Your Visa: Your Responsibilities

2009/10

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS INFORMATION VERY CAREFULLY AS IT IS YOUR

RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY THE LAW

In light of the recent changes in immigration legislation by the UK Border Agency (UKBA), this booklet outlines your visa responsibilities as an international student. It also provides contacts & information together with a student visa checklist.

It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to obey the law.

• ATTENDANCEStudent responsibility: It is your responsibility to ensure that you attend 100% of your course. Your student visa states that you must provide satisfactory evidence of regular attendance of all courses attended. In addition you are required to attend monthly meetings with your faculty contact. You will be informed of your faculty contact and the location of your first meeting at enrolment.

The dates for the monthly meetings are as follows: 30th October 2009 13th November 2009 11th December 2009 15th January 2010 19th February 2010 19th March 2010 23rd April 2010 14th May 2010 11th June 2010

Any absences must be authorised by your Faculty - any trips back home must be taken during vacation time except in the case of an emergency when it must be authorised

University responsibility: It is our responsibility to report to the UKBA on all students that have unauthorised absences. Please note that this includes irregular attendance.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• KEEPING TO THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR VISA

Student responsibility: Working - if you have permission to work on your student visa, you must not work any more than 20 hours per week during term time which includes any time taken to write up your dissertation or take exam re-sits. (you can pick up a booklet from Student Services entitled ‘Finding your way to work’ for more detailed information on the types of work you have permission for)

Public Funds - on a student visa, you are not allowed to apply for any public funds. ‘Public funds’ means the following types of UK welfare benefit: income support; income-based jobseeker’s allowance; housing and homelessness assistance; housing benefit; council tax benefit; working tax credit; a social fund payment; child benefit; any disability allowance; state pension credit; child tax credit. Anything not included in the list is not regarded as ‘public funds’.

Police Registration - if you have a stamp on your visa stating that you must register with the Police, you must do so within 7 days of arrival in the UK. If you change address or course or extend your visa, you must visit the Police to have your certificate updated.

Please note: If you forget to register with the police, this could have serious consequences for any future entry clearance applications that you make abroad. You could be barred from coming back to the UK for 12 months (and in some cases five or ten years). It will also cause problems for you when obtaining immigration extensions in the UK. If your passport or identity card does not tell you to register with the police, you do not need to do this.

University Responsibility: If we find that you are breaking any conditions of your visa we have a responsibility to report this information to the UKBA.

• UPDATING YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

Student responsibility: It is your responsibility to ensure that you update your faculty with the following details every time they change: - Full address in the UK - Full home address - All telephone numbers - All email addresses - Emergency contact details - New passport details - New visa details (incl. student visa extensions)

You will be informed of the location of your faculty contact at enrolment.

University responsibility: It is our responsibility to ensure that the UKBA has fully up-to-date details of ALL international students.

RESPONSIBILITIES: (CONTINUED)

RESPONSIBILITIES: (CONTINUED)

• WITHDRAWALS, INTERRUPTIONS OF STUDY AND CHANGE OF COURSE

Student responsibility: It is your responsibility to inform us of any intention you have to withdraw from your course, take an interruption of study or change your course or institution. It is important that you first discuss this with your faculty and then make an appointment to see an International Student Adviser in Student Services for advice on your immigration status before you make your final decision. The Adviser will inform you of your next steps. See ‘Useful Contact’ section for contact details.

If you are changing to another course at Birmingham City University and the new course is for a shorter length of time than the course you were originally studying on, you must: • lettheUKBAknowbyemailat: migrantreporting@ukba.gsi.gov.uk

• letyourfacultycontactknowimmediately

If you are transferring to another UKBA-approved education provider you must get written permission from the UKBA. To get this you must: • sendanemailto migrantreporting@ukba.gsi.gov.uk with the following details: • titleofthenewcoursewiththestartand end dates • thename,addressandcontactdetailsofthe new approved education provider

• letyourfacultycontactknowimmediately

University responsibility: It is our responsibility to report all changes in student circumstances to the UKBA

Please note: If UKBA request information about you from the university and it is found that you have not met these responsibilities, you are at risk of having your visa withdrawn and having to return home.

