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Thursday 1 July 2021
The Graduate route is open Today - Post study work visa 2021
The Graduate route is a new work route for those who have a degree or other relevant qualification from an approved UK Higher Education provider. Applications opened on 1 July 2021. Your application does not need sponsorship or any endorsement by an employer or by your university. It is similar to the old Tier 1 Post-Study Work visa route that ended in 2012.
Most successful applicants can stay for two years under the Graduate route. PhD graduates can stay for three years (The older Doctorate Extension Scheme is closed now and will be replaced by the new Graduate route.)
The new Skilled Worker visa will (Formerly Tier 2 work Visa) include some changes, mostly beneficial and helpful for students who wish to work after studies.
All immigration applications normally will include an immigration health surcharge at £624 per year.
Wednesday 17 June 2020
Return of Two year Post-Study Work Visa - 2020
Post study work visa 2020
Last year the UK Government announced the return of two year post-study work visas.
The new immigration route will allow eligible students at higher education providers, studying any subject, to work for two years after completing their course. From information published so far, we understand that there will be no cap on the number of students who will be able to apply under this route.
The UK Home Office has confirmed that international students will remain eligible for post-study work rights upon graduation if they begin or continue their studies online in the 2020/21 academic year.
The Home Office has announced key features of the route:
It will be open to international students who have successfully completed a course of study at undergraduate (RQF 6) level or above at a Higher Education Provider with a track record of compliance, and who have a valid and extant student visa at the time of application;
The application process will be simple. There will be an application fee and applicants will pay the Immigration Health Surcharge;
Applicants will be subject to identity, criminality and security checks;
The leave period granted will be two years and will be non-extendable. Settlement rights will not be accrued;
Individuals will be able to work, or look for work in any sector, at any level;
Individuals will be able to switch into the skilled work route if they meet the requirements.
Successful students will then (as of 2020) be allowed to stay in the UK for two years after they graduate. During this time, they can job-hunt and work in the UK. Once the two-year period has finished, they can switch to another visa category, such as a Tier 2 Work Visa, or a Spouse Visa.
Monday 13 November 2017
Student Loans Fraud Exposed by BBC Panorama
BBC Panorama's investigation comes at a time of massive change in Higher education landscape in England, The Higher Education and Research Act, passed earlier this year, would create a powerful new regulator for higher education in England called the Office for Students. The government is also looking at whether new businesses could offer degrees from day one on a probationary basis, which could attract interest from companies operating elsewhere in the world.
About £400m-a-year is received by 112 private colleges through the student loan system. The government is keen to expand the sector as part of reforms designed to make degree and diploma courses more accessible to people who might otherwise find it difficult to enter higher education.
This year total student loan debt, from universities and private colleges, amounted to £100bn.
In todays BBC's Panaorama programme Plymouth University and GSM London college have been heavily implicated in student loan fraud, both institutions have declined direct involvement in the matter. You can see more on this story on Panorama, Student Loan Scandal on BBC One at 7.30pm on Monday 13th November and afterwards on iPlayer.
Wednesday 13 July 2016
More than 99,000 non-EU students visas curtailed by the Home Office in the past three years
The figures, released by the Home Office under Freedom of Information rules, show 99,635 students had their visas curtailed in the three years to the end of December 2015:
- 33,210 in 2013
- 34,210 in 2014
- 32,215 in 2015
- 199 in 2013
- 129 in 2014
- 72 in 2015
According to official figures, 201,763 students applied for UK study visas last year.
These include:
- 166,366 at universities
- 15,982 in further education
- 2,930 in English language schools
- 13,675 in independent schools
Summary of Recent Changes to UK Student Visa 2014, 2015, 2016 July onward
1. Summary of Recent Changes to UK Student Visa and News Watch end of 2015 to 2016,February
Thursday 11 February 2016
Summary of Recent Changes to UK Student Visa and News Watch end of 2015 to 2016,February
Towards the End of 2015 following following rules changed for international students specifically non EU students in UK - UK Student Visa- New Changes for International Students - 2015, November
Last Month, January, 2016, Data published by London & Partners, the city’s official promotion organisation revealed that China remains the leading source of London’s international student population, with 13,460 students from the country residing in the UK’s capital and also showed Indians student numbers are rapidly falling down in London due to recent changes to UK student visa regulations.
