international student support team/file/iss.pdf · • courses identified by jacs code • details...

13/04/2016 Student Services, The University of Sheffield

International Student Support team

Agent online conference 2016

What we will cover….

1. Overview of the International Student Support Team

2. Non-immigration support for international students

3. Immigration support for international students

4. Questions


The International Student Support Team

• Mark Collier: Head of International Student Support

• Integration: Tim Cooper, Olivia Johnstone

• Immigration : Tamara Francis, Jennifer Knapp-Wood, David Barrott, Fang Zheng

• Support: Diane Villis, Rob Bennett, Jamie Rodgers, Samantha Slack

- Our location: Level 6, Students’ Union 13/04/2016 Student Services, The University of Sheffield

Non-Immigration Support



Orientation Week

What?

• Information sessions

• Tours

• Social Events

When? • Week before Intro Week

www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/newstudents/orientation-week


Why? • Friendships • Less homesickness • Quicker cultural adjustment • More confident start to academic studies

Orientation Week


Meet and Greet

Airport collection service during main September arrivals period.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/before/meet-greet


Global Campus

Events and activities to support international students and promote

cross-cultural friendships.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/globalcampus

www.twitter.com/sheffglobal

www.facebook.com/sheffieldglobalcampus


Global Conversation

A weekly event for students to practise their English in a quiet, relaxed setting and learn some new British

phrases, idioms and slang from our British assistants.


Culture Compass

Discuss a different element of culture each week, so students can better

understand British culture and how it is similar/different to their own.


Local History Walks

One World Cafe


Vacation Events


Advice and Guidance

• Culture shock/cultural adjustment

• British culture

• Homesickness

• General welfare

Immigration advice and support for international students

• Responsible for giving immigration advice, to prospective, current students and agents

• Prompt, detailed responses to email enquiries

• Assist with visa refusals & rejections

• Online tools - visa applications & change of student circumstances

• Liaise with the Home Office on matters of immigration policy relating to TUoS students


Immigration advice and support for current students

• Advise re. conditions of student visa e.g. leave of absence, change of programmes, repeat and withdrawal

• Immigration Advice Sessions – students book appointments to discuss visa issues

• Financial Documents Checking Sessions

• Visa Extension Scheme service, using the Home Office’s Student Batch Scheme, for students already in the UK. This service includes:

• A thorough check of their visa application form and supporting documents

• Dealing with all correspondence, allowing students to relax and concentrate on their studies.


Pre-arrival immigration advice and support


Pre-arrival immigration advice and support

• Information re: applying for a visa/entry clearance (publications, webpages & webchat)

• Advising students/agents in cases of visa refusal

• Liaise with the Home Office re: immigration policy relating to students coming to the UK


What types of visa can students use to register on their course?

• Tier 4 Student visa

• Short-Term Student visa

visa nationals and non-visa nationals

• Other visa categories


Making a successful application for Tier 4 student visa - Key issues

• Before start

• Academic Progression

• ATAS

• Financial requirements

• Visa application fees

• Visa refusals

• Important to check


Before start

• When should students apply?

- before they have travelled to the UK; and

- no more than 3 months before the start date of their course; and

- no later than 6 months after the CAS was issued

• Can the application be made inside the UK?

Gap between the end of the current leave and the start of the new course is less than 28 days


Academic Progression

• To demonstrate academic progression, the student’s new course must normally be above the level of the previous course for which they were given Tier 4 leave.

• If a student has failed to successfully complete a previous course for which they were granted Tier 4 leave, what will happen?


Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

• Introduced November 2007 • Requirement for certain subject areas at PGT/PGR level • ATAS needed before visa application • Information on webpages/booklets • Courses identified by JACS code • Details required to apply are sent to students with offer letter • application made with FCO, decision takes 20 working days


Financial requirements

For fees, show one year, or whole course if shorter;

For maintenance, show £1,015 per month of course (outside London); and up to maxi £9,135 which is 9 months’ worth;

* ‘established presence’ removed since 12/11/2015

* maxi deduction for accommodation is £1,265

Students to ensure that they will be able to show the required level of funding in their account for 28 days prior to submitting the visa application.

13/04/2016 Student Services, The University of

Online self-help tools


Visa application fees

• Increase of visa application fees

fees increased on 18th March 2016 to £328 for entry clearance application

• Immigration Health Surcharge

Applied to EC applications for more than 6 months

- £150 per year of leave granted

- Refunded if application rejected or refused


After visa is issued – Important to check

• Check all details on the visa are correct and that student has been given the correct visa duration

• For visa granted after 1st Jan 2016, all applicants who have been given entry clearance for more than 6 months to have a BRP

• Visa Correction


Visa refusal

• Common issues for refusal

• Credibility interviews

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/immigration/overseas/credibility

• Administrative Review

• Process of making a new visa application


Be aware

• UKVI guidelines and policy continue to change frequently

• Students must make sure they keep up-to-date with changes in policy and law

• Sources of information include:

• The Immigration Rules

• Tier 4 Policy Guidance

• TUoS webpage

• UKCISA 13/04/2016 Student Services, The University of Sheffield

Who to contact

Immigration

• If the student has a question – use the webform at the following link: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/email

• Specific webform for visa refusals – http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/email/visa-refusals

Integration

• Any questions about Orientation/Meet&Greet or arriving and settling in can be directly emailed to [email protected]

• The team can also be contacted on our Facebook or Twitter pages:

Facebook.com/SheffieldGlobalCampus Twitter.com/SheffGlobal


Useful links

• http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international

• http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/

• www.facebook.com/sheffieldglobalcampus

• http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/before/meet-greet

• www.shef.ac.uk/newstudents/international/orientation

• www.shef.ac.uk/newstudents/discovery

• www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/international/videos
