In this the third post of our series on schools and colleges removed from the Tier 4 Sponsors Register, we’ll be looking at what happens to students who’s education provider has had their sponsor licence suspended or withdrawn.
What happens if my College’s Licence is suspended?
If an education provider’s sponsor licence is suspended and they are removed from the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors, any new applications from migrant students will not be considered by the UK Border Agency. Applications made by students will only be considered once the sponsor’s suspension has been resolved.
If a student has been issued with a visa using a visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies from a sponsor who is now suspended, they are advised not to travel to the UK. This is to avoid problems with entry clearance officers at your point of entry to the UK. The UK Border Agency should contact all students who are in this situation once the suspension has been resolved. However, students should remain pro-active and continue to check the Register of Sponsors to see when their education provider is re-included.
What happens if my College’s Licence is withdrawn?
If your school or college’s licence to sponsor student migrants under Tier 4 of the Points Based System is withdrawn, the UK Border Agency will take the following action against that education provider’s students:
- If you are involved in the reason for your sponsor’s licence withdrawal, you permission to stay in the UK will be ended immediately.
- If you are not involved, your permission to stay will be limited to 60 days. This will give you a chance to find a new sponsor. If you have less than 6 months left on your student visa, your permission to stay will not be shortened.
If your permission to stay in the UK is ended, you will have to leave the UK immediately, or force enforced removal from the UK. If after 6 months you have not found a new sponsor, you will also have to leave the UK or face enforced removal.
If you remain in the UK after your permission to stay has expired, you face action from the UK Border Agency and Police. You could be detained, forcibly removed from the UK and blacklisted from coming back to the UK for 10 years.
I haven’t travelled yet and my College has had their licence permanently withdrawn – what should I do?
When an education provider’s sponsor licence is withdrawn permanently, any visa letter or confirmation of acceptance for studies issued by them becomes immideatly invalid. Therefore, any application made using this documents will be refused.
If you have already received your student visa but not yet travelled and your college’s licence is withdrawn, you must not travel to the UK. Your permission to enter the UK will have been cancelled and you will be refused entry if you do decide to travel.
hi i ve submitted my application at 31st december for the college(london school of business n computing)but in the meanwhile it has got suspend. so i ve sent mail to british embassy abu dhabi. they gave me 2 options i can choose either one of the following options:
1. Wait the results of the suspension.
2. Withdraw your application.
they said i can not change my college at this point.so u plz tell me what should i do..should i ve to wait of college back or i ve to withdraw my case.
thanks.
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hello
my collage is in suspension since around 45 days and still not uplisted. it may be or may not be. if its license is withdrawn, what will happen to our fees paid? will they refund or not?
hoping for d response.
bye
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Hi Jeevan
If your sponsor’s licence is permanently withdrawn they would have to refund you. However, there are colleges who have closed or gone bankrupt as a result because without a licence they can only recruit students from within the EU.
If your sponsor has lost their licence you should consider immediate legal action against them if they do not provide you with a refund within good time.
What college are we talking about?
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I am very worried about my study becoz My college(Bc College Of North West London) is suspended and my vsa is still under prosses to till now.I heard that college will back at the end of February but still suspended.i have also try to conect at College contect number 00 44 20 8200 9600 but line is still busy.any one have news from Bc College North west london ?it will back or not in the UKBA list?
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Hi Saqib
I can get through on 44 20 8200 9600. I’ll speak with them on Monday.
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1
WAITING FOR AN URGENT REPLY
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RESPECTED SIR,
I WOULD LIKE KNOW IF A COLLEGE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FROM THE TIER 4 LIST AND THE STUDENT IS IN UK.BUT DUE TO ANY EMERGENCY HE/SHE NEEDS TO VISIT HIS/HER COUNTRY FOR SOMEDAYS.WILL THEY BE ALLOWED TO COME BACK TO UK & START THEIR STUDIES BACK BY THE UKBA.
THANK YOU!!!!
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Hi Raj
The UKBA does not advise students in this situation to travel.
However, if you must travel due to mitigating circumstances, I would suggest you get a letter of explanation from your sponsor, confirming your absence and the dates you wish you to travel.
You should be aware that you may face scrutiny from the Entry Clearance Officer upon your return to the UK.
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Dear Daniel,
I am studying at Mayfair English School which is Sponsor licence was suspended from Dec,17 2009.My visa was expired on Nov,30 2009.I sent my application form on Nov,27 2009.What should I do now? -Waiting for the visa result,-Find another sponsor.
Thank you
Beebee
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Hi Beebee
If your visa application has not yet been refused, then the UK Border Agency must still be in the process of investigating this school.
