New Student Visa Rules for the Future

Published on April 25, 2011 in UK Immigration News 2011.
 

Following our summary of the new student visa rules in place from 21 April 2011, we’ve had requests for a similar simple approach to the future Tier 4 student visa rules changes. So here it is!

July 2011 Onwards

Your Family (Dependants)

There will be only two types of student who will be able to bring their dependants to the UK during their studies: postgraduates and government sponsored students. Students must be studying a course of 12 months or more in duration.

Students should be sure to check with their education provider what duration of course has been entered on their CAS. Some Masters courses in the UK can be as short as nine months, so be sure to check if you want to bring your dependants with you.

If you qualify to bring your dependants with you during your studies, they will be able to work full time during their stay.

If you do not meet the requirements to bring your dependants all is not lost. You could consider having them come to the UK as visitors. But, there stay would be limited to just six months and they would not be able to work. They could of course come using any other route of the Points Based System, should they qualify.

Low Risk Students

Students from the following countries should not need to submit any financial documents or previous qualification certificates in support of their student visa application:

• Argentina
• Australia
• British National Overseas
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Croatia
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United States of America

Do remember though that it is a requirement to have access to the required maintenance money and that students from the above countries could still be asked to produce proof. Any documents that you could be asked to submit must meet the criteria laid out in the Tier 4 Policy Guidance documents.

Time Limit on Staying in the UK

Students will have new limits placed on the amount of time that can spent in the UK on back-to-back student visa.

The good news is that students of specialist courses that take longer to complete – Dphil, medicine, architecture etc – will be excluded from the limits.

Students studying at either postgraduate or undergraduate level will only be able to spend a maximum of five years in the UK.

Students following courses below undergraduate level will be able to stay for only three years.

There is concession made for students who will study a combined course of below and above undergraduate level study. These students will be able to remain in the UK for a maximum of eight years.

If students are following one of the exempt courses above, they are eligible to stay beyond the eight years if their course demands it, however, students will not be able to apply for a new Tier 4 visa if they have already been in the UK for more than eight years.

Academic Progression

Any student who is extending their student visa in the UK and will not be studying a new course at a higher level, their education provider will have to explain the situation in their CAS. A common example of this would be a student studying two consecutive Masters Programmes.

Students are advised to liaise with their education providers and/or agents to make sure the wording in the CAS properly explains the situation.

April 2012 Onwards

Closure of Post-Study Work Route

The current Tier 1 Post Study Work visa, allowing graduates to remain in the UK for two years following their studies to look for work, will be closed.

Post-Study Work will be replaced by a new class in Tier 2 of the UK’s Points Based System: the Work Permission Route. Graduates will now require a job offer from a UKBA registered sponsor with a minimum salary of £20,000 in order to remain in the UK following their studies.

Students must apply to switch to Tier 2 before their current Tier 4 General Student visa expires. Importantly, these Tier 2 applications will not come under the Coalition Government’s immigration cap, in any way.

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Tuition Fee, Expenses & Cost of Education