EXTENDING YOUR STUDENT VISA:• Thinkaboutyourvisaextension4monthsbeforeitexpires.

• Keepphotocopies-passport,visa,IDcardforForeignNationals(ifyouhave one), police registration certificate and other important documents.

• Keepyourpassportsafeandalwayspostyourvisaextensionapplication by ‘special delivery’ - you will need to do this at the Post Office.

• Youmustobtain40pointstogetastudentvisaextension: 30 points - Tier 4 visa letter 10 points - Maintenance funds available to you

• YouwillneedtogettheTier4visaletterfromyourfaculty.Thisletter should be dated within one month of your visa extension application. This can take several working days to produce so leave plenty of time.

• Youwillalsoneedtoprovideevidencethatyouhavetherequiredamountof money. This should be in the form of 1 months’ bank statement, which should be no more than 1 month old so remember to leave plenty of time to order this at the bank if necessary. You can also use your parents’ or legal guardian’s bank statement to show that you have the correct maintenance funds available to you. You will also need to provide evidence of your relationship to that person, such as a birth certificate, and a letter from them giving permission. For further advice on any aspect of your visa extension, please contact Student Services.

• IfyouaresponsoredbyaUKBAofficialfinancialsponsor,suchasa government or scholarship agency, you will need to provide your sponsorship letter.

• Ifrelevant,youwillalsoneedtoshowyourATAS(AcademicTechnology Approval Scheme) certificate (please see the Foreign and Commonwealth website www.fco.gov.uk/atas for more information).

We recommend you go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adultstudents/ for the up to date policy guidance.

EXTENDING YOUR STUDENT VISA:

USEFUL WEBSITES:

Application FormFor up to date Tier 4 Student Visa Extension Application Form and Guidancewww.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/adult-students

For further detailed information on Tier 4 Student and the UK immigration rules:

Tier 4 Policy Guidancewww.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf Immigration Ruleswww.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/policyandlaw/immigrationlaw/immigrationrules/part6a/

The UK Council for International Student AffairsInformation for international students about visa extensions, employment rules and other international student issues.www.ukcisa.org.uk

The Foreign and Commonwealth OfficeFor details of your Embassy in case you need to renew your passport or if you lose it or have it stolen. Also for information about the ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate and how to apply for it.www.fco.gov.uk

Police Registration0845 113 5000 (Police Headquarters in Birmingham city centre)For details of your nearest Police station to report a lost or stolen passport. This website also has information about Police Registration.www.west-midlands.police.uk

Student ServicesThis contains useful frequently asked questions and information for international students studying at Birmingham City University.www.bcu.ac.uk/studentservices/international

USEFUL CONTACTS:

International Office3rd Floor Baker BuildingCity North CampusPerry BarrBirminghamB42 2SU

Telephone: 0121 331 5389Fax: 0121 331 6314Email: international.admissions@bcu.ac.ukWeb: www.bcu.ac.uk/international

Student Services1st Floor Baker BuildingCity North CampusPerry BarrBirminghamB42 2SU

Telephone: 0121 331 5588Fax: 0121 331 6569Email: student.servcies@bcu.ac.ukWeb: www.bcu.ac.uk/studentservices/international

Immigration Advisory Service3rd Floor, King Edward House135a New StreetBirminghamB2 4QJ

Telephone: 0844 974 4000 (0121 616 3540 Birmingham Branch)Web: www.iasuk.org/home

All of the information contained in this booklet is correct at time of going to press (September 2009).

The International Office recruits new international students. It deals with enquiries and applications from prospective students and is responsible for issuing offer letters and Tier 4 Visa Letters to new international students.

Student Services has the necessary expertise to help you with your visa extension application.Please note that only Laura Dowling and Kyla Townsend are qualified to give immigration advice at Birmingham City University.

The Immigration Advisory Service is a charity organisation providing legal advice about immigration. The University refers students to this service if necessary.

Your Visa: Your Responsibilities

2009/10

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS INFORMATION VERY CAREFULLY AS IT IS YOUR

RESPONSIBILITY TO OBEY THE LAW

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