Last week, February 2016, A student visa scam involving at least half a million pounds has been unearthed in west London where an unscrupulous immigration consultant have made money from international students by promising them a Tier 2 visa work visa after completion of their studies.
Wednesday 18 November 2015
UK Student Visa - New Changes for International Students - 2015, November
1.. Tier 4 (General) students studying at colleges (private or public) can no longer extend their stay in Tier 4 or switch into any other points-based route (Such as Tier 2 or Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)), unless they are studying at a college which UKVI classes as an “embedded college”. There is no change for students attending a university.
2. The length of time that a Tier 4 (General) student may spend studying further education courses (i.e. courses at National Qualifications Framework levels 3-5 and equivalents) will be reduced from three years to two.
3. All Tier 4 students who are extending their visa or applying for a new visa will need to show they have maintenance funds for the duration of their course or 9 months whichever is shorter. Previously if a student had been in the UK for 6 months or more (i.e. already studying) a reduced rate applied, as they were deemed to have “established presence.”
4. The area in which Tier 4 students have to demonstrate a higher ‘London’ level of funds is being expanded to include the University of London or institutions wholly or partly within the area comprising the City of London and the Former Metropolitan Police District.
Note:
Study UK (An association for independent providers of higher education, further education and professional training) estimates that over the next 3 years each institution would loss £210 000 rising to average loss of £337 000 by 2017
Tuesday 14 July 2015
All part-time work rights for non-EU students studying at publicly funded colleges to be abolished
The summary of changes
- Non-EU students at publicly funded colleges lose right to work for up to 10 hours a week, matching rule for those at privately funded colleges
- The length of further education visas will be reduced from three years to two.
- FE college students will not be able to stay and work in UK when they finish their course, unless they leave the country first (will be exempted if they are registered at an institution with a formal link to a university)
Sunday 14 June 2015
Summary of Recent Changes to UK Student Visa 2015 / 2014
Summary of Recent Changes to UK Student Visa 2015 / 2014
Below is a summary of new student visa rules / changes (2014/ 2015), new changes to Immigration Act 2014 and other reviews
For all immigration applications made on or after the 6 April 2015.
The immigration health surcharge will cost:
- £150 for students and their dependants
- £200 for other applicants e.g. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), Tier 2 and Tier 5 Youth Mobility
The sum is an annual amount and you will be charged the annual amount for each year of the maximum period of leave at the point you apply for your visa. For example, an undergraduate student will pay an extra £450 at the time of their student visa application to UK. This additional charge is mandatory failure to pay can lead to your visa being refused.
The following groups are exempt:
- Entry clearance applications for 6 months or less;
- Visitor visa applications (except the extended Student Visitor route)
- Nationals of Australia and New Zealand, and British Overseas Territories Citizens who are resident in the Falkland Islands.
No more Appeals - Appeals replaced with Administrative Review
For Tier 4 applications made on or after 20 October 2014, the Appeals process for refusals has been replaced by Administrative Review (AR). An AR is when the Home Office reviews the decision-making process made by the caseworker when considering the application. It is not a legal process handled by the Immigration Tribunal
Administrative review requires a payment of £80 for a single decision, or a decision on applications by a main applicant and dependants. It must be refunded if the outcome of the administrative review is that the decision is withdrawn.
More detail on administrative review could be found here
- The new fees will be as below:
- Tier 4 (General) application outside the UK - £322
- Tier 4 (General) standard application in Country (in UK) - £439
- Tier 4 (General) premium application - £839
- Student Visitor - £85
- Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) in the UK - £456
- Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) outside the UK - £335
New Visa Issue Procedure (Out of Country Applications)
The UK Government is changing the way that it issues permission for people to come to the UK (UK Student Visa) from abroad for more than six months.