This section gives a brief idea of the expenses for studying abroad. This includes tuition costs and living expenses. Living expenses may vary greatly depending on the individual. This information is just a rough sketch obtained from talking to various students who are studying abroad currently. U.S.A. U.K. Canada Australia New Zealand Expenses in U.S.A. Tuition Fees US Universities fall under two major categories: public (state supported), and private (independent) institutions. International students’ tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities. It’s important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality. A brief idea can be had from the following table: University Type Tuition Fees (annual in U.S. Dollars) Private Institutions (High Cost) $ 19,000 Private Institutions (Low Cost) $ 12,000 State Institutions (High Cost) $ 13,000 State Institutions (Low Cost) $ 6,000 The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 5000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 30000 per annum for some private universities. For more specific details, please contact the universities. Living Expenses The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses can be split up as: Rent $ 400 per month (you can live alone with that amount in a place like Auburn or share an apartment with 6 people in NY) Groceries $ 100 per month Utilities $ 100 per month Phone $ 100 per month Sundry $ 200 per month So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation.  Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month. The key here is to share apartments/houses so that you save on the utilities, fixed charge portion of phone and to some extent on groceries. Expenses in U.K. Undergraduate Courses Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year Science   8,130   6,600   14,730 Medicine   15,660 6,600   22,660 Others   6,210   6,600   12,810 Postgraduate Courses Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year Science   8,200   6,600   14,800 Medicine   15,450   6,600   22,050 Others   6,303   6,600   12,903 Further Education Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months) Average Total Costs per year   3,432   6,600   10,032 For all the cost data above, Fees given are averages All costs are given in Pound Sterling Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc. Costs are according to 1999 session Expenses in Canada International Students, 1998-1999 Tuition Fees, General Arts and Science programs (In Canadian Dollars) Province Undergraduate Graduate Newfoundland $6,660 $1,896 - $3,549 Prince Edward Island $5,031 - $6,731 $3,878 - $5,578 Nova Scotia $5,456 - $9,180 $3,160 - $10,270 New Brunswick $4,580 - $8,080 $4,920 - $5,630 Quebec $8,265 - $9,180 $7,450 - $15,000 Ontario $6,500 - $12,202 $7,450 - $15,000 Manitoba $4,696 - $5,017 $4,212 - $6,890 Saskatchewan $5,625 - $8,127 $2,813 - $5,625 Alberta $4,845 - $6,880 $4,684 - $15,000 British Columbia $3,784 - $13,830 $2,100 - $17,000 *Source: The Directory of Canadian Universities - 1999, Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada Living Expenses Accommodation Average cost of accommodation in Canada is about CDN $ 400- 800 per month. Type Expenses (annual in U.S. Dollars) School-Provided Homestays $ 400 - $800 per month School-Provided Residence/Dormitory $3000 - $7500 per year Off Campus Housing $250 - $ 750 per month Expenses in Australia Undergraduate degrees            Courses Median Total Tuition Fees for entire course Total Living Costs for entire course (3 years) Average Total Costs per course Science 27,054 31,574 58,628 Business 19,325 31,574 50,899 Arts 19,325 31,574 50,899 Masters degrees             Courses Median Annual Tuition Fees Annual Living Costs Average Annual Total Costs Science 9,115 10,525 19,640 Business 7,440 10,525 17,965 Arts 7,086 10,525 17,611 PhD Courses Median Total Tuition Fees for entire course Total Living Costs for entire course (3 years) Average Total Costs per course Science 28,988 31,574 60,562 Business 24,156 31,574 55,730 Arts 23,190 31,574 54,764 MBA Length of MBA program varies considerably between institutions, depending on the mode of study, but ranges from approximately nine to 15 months full time. The fees in the table below are shown as the cost of the full MBA program rather than an annual fee.          Median Total Package Tuition Fees Average Annual Living Costs Average Total Costs (taking duration as 1 year) 14,945 10,525 25,470 For all the cost data above, Fees given are averages All costs are given in U.S. Dollars Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc. Costs are according to 1999 session Expenses in New Zealand Tuition Fees The tuition fees is different for different universities and varies with courses. We have listed a few courses with the approximate range of annual tuition fees. For more specific details, please contact the universities. Undergraduate Courses 1. Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences NZ $ 10,000 - $ 12,000  per year   2. Commerce / Administration / Management NZ $ 10,000 - $ 12,500  per year 3. Computing & Mathematical Sciences   NZ $ 13,000 - $ 15,000 per year 4. Engineering NZ $ 16,000 - $ 17,500  per year 5. Science / Science Technology NZ $ 14,000 - $ 16,000 per year 6. Technology NZ $ 14,000 - $ 18,000  per year Postgraduate Courses 1. Arts / Humanities / Social Sciences NZ $ 14,000 - $ 16,000  per year   2. Master of Business Administration NZ $ 18,000 - $ 24,000  per year 3. Engineering NZ $ 18,000 - $ 24,500  per year Living Expenses The approximate annual living expenses are about NZ $ 7,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. CALL 0094779568350 FOR FREE CONSULTANCY,FREE ADMISSION .... Achievers@usa.com

New Rules for Student Visa Extension 2011

Published on April 22, 2011 in UK Immigration News 2011. 

From 21 April 2011 there have been many changes to Tier 4 of the UK’s Points Based System. These changes do not just apply to out-country applications but also to people applying for a student visa renewal. We’ve put together this quick overview of the new student visa extension requirements following a lot of questions and searches from you

New Student Visa Extension Rules for Students of Highly Trusted Sponsors

• Courses at NQF level 3 or above
• English language courses at level CEFR B2
• Courses with work placements that form an assessed part of the course

New Student Visa Extension Rules for Students of A or B Rated Sponsors

• Courses at NQF level 4 or above
• English language courses at level CEFR B2
• No courses with work placements that form an assessed part of the course below NQF level 6

New Rules for Student Visa Extension: English Language Ability

• How your sponsor assesses your English language ability will now depend on:
• When your CAS was assigned
• What type of course you are studying
• What type of education provider your sponsor is
• At any time during your application, whether in-country or out-country, you may be called for interview to check your English ability. If your English level is clearly not up to standard, your application may be refused and/or you could be refused entry to the UK at the airport.

Student Visa Renewal: If your CAS was issued before 21 April 2011

• The old rules apply for your CAS to be valid. That is, if you are studying a course below NQF level 6, or an English language programme, your CAS will be valid as long as your sponsor assessed your English language level to be CEFR B1.
• Those students who did not take English test, but instead had their English level assessed by their sponsor will still be able to make an application with a CAS assigned before 21 April 2011.

Student Visa Renewal: If your CAS was issued on or after 21 April 2011

• Have English at level CEFR B2 if studying a course at NQF level 6 and above
• Have English at level CEFR B1 if studying a course at NQF level 5 or below

Student Visa Extensions with a Recognised Higher Education Institution

• If studying a course at NQF level 6 or above at a Recognised Higher Education Institution:
• Your sponsor can choose how to assess your English ability, including administering their own tests. Students will have to be assessed in the four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
• With the approval of the Academic Registrar of the education provider, “gifted students” can have the English level requirement waived entirely.

Student Visa Extensions with a non-Recognised Higher Education Institution

• Students studying courses at NQF level 6 or above must demonstrate their English level in all four English skills at level CEFR B2 by presenting a Secure English Language Test certificate.
• Students studying courses at NQF level 5 or below must demonstrate their English level in all four English skills at level CEFR B1 by presenting a Secure English Language Test certificate.

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