-time when an integral and assessed part of the course. Cannot be self-employed, engage in business activity or take a permanent full-time job.

Tier 4 students & changes in circumstances Change to start date Intermission Non attendance and withdrawal Changing course Changes in immigration category Early completion Work placements

Short-term study route Supports students undertaking: a short course of study a training course a short period of research as part of, or relevant to, overseas degree course Maximum 6 months Cannot work or undertake placement Expectation that student will leave the UK at end of study

Short-term study visa application requirements Letter from University Financial evidence Travel and accommodation plans TB certificate (for certain nationalities) Research students Require a letter from their home institution confirming that visit is part of, or related to, their course overseas.

Short-term study visa application Visa nationals Visa must be applied for overseas. Application process may take up to three weeks. SHORT TERM STUDENT or VISIT STUDENT visa issued in passport. Department may wish to ask for a copy in advance to avoid any issues on arrival in Cambridge. Non-visa nationals Do not need to apply in advance, visa obtained at UK border. Must bring all application documents, including University letter in hand luggage and actively request to be entered as a short-term student. Entry stamp should read “leave to enter as a short-term student”

Short term study – visa in passport

Short term study – stamp in passport

Standard visitor visa Mainly intended for tourism or business. Only allows study in specific circumstances: up to 30 days must be an extra activity and not main purpose of visit

Academic Visitor Sub-category of standard visitor visa. Leave granted for up to 12 months. For an individual highly qualified in their own field of expertise and currently employed in that field at an academic or higher education institution. Current PhD students and recent graduates do not qualify as Academic Visitors.

Tier 5 (GAE) – Sponsored researcher For an individual leading or taking part in a formal research project hosted by the institution. A sponsored researcher fills a research post and works under full or partial control of institution, which will itself benefits from the research. Can be funded from sources in the UK or overseas. Sponsored under Tier 5 by the University. Managed by the HR Compliance team.

Other visas Dependant visa Spouse visa Ancestry visa Family member of EEA national Tier 5 Youth Mobility Tier 2 Indefinite leave to remain

University’s guidelines on visiting students Produced by Standing Committee on Student Mobility. Maximum time a student visitor can be at Cambridge is one year. Standard English language requirements should be used as a guide. Student visitors are liable for an appropriate fee. Student visitor’s agreement should be completed and signed.

English language proficiency for visiting students Important consideration when accepting a visiting student. The University’s standard English language requirements should be used as a guide for this assessment. Referral to Language Centre can be made with minimum 6.0 IELTS and TOEFL 80 in all components. Language Centre should be contacted directly by department, not student, with evidence of above included in referral.

Is a visa required for Cambridge? ISO provide advice to departments. It is useful to know the following in the first instance: Nationality of student (passport copy) Purpose of the visit – type of activities to be undertaken Length of the visit Student’s status overseas Any financial arrangements

Which visa? Short-term study Tier 4 Less than six months Six months or more Course of study or research towards studies overseas Part of a full-time degree overseas Letter of support Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies ATAS clearance not required May require ATAS clearance Attendance monitored informally Formal attendance monitoring University’s English language standard Certain nationalities can obtain visa at the UK border All must apply for the visa in advance of travel to the UK No work/internship permitted Can undertake a work placement

Tier 4 for visiting students at Cambridge Maximum of one year and as part of overseas course. ISO uses the CAS Proforma to determine eligibility but welcomes more informal queries if departments wish for advice at an early stage: Current study status English language proficiency Previous UK study – checks on time limit; visa copies required ATAS – application takes four weeks Departmental attendance monitoring plans CAS proforma is completed by department, not to be sent to student. ISO requires documents on academic assessment and language as well as the passport page.

Tier 4 - Application process for visiting students ISO creates a CamSIS record once visit is confirmed (completed CAS statement required in order to do this) Where relevant, ISO produces ATAS letter and student applies ISO issues CAS statement to student by e-mail Student makes visa application in their country of residence ISO can check application and supporting documentation Processing times vary by country Student receives visa and confirms arrival date

Tier 4 attendance monitoring Departments must arrange for the student to register in person at the start of each academic term and record contact on CamSIS. At this point the student should be asked if any of their contact or immigration details have changed. Departments should have mechanisms in place to recognise if a student is no longer engaging with study outside of termly registrations. Records should be maintained of meetings with supervisors. If a student misses an agreed contact, the International Student Office should be informed.

Tier 4 compliance The University must hold the following for each sponsored student: Up to date UK contact details Evidence of immigration permission Attendance record Departments to inform ISO of any of the following changes: New arrival date Early completion of studies or break Unexplained absence New UK visa obtained

Short-term study visa route for visiting students ISO provides advice and letter templates. Departments provide ISO any short-term study letters issued. Two main types of visa letter issued: Research students Require a letter from their home institution confirming that visit to Cambridge is part of, or relevant to, their course overseas. Course of study For specific short courses, normally offered to a number of students at the same time e.g. summer schools or termly JYAs. Department is required to check original immigration documents on arrival and retain evidence.

Erasmus+ work placement students Departments are able to host students for work placements or internships under the Erasmus scheme The majority of these students are EEA nationals and so do not require a visa For those who are non-EEA nationals a Tier 5 visa is required: Arranged between the Home Institution and the British Council British Council won’t communicate the progress of the visa with the Host Institution These often have long delays so you may need to rearrange start dates

Contact us International Student Office: Email: internationalstudents@admin.cam.ac.uk Telephone: 761806