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IMMIGRATION AND VISA ADVICE

Sue Castle-Miller and Jo Aldhouse

Visa and Immigration Advisers

Student Information and Advisory Service

Examination Schools

http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa

Email student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

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Immigration and Visa Advice

• Visit our website

• Email us with your visa questions

• Come to our presentations

• Use our ‘check & send’ service for Tier 4 applications

• Get help for other applications

Immigration and Visa Advice

• Information and advice on:

Tier 4 visas (here and home country)

ATAS clearance

visa conditions and responsibilities

problems with your visa

working during your studies

visas for your family

student visitor visas

non-student visas

travelling/returning to the UK

• Today: a quick look at some visa points you need to check or know right from the start

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If you still have a student visa issued for a course at a different university:

You must apply now for a new Tier 4 visa. You can enrol and start your course before a decision is made on your application.

If this applies to you collect the handout about changing your education provider/Tier 4 sponsor from our stand in the North School – speak to us there or email if you need help: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

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Starting a second course at Oxford (email sent to those of you affected)

• If you have just finished an Oxford course and are starting another, and have time left on your visa

• You must apply for a new visa within 6 weeks of starting your new course (by 14 November 2014)

• Ask us if you need help: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

• Apply asap if you want to go home for holiday!

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Check your visa expiry date

• Check you have been given the correct amount of time:

course length over six months but less than 12 months:

visa expiry date should be course end date (as stated on CAS) + 2 months

course length 12 months or longer

visa expiry date should be course end date (as stated on CAS) + 4 months

could be shorter if you have certain types of financial sponsorship

• If you haven’t been given enough time, email us

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UED4UGNF1

• This is the University’s Tier 4 Sponsor Number

• If you applied for your visa before you travelled, with a CAS from the University, this number should be on your visa

• If you have a Biometric Residence Permit -because you applied for your Tier 4 visa in the UK- your BRP should show this number

• If it is incorrect or missing, please email us

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Registration with the Police

Some of you (including your dependants over 16 years of age) will need to register with the Police and this will be written on your visa or BRP card. If this does not appear on your visa then you are not required to register with the Police You should register within 7 days of arrival in the UK and you can do this at the Police Station in St Aldates (near main post office in Oxford, near Christ Church). Information and application forms on the visa stand – North School.

Registration with the Police

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To register you will need:

the form (available from the North School)

one passport photo

an enrolment certificate giving your exact address including room number for College accommodation - print out from Student Self Service

£34 fee(exact amount in cash)

You will also need to report to the Police and get your certificate updated if you extend your visa, change address, name etc.

Do not ignore this legal requirement!

Why is my college asking for my passport/Biometric Residence Permit/visa to scan?

• Oxford, as a Tier 4 Sponsor, has a duty to keep a record of the passport and visa/Biometric Residence Permit of all Tier 4 students. For most students, colleges carry out this duty.

• Please take your passport containing your visa (and BRP if applicable) to college when you enrol, and again if you get a new visa or passport

• Recognised students enrol and have passport/visa scanned at the Exam Schools

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Oxford’s Tier 4 reporting duties

The University must tell the Home Office if you:

• Do not enrol

• Suspend, withdraw from or defer your studies

• Leave or finish your course early

• Are no longer sponsored by the University

• Breach your immigration conditions

• Are absent for a long time and the University does not know why

Communicate with your Department and College and keep your Student Record up to date!

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• Study at the institution which gave you the CAS for your visa

• Know your visa expiry date and do not let yourself become an ‘overstayer’. You will not get a reminder. Nobody is entitled to remain beyond their visa expiry date

• Keep to work restrictions

• Register with the police if required

Consequences of breach of conditions:

• criminal offence, possible removal, Entry Clearance ban

• Difficulties getting new visa

Take care to keep to the conditions of your visa

Further information on Tier 4 duties and responsibilities

In your Welcome Pack, you will find a booklet called

YOUR TIER 4 VISA RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE UNIVERSITY’S DUTIES AS YOUR VISA SPONSOR

Please do read it!

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Applying for Tier 4 in the UK

Full information about process, including links to current online application form and notes about the supporting documents visit:

http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa/during/extend

By post (standard service)

Oxford check & send service:

•by agreement with Home Office

•we “check and send” your application

•must make an appointment with us by email

Extending your Student Visa in the UK

In person (premium service) At Home Office Public Enquiry Office

•Book appointment as part of online application

•passport returned same day

•BRP card usually issued within several days

APPLY IN GOOD TIME AND BEFORE VISA EXPIRES – IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW WHEN YOUR VISA EXPIRES

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Working During Studies

• 20 hours a week while you are studying

• Full time when you are on holiday (vacation term times on Oxford web site including non-standard courses)

Note DPhil students must only work full time during designated breaks confirmed in writing by supervisor

• Most students can work full time upon completion of ALL studies with a valid student visa

• You cannot work full time during any period when you should be studying (including research and writing up)

Working During Studies

• Self-employment, engaging in business or filling a permanent full time vacancy is not allowed

• National Insurance Number – see pamphlet “Oxford Essentials” p10-11 under “Work”

• All UK employment legislation applies and you must pay UK tax. Amount you can earn before paying any tax (threshold) currently £10,000 pa (2014/15)

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Family members

• Spouse/civil partner, unmarried partner, children under 18

• Can join you during your studies as your ‘dependants’ if:

your graduate course is longer than 12 months; or

you are Government sponsored and your course is longer than 6 months

• No work restriction on your dependant (except not usually allowed to be doctor/dentist in training)

• No provision for children over 18 (although can remain at 18 and extend if already in UK as a dependant and not living independently)

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Visas to stay in the UK to work

• Information about existing employment visas and new schemes available on our website

• We can advise on current schemes

• Workshops - advertised on website / email

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Visa:

Sponsor licence number - UED4UGNF1

Expiry date, length, work conditions

Police Registration

Keep a copy of your passport/visa

Maintain contact with Dept/College

Keep Student Record up to date

Stay informed through emails, presentations, websites, Facebook, Twitter

Be good! – don’t breach your conditions, get convictions, mislead the Home Office

Checklist

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Immigration and Visa Advice

For further information contact:

Student Information and Advisory Service

Email: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk

http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/visa

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Please visit Sue and Jo at the Visa and Immigration stand

in the North School until 5pm today

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