The UK’s European university DOCTORATE EXTENSION SCHEME Suzanne Marsh Visa Compliance Co-ordinator, University of Kent Teresa Ashley Student Adviser, Kent Union Advice Centre 15 th February 2016

Disclaimer The UKVI changes its rules in relation to Visas and Immigration frequently. The information in this presentation is correct as at the 15 th February It is YOUR responsibility to check that you meet the requirements that are in place at the time you make your application. Page 2

The aims of today’s workshop To provide PhD students who are nearing the end of their course with information about the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES). To include: 1.What is the DES? 2.The benefits of applying 3.Eligibility requirements 4.When to apply 5.How to apply 6.What happens after you have made your application Page 3

What is the DES? The DES was introduced to enable PhD students to remain in the UK for 12 months after completion of their course to gain work experience or look for skilled work. The student remains in the UK with a Tier 4 visa. The University continues to sponsor the student and must keep contact with the Student at regular intervals during the 12 month period. The student will be allowed to work full time but ONLY once the University has confirmed to the UKVI that the student has successfully completed their course and has been awarded their PhD. If you do not maintain contact with the University or your Immigration status changes the University is required to report this to the UKVI and sponsorship will be withdrawn. Page 4

The benefits of DES If your DES application is successful: You will be granted leave for a further 12 months from your new course end date You will be allowed to work in any role (except as a Doctor or Dentist in training or as a professional sportsperson) You can work full time without restriction as to hours once you have completed your course. You can bring your dependants to the UK or apply to extend their current visas when you make your application Page 5

Eligibility You must have a valid Tier 4 student visa on the date of your application. You must be a current student at the University of Kent. You can only apply in the UK, NOT from your home country. Your course end date must be no more than 60 days after the date of your application. You must have the required funds for your living expenses. Page 6

What money do I need? You will need to show that you have £2030 for your living expenses plus an additional £1360 for EACH dependant This money must have been held in your bank account for 28 days ending with the last transaction on your bank statement. Your bank statement must not be more than 31 days old AND the last transaction on the statement must not be more than 31 days old. If the balance on your account drops below the required level by even £0.01 for just one day your visa application will be refused Page 7

Eligibility If you have financial sponsorship for your course you must obtain your sponsors consent to your DES application If you have an ATAS certificate for your course you must make an application to renew the certificate if your course end date has changed by 3 months or more apply-for-an-atas-certificate apply-for-an-atas-certificate Page 8

Extensions to current Tier 4 visa to qualify for DES The University is unable to extend sponsorship on current Tier 4 visas for the sole purpose of qualifying for the DES PhD students are sponsored for 4 years (previously 3 years plus a 1 year continuation year) The University does not usually extend sponsorship past this period, as it’s the maximum period of registration as a PhD student under University regulations and the expectation is that students will complete their studies (including viva and corrections) within this time frame Page 9

Sponsorship Requests for sponsorship are considered on an individual basis. Factors taken into consideration by the University: No outstanding tuition fee debts with University Prior visa refusal history Engagement throughout doctorate Information that could result in a visa refusal, for example insufficient maintenance funds Breaching current visa conditions Acting dishonestly and not cooperating with the University Page 10

When can I apply? You can apply for the DES no more than 60 days before the expected course end date but you must apply before the expected course end date and before your current Tier 4 visa expires. The University cannot issue your CAS more than 60 days before the expected course end date. Page 11

When is my course end date? This is not the same as the course end date which was set at the start of your current visa. The University defines your expected course end date as the date on which your name is entered on the pass list and is signed off by the Dean “…..[students] will be regarded as having successfully completed their course on the date that their Tier 4 sponsor formally confirms that their PhD is completed to the standard required for the award of a PhD….” (para 4.52, Document 2 Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance 11/2015) Your course end date will be calculated once you have taken your Viva and will be based on the level of corrections you need to make to your thesis. Page 12