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hello daniel,
I m student of ALPHA MERIDIAN COLLEGE and college had an inspection on 16th of feb 2010.And now its been long time still our college not in the register list.I m so worried about it because my visa will expire on May2010 and now i want to change my college with the same course(IMIS HIGHER DIPLOMA) which i m doing with alpha meridain college.As i have told you its been a while our college has been out of the list.Member of our college are not providing us with factual information they are just twisting and turning us around and not letting us know whats going inside. Is it possible to change my college at this point if so please provide me with the list of college which do same kind of course i do.that will be appreciated.
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Hi Ranjana
Alpha Meridian College had their sponsor licence suspended on 03 February 2010 – quite recently in the scheme of things.
It can take schools and colleges anywhere from 3-6 weeks to several months to be inspected by the UK Border Agency, for a Sponsor Action Plan to be drafted if needed and to be re-included on the Register.
You should keep checking the master list of college suspensions to see when your colleges suspension is resolved.
Only the college and the UKBA will know for sure. After inspection, 32 days is set aside for correspondence, so it isn’t a quick process. Find out more on the timescales: what happens to my education provider if their licence is suspended?.
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Dear Daniel
Thanks for your suggestion, My college is Alpha Meridian college at Greenwich. And the inspector came to my college on 16 Feb, Iam still worry because my visa will finish on 31 March. How can I do now? and Do you have recomment another college for me? and where they are? I live in southeast of London. I like to study hotel management.
Thanks you very much…
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hi, i was looking for a website where i can find answers regarding my queries when your tier 4 sponsor got suspended. my case is; i just renewed my visa last october, and since holy week is coming i booked a ticket to go back home for a 3 week holiday which will suppose to start on the 16th of March, but unfortunately, my tier 4 sponsors license got suspended last Monday (March 01). So i was so depressed and it got me thinking if it is still advisable to go on with the holiday as planned or not. I hope u could give me an advise on this, thank you. My college is Majestic College.
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Hi Mariz
The UK Border Agency does advice all students in your position not to travel, to avoid any problems with Entry Clearance Officers when they return to the UK.
To discuss the precise details of your individual case you should also consult a fully qualified and regulated immigration lawyer. Find one near you at the OISC
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hi all,
my name is khan and im student of Leeds Professional College in Leeds……i got my visa on 22nd Feb and now im in Leeds but unfortunately my college was suspended in last of January……
i asked many time from the college,s director and Principle when college will back in list and if it not hene wht is our status here in UK…?they always says that they will back in list ….
my visa is valid till 28June 2011…..
plz tell me wat shud i do?
how can i return my fee back?
because director of college is saying that i c’nt change my college just 1 condition is this that i have to go back to my country and file new case to another college……..
plz tell me wt shud i do in this situation?
thanxx
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Hi Khan
Hopefully your sponsor’s suspension will be resolved way before 28 June 2011 so you shouldn’t be affected in any way by the suspension. Life for students already in the UK and studying with their sponsor should remain the same.
If your college’s licence is withdrawn permanently, your permission to enter the UK will be limited in the following way:
- to 60 days if you were not involved in the reasons why your approved education provider had their licence withdrawn (the UKBA will not limit your permission to stay if you have less than six months left. You may want to apply for permission to stay with another approved education provider during this time);
- immediately if the UKBA think you were involved in the reasons why your sponsor’s licence was withdrawn.
Your college principal is not correct – if you want to change sponsor under tier 4, then you are free to do so. The procedure you need to follow to change sponsor depends on if you got your student visa before or after 5 October 2009. However, you may well not be able to get a refund.
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hi daniel
am presnetlly in the uk and i summitted my apllication on the 16th of febuary and my visa is supose to expire on the 28th of feb but now my school has been suspended what do you think will be my option, according to the school they said all lectures and every normal activities continues i ve been attending lectures ever since but am still worried my school ia icon collage
thanks
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Kind of ironic that the 4 colleges you mention their are all dodgy, i know all 4 of them are not doing things legit.
I wonder how you found all 4 bogus colleges and who introduced you to this selection?
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Dear Daniel,
Dreams n heartbreak!
Anyway, it was bound to happen. I had shortlisted Londonsam, cavendish, st. patricks and TASMAC! Jeez, i was running after badluck in full throttle. lol.
Heartbreak and unhappy
Have nice weekend folks
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Hi Prachi
TASMAC UK Ltd. Tier 4 Licence suspension lifted 17 March 2010. It has been re-included on the Register with a B-rating.
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hi anne,
Thank you kindly for your response. I couldn’t find that information anywhere (date when they got suspended) because I’m having problems accessing the college’s website, I don’t know if it still exist.
By the way, was it the school who informed you that they expect to get their accreditation back this end of February (which is today).
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hi there i have applied for extension of stay from london school of business and computing in january, but now the college is removed from the list plus they have shut the college down wot options do i have.
