Visa Update – April 2013 Lorraine Clark International Student Services Coordinator (Immigration)

Brunel International Immigration Office Responsible for giving immigration advice, to both potential and existing students and Agents Able to offer a Tier 4 application service, using the UK Border Agency Home Office’s Student Batch Scheme, for Brunel University and LIBT students already in the UK. This service includes: –A thorough check of their application and supporting documents –Dealing with all correspondence, allowing the students to relax and concentrate on their studies.

Services we can provide Throughout the year we also offer: Drop-in visa enquiry sessions Prompt, detailed responses to ed enquiries A checking service for those who apply for their visas by themselves Published information sheets Media screens across campus displaying updates

Renewing a Tier 4 visa For students already in the UK and progressing to follow-on courses, we offer the Special Batch Scheme. This includes: –Complete guidance throughout the process –Help with completing the application –Checking all the supporting documents –Sending the application through the Special Batch Scheme –Dealing with all correspondence until the new visa arrives –Less chance of application rejection or refusal. Students are able to enrol and start their next course, while waiting for the visa to be processed

Changes to the UK Visa system During have included: The introduction of online Tier 4 applications for applications made inside the UK Further additions to the list of ‘Low Risk’ countries Interviews - concentrated on applicants from countries considered to be ‘high risk’ Tuberculosis screening for certain nationalities Changes to rules about overstaying Visa curtailments issued to students who do not enrol or who leave their studies early Increase in processing times for ATAS applications Closure of the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) route and the introduction of the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) scheme and the new Doctorate Extension Scheme

Be aware…. UKBA guidelines and policy continue to change frequently Students must make sure they keep up-to-date with changes in policy and law Sources of information include: The Immigration Rules Tier 4 Policy Guidance

A TIER 4 visa affects many things… Types of course students are permitted to study Length of course permitted Whether a student can change institutions Permission to work Whether a student can bring dependants - All of these things also depend on WHEN students applied for their visa and if they will be studying with a Highly Trusted Sponsor

Contact the Immigration Office Lorraine Clark International Student Services Coordinator (Immigration) Tel: +44 (0) International Student Services Officer (Immigration) Tel: +44 (0)