Visas
Points Based Systems (PBS) Tier 4 and Sponsor Compliance
As a Tier 4 student under the points-based system you are expected:
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To study full-time (at least 15 hours per week)
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To study at a genuine institution (Highly Trusted Sponsor, Trusted A or B Sponsor)
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To have the money to support yourself
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To intend to leave the UK when you finish your studies
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To extend your visa before its expiry date if you wish to continue your course or apply for a new one
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To apply for a new CAS/visa if you intend to switch institutions
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To have at least 80% attendance
As a Tier 4 Sponsor under the points based system we have our reporting duties.
Information we must report to the UKBA
We must report the following information or events about sponsored students to the UKBA within the time limit given:
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If you do not turn up for your first day at the College, or do not enrol on the course at the expected time, we must report this within 10 working days and include the reason for non-attendance or non-enrolment (for example, a missed flight).
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If you miss your classes for more than 10 working days, or miss 10 'expected contacts' on your course of study without any reasonably granted permission, we must report it within 10 working days of the 10th day of absence or the 10th missed contact.
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If you discontinue your studies, we must tell the UKBA within 10 working days of the event in question, and give them the name and address of the institution that you have joined and if known.
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If we stop sponsoring you for any other reasons (for example, if you move into an immigration category with a different sponsor or one that that does not need a sponsor, or your permission to stay in the United Kingdom ends because your course of study ends), we must tell the UKBA within 10 working days.
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If there are any significant changes in your circumstances - for example, a change in the length of your course of study or a change of study location, we must report it within 10 working days.
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If we have any information which suggests that you are breaching the conditions of your leave, we must report it within 10 working days
Please note that breaching any of the above conditions of your leave will seriously affect your visa. Once you are reported, you will be considered ‘illegal’ in the country. It could also result in you being deported from the UK which means that you would not be able to apply for a new UK visa for 10 years.
If you want to switch from/to a different education provider
If you applied for your Tier 4 student visa on or after 5 October 2009:
If you want to leave your current course in order to study the same or a different course with a different education provider, you must apply for a new Tier 4 visa. The new education provider must be a licensed Tier 4 sponsor, and must assign a new confirmation of acceptance for studies to you.
You can start your new course before we have approved your new Tier 4 application if:
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You have applied to us for permission to stay and study with a Tier 4 sponsor which has a highly trusted sponsor rating
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Your permission to stay and study in the UK with your former sponsor is still valid
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Your prospective Tier 4 sponsor has assigned a confirmation of acceptance for studies to you for your new course.
You will start your new course at your own risk, as we may refuse your application.
You cannot start your new course until we have approved your new application, if you are applying to us for permission to stay and study with a sponsor that has an A (Trusted) or B (Sponsor) rating.
If you are already studying in the UK when you decide to change to a different Tier 4 sponsor, you must make your new application from inside the UK.
If you applied for your Tier 4 student visa before 5 October 2009:
If you want to leave your current course in order to study a course with a different education provider under your current permission to stay in the UK, you must get our written permission. To request this permission, you must send an email message to migrantreporting@ukba.gsi.gov.uk| The message must include:
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The new course and its start and finish dates
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Your new education provider's name, address and contact details
We will write to tell you that you are allowed to study with your new education provider under your existing permission to stay, if:
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The new education provider is on the register of Tier 4 sponsors, which you can download from the right side of this page
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We can confirm that the education provider wants to be your new education provider
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The course meets the requirements for your Tier 4 category. However, Tier 4 (General) students may continue to study a course at or above level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
After you have sent us your request, we will write to you saying that we have received it. You can start your new course before we have decided whether to approve your request - but you do so at your own risk, as we may refuse the request.
Under the Immigration Rules, we may shorten your permission to stay as a student if you change your education provider without getting our permission.
If your new course will finish after your current permission to stay expires, you will need to make a new Tier 4 application to us. You will therefore need a confirmation of acceptance for studies from your new education provider.
Useful Websites
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk|
www.ukcisa.org.uk|
www.ukvisas.gov.uk|