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Hi Ahmed
If your sponsor has their licence permanently withdrawn, your permission to enter the UK will be limited in the following way:
- to 60 days if you were not involved in the reasons why your approved education provider had their licence withdrawn (the UKBA will not limit your permission to stay if you have less than six months left. You may want to apply for permission to stay with another approved education provider during this time);
- immediately if the UKBA think you were involved in the reasons why your sponsor’s licence was withdrawn.
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hi daniel obviously the college has shut down how would the homeoffice determine whether i was involved or not plus wot do i do now, my visa expired on 31st dec 2009, should i wait for the homeoffice to reject my application or should enrol somewhere else and and send documents from that college to the homeoffice.
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Hi Ahmad.
Same happend to mine. Visa expired on 31st December 2009 and LSBC was closed in January. I got refusal this week. What did you do and have you resolved your issue. What should I do ?
Please reply.
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Hi Shahzad
If I understand correctly, you are already in the UK and have had a visa extension application refused?
If that’s the case you must appeal in order to stay in the UK. Your appeal will be decided within 28 days.
If you do not appeal, you must leave the UK immediately. You can make a fresh application in your home country. If you stay in the UK illegally, this may impact on any future visa applications you make.
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hello and good day, I am glad I stumbled on this great site, it is very informative and responses are very accurate to the questions posted.
I would like to ask if you have information about BC college of northwest London’s suspension and since when last year was it suspended? May I ask for a website link for reference also. I was informed that applications for foreign students is presently not accepted at the college, after the date that I lodged (I am not sure if this information is accurate too) but was informed also that the college is still in operation.
Thank in advance to those kind enough to respond.
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hello zari,..i applied for a visa last nov 4, 2009 and unluckily, my school, BC college of north west london got suspended (nov. 27, 2009). my visa application is still on hold at the british high commission. i was informed that the college will get their license back at the end of february but until now, they are still on the suspended list.
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hello zari again..the school got suspended nov 23, 2009. sorry i got mixed up.
“As of today 23.11.2009 BC COLLEGE OF NORTH WEST LONDON has been suspended due to unforeseen circumstances.” –this is from the email i received from the president of the agency who’s handling my application. He is based in the UK and he’s the one coordinating with the school.
the school said that they will do their best to get their license back january this year, but nothing happened so they asked us to wait until end of february. as of now, there’s no update yet from the school..
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I think this could be interesting and unlikely to see posted much. This is great information.
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Dear Daniel,
I am studying at Warnborough College, Canterbury. The College was suspended recently. The inspection was done by UKBA officers since last week but there is still no news at all and all students here are very worried. I enjoyed the learning experience here so much that I hope my cousin can study here as well for next intake. Please tell me when we will know the outcome.
Many thanks in Advance.
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Don’t worry too much Kee as there is still a 32 day period following an inspection for correspondence. This gives the UK Border Agency time to detail in writing, their findings and any charges to be brought against the sponsor. Time is also allowed for the sponsor to provide details of any defence. If it was inspected last week, then I’d suggest that we should know something towards the end of March.
Good luck and keep me posted on you and your cousin’s situation.
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Hello Daniel
My college has been suspended on January, and Last week The inspector came to check the college. I would like to know How loang does The Home office take the process? I am waiting for a result, because My visa will be valid the end of March.or Should I find a new school now ?
Thanks
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Hi Vara
What college do you study at?
Following an inspection, there is a 32 day period for correspondence between the sponsor and the UK Border Agency before a final decision is made. So you should expect a decision within a month or so, everything else being OK with the college.
Keep us all updated on your situation Vara.
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Dear Daniel
Thanks for your suggestion, My college is Alpha Meridian college at Greenwich. And the inspector came to my college on 16 Feb, Iam still worry because my visa will finish on 31 March. How can I do now? and Do you have recomment another college for me? and where they are? I live in southeast of London. I like to study hotel management.
Thanks you very much…
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hi danel
am henrietta i got enrolled into icon collage of technoloy and management i just gtot to know that they have been suspended and my visa application has been sent in to the home office what should i do about this do i withdraw now or wait pls adivce me thanks
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Hi Henrietta
I think it best to wait for the outcome of your visa application.
However, I assume from your comment that you are applying for an extension from within the UK? If this is the case, how much time do you have left on your visa? You don’t want it to expire only for your college to have their licence withdrawn….
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My school has been suspended about two weeks ago. I went their last week to attend by the authority told me that the school has been close down by the home office and nobody concerning the college was available to be contacted. They did not leave any infomation how they can be contacted. The more stressing thing is that I have apply for my extension since last year and the home office has recently requested for a new sponsorship letter from the college.
Help!
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Hi Jessen
Thanks for your comments and help indeed. But don’t worry too much, I’ll do my best for you.
What college were you studying at? Which authority told you that the school had been closed down? With some more details I could find out more about ownership and people etc.
When did you apply to extend your visa? Or are you about to do it now?