When you apply for your Tier 4 visa, you will be granted with an endorsement in your passport (vignette or sticker inside your passport) which is your visa to enter the UK. If your visa is granted for a period of 6 months or more, you will only be given a 30-day visa in your passport as a leave to enter the UK. You must arrange to enter the UK within that 30 day period. Along with your visa and passport, you will also receive a written notification (or decision letter) informing you to collect a longer term visa from a designated Post Office branch once you have arrived in the UK. Your long term visa is called a biometric residence permit (BRP) and is in the form of a credit card sized card with a chip which will contain your biometric information.
Timetable for BRP roll-out
As this is a new procedure for UK visa applications made outside the UK, it is currently not compulsory for everyone to have a BRP. This new procedure will be introduced in stages and the estimated roll-out will affect UK visa applications made in the following countries as follows:
Phase 1 – 18 March 2015 - Pakistan
Phase 2 - Mid April 2015 (estimated, subject to the exact date legislation comes into force)
Armenia
|
Cambodia
|
Estonia
|
Iceland
|
Laos
|
Nepal
|
Bangladesh
|
China
|
Finland
|
India
|
Libya
|
Netherlands
|
Bhutan
|
Cyprus
|
Germany
|
Indonesia
|
Maldives
| |
Burma
|
Denmark
|
Gibraltar
|
Italy
|
Malta
|
Afghanistan
|
Bermuda
|
Falkland Islands
|
Malaysia
|
Philippines
|
Taiwan
|
Ascension Island
|
Brunei
|
Fiji
|
Mongolia
|
Qatar
|
Trinidad & Tobago
|
Australia
|
Canada
|
Guyana
|
New Zealand
|
St Helena
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Bahamas
|
Cayman Islands
|
Iran
|
Nigeria
|
St Lucia
|
USA
|
Bahrain
|
Dominican Republic
|
Jamaica
|
Oman
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Singapore
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Yemen
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Barbados
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Egypt
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Japan
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Papua New Guinea
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South Korea
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(The Requirements for Tier 4 General Student Entry Clearance: How to make your application)
Before making any type of application for immigration permission, you should read the appropriate current Tier 4 General policy guidance thoroughly.
- Obtain your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your University
- Check if you need an ATAS clearance certificate, (ATAS clearance is required for some taught postgraduate and many science and technology related research subjects.)
- Obtain appropriate evidence to meet the maintenance/ funding requirements.
- Complete the relevant visa application form Online (Unless you are a national of Cuba or North Korea)
- If you wish to bring your family member(s) or partner with you as a Dependant, please remember to include them in your application. Please read the PBS Dependent Guidance on the additional maintenance requirements for Dependants.
- As a part of your Tier 4 visa application (UK Student Visa Application), you may be required to attend an interview with the UK Home Office /UK Embassy or High Commission
Friday 30 January 2015
65 Colleges Licences Revoked, 600 Plus Students Removed or Detained
One of the trigger in this ongoing crack down is with fraud in English language testing system detected last year - now more than 33,725 invalid TOEIC test results have been reported by ETS Global to the Home Office, along with 22,694 questionable results – up from 19,000 and 29,000 respectively at the time of the original announcement and investigation.
Crack down on student visa scams is not unique to UK it is a common trend in many countries, in Australia the number of student visas cancelled by the Australian government has more than tripled in the last two years (according to The Australian that student visa cancellations more than doubled from 1,978 in 2012 to 4,940 in 2013, rising again to 7,061 in the last financial year) as instances of falsified test results and/or financial documents have soared, we reckon this trend is not only purely on irregularities on student front and private tier institutions but also stems largely from the popular dis comfort of Immigrants in the wider society thus has become a political issue
We at UKEducationForAll.com kindly urge that all Sponsors who take students from institutions whose licences have been revoked will need to undertake their normal compliance checks and there is no reason in principle why they should not accept such students who have not, individually, been found to be at fault
Sunday 9 February 2014
The Student Visa Scandal - Fraud in Student Visa System Exposed
Will broadcast in BBC One, Monday 10 February at 20:30 BST, by Richard Watson
- The Home Office has suspended English language tests run by a major firm after BBC Panorama uncovered systematic fraud in the student visa system
- The Home Secretary said the government had suspended the two colleges (immigration consultancy called Studentway Education in Southall, West London and Eden College International in East London)
- All further English language tests done through ETS in the UK had also been suspended
(ETS - One of the biggest English language testing companies in the world) - Fake Bank documents: Undercover researchers were also sold fake bank details to show they had enough funds to stay in the UK
Sunday 1 December 2013
Post Study Work Opportunities – An Australian Perspective
The determination of the Home Office to reduce UK immigration, curtailing Post study work options may be hindering aspirations to attract more international students, but Australia’s newly elected government has no such hang-ups. Being the sixth biggest country in the world, Australia is the third most popular international student destination in the world according to OECD. It has become a rival country in terms of the market share of international students; more students are now opting to study in Australia than UK as post study work benefits are favourable in Australia
The Australian government has speeded issuing visas and extended “after study programes” such as post study work opportunities. Graduating Australians with bachelors' degrees can now stay for up to two years, those with a master's degree can stay for two or three years and those with doctorates can stay for upto four years
The Australian Coalition government plans to develop a national strategy for international education drawing on a report led by National Australia Bank chairman Michael Chaney and commissioned by the previous Labor government. It had predicted that international education could rebound to be worth over A$19 billion to Australia by the end of the decade. In UK, International students contribute approximately £10 billion a year to the economy according to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.
Due to the increase of tuition fees, many UK degrees now cost around £ 9000. From 6 April 2012, Tier 1 (Post-study work) was closed to all International students – please refer our article ‘Post Study Work Visa......What Next? - Part II for more details. The sense of feeling unwelcome will probably drive away international students to Universities in the US, Australia and the rest of Europe.
It is evident that the Australian opening of new opportunities for Post Study work options will entice new international students whilst the draconian UK visa rules would indeed dissuade potential international students.
Monday 18 November 2013
New video aims to dispel ‘myths’ on visas
UK universities, the Home Office and the British Council are today launching a new film following Indian students on their journey to study in Britain in an attempt to dispel “myths” about the process.
In 2011-12 there was a 24 per cent drop in the number of Indian studentsat UK universities, although this was offset by a large rise in the number from China.
Thursday 10 October 2013
Just 119 Graduate Entrepreneur visas granted in 12 months
The graduate entrepreneur visa for international students with “world-class and innovative” business ideas was launched in April 2012. It was brought in as the popular Tier 1 post-study work visa, which allowed non-European Union students to work for two years after graduation, was axed – a change that has been credited with causing a huge drop in demand for UK courses from students in some countries, especially India.
Wednesday 21 August 2013
Playing by rules, Work entitlement for private tier students
It is understood that the Home Office has been looking into the partnership between Glyndwr University and the London School of Business and Finance, although there is no suggestion that any rules have been broken.
The breakdown of the arrangement follows the end of a similar partnership that the LSBF had last year with London Metropolitan University.
Friday 31 August 2012
London Metropolitan University Suspended
The UK Border Agency has revoked (withdrawn) London Metropolitan University's license to sponsor students from outside the European Union.
Well, What this means to you as an non EU student/ existing London Metropolitan University student or a new student who is planning to travel to the UK
If you are an existing London Metropolitan University student with a current, valid visa and on holiday outside the UK, then you can return to the UK. London Metropolitan University students who are already in the UK with a current, valid UK visa do not need to do anything immediately. More significant matter is if you are a new student who is planning to travel to the UK to start studying with London Metropolitan University then you should not travel.
London Metropolitan University's HTS status was suspended last month while the UK Border Agency (UKBA) examined alleged failings consequently it was revoked (withdrawn) yesterday, meaning thousands of its non EU students may face deportation and the university is stripped of its right to admit non EU students.
Why has London Metropolitan University been banned from accepting foreign students from outside of the European Union? An interesting analysis by BBC Home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani: London Met's foreign students
Students from London Metropolitan University launched a sit-in protest: video;
A blog entry at Guardian written by a lecturer at London Metropolitan University on University's license revocation and students English standards
Q&A on London Metropolitan University's visa licence suspension/revokation
Tuesday 26 June 2012
Money is driving force of rise in foreign students seeking UK degree
The number of international students coming to study in Britain has risen significantly in recent years. Holly Watt analyzes the trend
In autumn 2010, 298,110 students from outside the EU were in higher education courses. The number rose 6.2 per cent in one year, up from 280,760 in autumn 2009. That increase was largely driven by an influx from China and India.In two years, the number of Chinese students rose by 43 per cent, with 67,325 in British higher education in 2010-11. The number of Indians rose by 14.7 per cent to 39,090.