How to apply Make sure you have read the Tier 4 Policy guidance paying particular attention to the DES requirements: attachment_data/file/261401/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf attachment_data/file/261401/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf You must apply to the Visa Compliance Team for a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). You can find more information about this here: visa/doctorate-extension/index.html visa/doctorate-extension/index.html The University cannot issue your CAS more than 60 days before the expected course end date Page 13

The application form You can submit your Tier 4 DES visa application (including any Dependants) online. UKVI introduced a new online application for Tier 4 on 1 st February You can find the form on the Gov.uk website here: studenthttps://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier-4- student You will need to enter your address and create a password. You will then be sent an with a link which will enable you to go back to your application. You will NOT be able to access this merely by logging in again. The new form has many errors!!! There are likely to be further changes to it in the near future to correct these Page 14

The application form The application is the same for all students applying for a Tier 4 visa. The only difference is that when you state that you are currently studying at NQF level 8 you will be asked an additional question. See the screen shot on the next slide: When you submit your application online you will be required to pay the fee of £439* by credit or debit card. If you have dependants you will need to pay a further fee of £439* for each dependant. *This fee is due to increase to £448 on 6 th April 2016 You will also have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £150 for EACH applicant. Page 15

The Application Form Page 16

What Documents do I need? Your CAS A valid ATAS certificate if this applies to you Your current passport and any old passports used for travel to the UK Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you have one Up to date Police Registration Certificate (PRC) if you are required to register 2 recent passport photos that meet the UKVI Photo guidance Evidence of required funds for living expenses Letter of consent from sponsor All documents MUST be ORIGINALS. If you have dependants you may need to submit extra documents Page 17

After your application You will receive a biometric letter from the UKVI. Take the letter and barcode to your nearest Post Office to give your biometrics. A further fee of £19.20 is payable at the Post Office. Once you have given your biometrics the UKVI will look at your paper application. Processing times can be anything from 3-8 weeks from the date on which you give your biometrics. (The UKVI target is 20 working days) If your application is successful the UKVI will write to you to confirm this and will return your passport and all your other documents. Your new visa will be in the form of a BRP which will be returned to you separately by courier. The new BRP should state that you have been granted a “TIER 4(G) DOCT EXT SCH” visa. Page 18

After your application - continued Check that all the details on your BRP are correct!!! Errors must be reported within 10 days or you may have to pay a fee. Inform the University that your visa has been granted and show the Student Records and Examinations office your new BRP. Inform the University of any changes to your contact details, visa status or if you leave the country before your visa expires and you don’t intend to return. Make sure that you respond to all contacts from the University throughout the duration of your DES visa. You cannot extend a Tier 4 DES visa. You must apply for a new visa in another category or leave the UK before your DES visa expires. Page 19

Monitoring Para 4.63 Document 2 Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance (11/15) You must maintain contact with them. At a minimum, there must be at least two contact points at regular intervals during the time the migrant is on the scheme. You should determine the most appropriate format for these contacts…..Skype, telephone contact or contact by . You must tell us if the student misses a scheduled contact with you ……. The University will contact you at least three times throughout the duration of sponsorship (12 months) Beginning, middle and towards the end of the year (review form) Missed contact points: Two further attempts, if no response or not able to re-establish contact then sponsorship is withdrawn Page 20

University Expectations You will provide us with your biometric residence permit and passport (we are required to keep copies) Keep your contact details up to date (by informing Visa Compliance AND by ing the Student Records office Abide by the conditions of your DES visa Notify the University if you switch to another type of visa (e.g. Tier 2 or spousal) Maintain contact with University through established contact points so the University can comply with its monitoring duties Page 21

Further help: Kent Union Student Advice Centre Mandela Building Phone: (10am to 4pm weekdays) Drop in: 10am – 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm weekdays Appointments: book in person or by phone UK Council for International Student Affairs Web: Student helpline: (1- 4pm weekdays) Page 22

Conclusion Any questions? Thank you for attending today – please complete the feedback form and leave it on the table for us to collect. Page 23

THE UK’S EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY