New VISA Regulations for International Students

Important information for all international students

From 22 February 2010 there are important changes to the visa regulations in the UK and there are certain rules that ALL international students must be aware of.  Whilst these mainly apply to students who are on a Tier 4 visa, they will affect ALL international students.   Please read the following information very carefully:

Tier 4: Duties of the Student

Students must:

  • Keep University updated with their address and telephone details (you can update these on E:vision at any time, if you move to a new address or change your phone number)
  • Make sure you attend your lectures, seminars and tutorials, appointments with your supervisor, hand in coursework on time, and attend your exams (these are your ‘expected interactions’ with the University).  If you are going to be on placement, study abroad, field trip, or resubmitting your dissertation this also applies to you (your Department will explain what you need to do). 
  • If there is an unavoidable reason why you have to miss any of your ‘expected interactions’ you must inform your Department (your Department will let you know the email address that you must use)
  • Make good progress on your course.  If you need to apply for an extension of your visa in order to complete your course, the UKBA will only grant you a visa to resit or retake any module or part of your course twice 
  • Do not work more than 20 hours per week during term time (we would recommend no more than 15 hours per week, so that your work does not interfere with your studies)
  • Register with the Police if it is stated on your student visa that you need to do so
  • Make sure you always have a valid student visa.  (If you need to extend your visa to complete your studies, start making the arrangements approximately 2 to 3 months before the expiry date of your visa)

 

Tier 4: Duties of the University

The University must:

  • Keep a copy of your passport and visa
  • Keep up to date information of your address and contact details
  • Keep a copy of the qualifications you took to gain acceptance onto your course
  • Monitor your attendance and progression
  • Report to UKBA if a student who has been issued with a visa for our University, fails to enrol
  • Report to UKBA, within 10 working days, if a student misses 10 ‘expected interactions’ with the University
  • Report to UKBA if a student changes to a shorter course at the University or the course ends early. 
  • Report to UKBA if the University becomes aware that a student is breaching any conditions of their visa (eg if you are working more than 20 hours per week during term time)
  • Report to UKBA if a student withdraws from their studies, or suspends their studies

 

The University is duty bound by the UKBA to carry out these reporting duties.  Help us to help you, by making sure that you always inform the University if there is a reason that you ever have to miss your ‘expected interactions’.   There is further information on the following websites:

 

www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/immigration_uk.php

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/quickguideforstudent/adultstudents/

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf

 

The monitoring arrangements will vary according to your particular pattern of study, and your Department will contact you with further details.

 

If you have any questions about the UKBA rules and regulations, please contact:

Naheeda Kauser, Visa and Immigration Adviser, n.kauser8@bradford.ac.uk

Sue Baker, International Student Adviser, s.m.baker@bradford.ac.uk

Sarah Hargreaves, Points Based System Coordinator, s.e.hargreaves@bradford.ac.uk