The number from Saudi Arabia almost doubled to 10,270. The reason for the increase is alleged to be largely commercial.
At present, tuition fees for British students are capped at £9,000 a year. But UCL in London, for example, charges international students £14,000,... Read more here
Courtesy: The Telegraph
Monday 13 February 2012
New student visa rules to welcome the brightest and proposals to tackle abuse
The UKBA has proposed its latest set of rules to come into force within weeks to cut abuse of the student visa route and ensure that only the brightest and the best students can stay and work in the UK, Immigration - the Minister Damian Green had announced today.
Students can currently work in the UK for 2 years after their studies have finished, under the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route. But from 6 April, a more selective system would come into effect so only the most talented international graduates can apply to stay in the UK for work purposes.
Only those who graduate from a university, and have an offer of a skilled job at a salary of at least £20,000 (or more in some cases) from a reputable employer accredited by the UK Border Agency, will be able to continue living and working in the UK in order to benefit the British economy.
The rules are part of a radical overhaul of the student visa system, which will:
- encourage growth - a new Graduate Entrepreneur route will open, with up to 1,000 places for students working on world-class innovative ideas who want to stay and develop them but do not meet the requirements of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route;
- boost the economy - young entrepreneurs or small company directors will get the chance to stay on in the UK after their studies if they have £50,000 to invest in their business;
- ensure that students can support themselves - for the first time since 2008, there will be an increase in the amount of money that students and working migrants (and their dependants) must prove they have to support themselves financially during their time in the UK; and
- tackle abuse - restricting work placements to one-third of the course for international students who are studying below degree level will ensure that those coming to the UK are here to study, not to work (as was often the case in the past). Additionally, the time that can be spent studying at degree level will be restricted to a general limit of 5 years.
Sunday 17 July 2011
Staying after studies
Informative article to read, click here for more
Monday 13 June 2011
New Policy Update - Student Visa Process, Next set of changes from 4th July 2011.
The aim of the revised Immigration Rules is to deliver a strong migration system which tackles immigration abuse, while allowing genuine students to study at genuine colleges.
From 4 July UKBA will:
- Restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges only;
- Restrict the sponsorship of dependants to those studying at postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months;
- Require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic progression;
- Ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a declaration on the visa application form;
- Commit to publish a list of financial institutions, on the basis of experience, which do not verify financial statements in more than 50 per cent of a sample of cases;
- Introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors;
- Extend the list of courses for which students must receive ATAS clearance;
- Restrict the ability to deliver accountancy courses accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to those sponsors accorded platinum or gold status by ACCA; and
- Clarify the position of overseas universities with campuses in the UK.
Tuesday 22 March 2011
New Policy Update –Final Draft Policy, Tighter Regulations for UK student visa
According to UKBA, New Student Visa Policy in Summary, To be in effect from the First Week of April , 2011,The main changes are as follows:
§ Students coming to study at degree level will need to speak English at an 'upper intermediate' (B2) level, rather than the current 'lower intermediate' (B1) requirement.
§ UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, and who therefore clearly do not meet the minimum standard.
§ Students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain their current work rights, but all other students will have no right to work. We will place restrictions on work placements in courses outside universities.
§ Only postgraduate students at universities and government-sponsored students will be able to bring their dependants. At the moment, all students on longer courses can bring their dependants.
§ We will limit the overall time that can be spent on a student visa to 3 years at lower levels (as it is now) and 5 years at higher levels. At present, there is no time limit for study at or above degree level.
§ We will close the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route, which allows students 2 years to seek employment after their course ends. Only graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be able to stay to work.
In my opinion the privately funded education industry in Britain is being marginalized and heavily regulated, with NO level playing ground ever offered on par with state funded Universities and publicly funded FE Colleges,