If you’re saying the college lost their licence whilst your application is pending, then it will be refused, but you will be given time to find a new sponsor. This will be from 60 days to 6 months.
Give me some more details Jessen.
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Thank you for the response. The college name is London school of business and computing in islinton, ive checked the home office list of suspended college and they are in there. But when I went there last week, the security of the building told me that the school has been closed down by the home office a week ago. I’ve apply for my extension mid last year. I really don’t know what to do or who to contact.
Thank you
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Hi Jessen
That does sound quite worrying. If the college has had their sponsor licence permanently withdrawn, you will be told so by the UK Border Agency and your extension will be refused. Your permission to enter the UK will be limited in the following way:
- to 60 days if you were not involved in the reasons why your approved education provider had their licence withdrawn (the UKBA will not limit your permission to stay if you have less than six months left. You may want to apply for permission to stay with another approved education provider during this time);
- immediately if the UKBA think you were involved in the reasons why your sponsor’s licence was withdrawn.
Have you considered legal action against the college to recover any of your fees? Or indeed insurance to cover you against this happening again in the future?
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OK Jessen, don’t panic too much.
If that’s really the case, that the school has closed and their licence has been withdrawn permanently, the UK Border Agency should inform you of this and also refuse your extension. When did your visa expire? Do you have any time left on it? If your visa is refused and expired, you will have to return home and make a fresh application.
Have you paid them a lot of fees? Have you considered taking action to recover the money they’ve effectivley stolen from you?
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hi my name is dharmmyl, my school was suspended two months ago , but when i got there last week for the resumption date which is on the 19th of september 2011, i was told the proprietor of the school decided to close down the school when he was hopeless of getting the licence back. my visa is to expire on the 30th of next month which is October, what do you think i can do, i haven’t gotten a new sponsor yet.
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i wonder which tier does the secretary college belong. any help? i heard from friends who have applied for student visa with the secretary as their sponsor, but the school got suspended by UKBA and has no good news yet.
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Thanks Anna, I’ve added it to our master list.
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Sir,
Iam Bevin,from india a proposed student of 1 year MBA programme for New castle college,New castle.and Iam paid for one year tution fees + Admission fees,total 8350 UK pound and received Visa letter from college. submitted all documents including one year maintenance fund records on 04-jan-2010. so far i did’nt get student visa to join the college. if the college in suspended list of UK boarder agency. how long it take to remove the suspension or this college permenantly suspended?. what i should do If i want my money back from college? why the British Deputy High commission keeping my documents with them? and why not return to me,if they refused to issue visa?.
Thanks with regards,
Bevin,India.
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Dear Vincent,
your condition is unfortunate and we express our deepest sympathy. by the way, you can mail to your VFS & UKBA asking for the condition of your visa application or you can contact DHC in your region. another thing, actually nobody knows who which college is going to be suspended or which suspended college is coming back to list. thanks
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Hi Bevin
Your application should not have been refused, it has been placed on hold as your sponsor’s licence has been suspended. This is why your documents have not been returned to you. If you want your documents back, you should contact VFS who will withdraw your application.
I don’t think you will have much success in getting a refund from your college as most schools and colleges only provide refunds for visa refusals.
I think you should wait to find out the outcome of your college’s suspension – it doesn’t seem like students in your position actually have much choice.
Just be sure to contact the college and defer your start date.
Good luck and keep me updated on your situation.
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Thanks for detail clarifications which is useful to students these days.
Can you guide us how students or parents will come to know whether Institute is suspended or withdrawn? I think there is no way we can know this.
Prasanna
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Dear Acharya,
This is easy checking out whether the institute is suspended or not. Bookmark the link Tier 4 Sponsors Register and check it atleast everyday. Thanks.
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Hi Prasanna
You can view the list of colleges which have been suspended here: master list of college suspensions. This list is udated daily.
You can check the status of a college’s migrant sponsor licence here: Tier 4 Sponsors Register
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Dear Daniel,
Many thanks for your reply and clarifications.
Actually, you could not get my question fully. I have asked how students or parents will come to know whether Institute which is removed from Sponsorer list whether its suspended or withdrawn? As students or parents are more keen to know faith of Institute.
UKBA list only give names who are at present on but what is exactly status of removed – whether suspended i.e. still working or withdrawn – fully closed?
And I understand, we should have this details to make right judgement.
Hope this clarify my enqiry, let me know by any chance we can check detail of suspended or withdrawn list.
Prasanna
http://www.educationworld.co.in
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Hi Prasanna
Sorry for misunderstanding your question – although my previous question did kind of answer you.
There is no such list of sponsors who have had their licences withdrawn – they just won’t be included on the Register anymore.
You can check to see if a college is suspended by checking the master suspension list and the Register.
The UKBA will not disclose the status of the college – they will tell their audience what they need to hear i.e. can they sponsor me to study in the UK or not?
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