I love my country and have been a supporter of our current Government. However, the Home Secretary’s announcement on Saturday of a number of new tier 4 rules and announcing that they are effective immediately has left many scratching their head, including the UK Border Agency. The new Tier 4 rules are being brought in following a review in November, to finally stop the wide-spread abuse of the UK student visa system. With 30% of migrants who come to the UK being students, one can understand the need for change. However, I think a little more thought should have gone into it. The Tier 4 new rules announced, effective immediately, are:
- A new minimum level of English is to be set at Intermediate level. This is roughly an IELTS 4.0 or TOIC 385 – 550.
- All student migrants who are studying courses below degree level will have their working rights restricted to just 10 hours per week.
- Any student migrants studying a course of less than six months will no longer be able to bring dependants to the UK with them. Migrant students studying longer courses can bring dependants, but they will have no right to work.
- All applicants of courses below degree level will now have to check if their education provider is on a new register, the Highly Trusted Sponsors List.
These new tier 4 changes follow a review begun in November 2009 of Tier 4 under the Points Based System and is expected to cut applications in 2010 by tens of thousands. These new policy announcements come amid fierce criticism of the Government for the current Tier 4 system, with political opponents claiming that the system still allows terrorists and deliberate overstayers into the UK. These new changes come amid a huge overhaul of the student rules of the Points Based System. Over 200 bogus colleges have now been shut and by 2011 the Home Office hopes to have the most sophisticated immigration system in the world, allowing people to be checked both in and out of the country. I called the UK Border Agency this morning to get clarity on the above new rules. Surprise, surprise I was told that they had no idea what I was talking about. When I said to the telephone operator that the Home Secretary had announced that the rules were effective immedielty, she told me that the UK Border Agency had been informed of nothing by the Home Office and that as far as they were aware, the old rules still stood for applicants applying under Tier 4. So, who should we believe? As soon as we find out anything more concrete, we’ll post it here. We’d like to hear from anyone who has applications pending during these changes to Tier 4 rules.
hello Daniel
I had applied for business studies in Shakespeare college which is not in the suspension list. Its laready been 3 months i am waiting for Embassy decision. I am not able to do anything because of the pending documents in Embassy. what should i do?
best regards
Asis Royala
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Hi Asis
What country are you applying from and what VFS office are you using?
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Hello Daniel
UK Border Agency has launched the ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme’ for education providers under Tier 4 of the points-based system.According to the list my college i.e West London College is in the A ranking and is trusted. But is not in the Higly Trusted Spnosors list. So i wanted to know will it cause any problem in the visa process?
My course is a 2year Pre MBA & MBA!!!!
Thankyou
Best Regards
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Hi Salman
Read how the Highly Trusted Sponsor Scheme will affect you and check the Highly Trusted Sponsors list for more details.
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hii DANIEL
sir m vipul arora i have takem admission in AA HAMILTON COLLEGE LONDON i have applied for student visa on 11/01/2010 but after a week i came to know dat my college is suspended by UKBR till now my visa is not clear n also my college is under suspension i m not clear wat to do now as its already 2 months i m waiting 4 the clearence i would be very greatful if u please help to find out the clear status of my college.
i m waiting 4 ur reply……
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My col is suspended till now(Hammersmith management college) it was going to lfted on 25th march but till now it has not opened y is dat so? UKBA gave date that it will open on 25th march but not open yet.
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Hi Bipin
Where did you hear that their licence suspension would be resolved 25 March? And when you say the school will be open, are you in the UK and not going to school becuase it is closed? Or do you mean closed as in not accepting any new applications?
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Hi Daniel
Hope you will be fine.I m ready to submit my documents in UK Embassy for my Visa Process……i just want to ask that what type of Bank Statement do they need.Can you tell me what type of Bank Statement is needed….Please give me some information about the Bank Statement that what kind of information should be there in it.Any Recommendations!!!
Thank You
Best Regards
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Hi Salman
The rules surrounding maintenance funds are very strict. The dates must be exact and many people make simple errors. I would always recommend submitting bank statements / pass books showing cash funds and a letter from your bank stating that you have immediate access to the funds. This also serves to confirm that your statements are true and genuine.
A Tier 4 (General) student must show that he/she has held the required money for a consecutive 28 day period (finishing on the date of the closing balance) ending no more than 1 month before his/her application.
Where a student is providing evidence of maintenance from a single account, the ECO will always assess the funds available to the student from the closing balance given on the document provided as evidence.
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Hi Daniel.
M a full time student with London college of Excellence…i just got an extension thru the college untill april2011. but unfortunately the collehe has been temporarily suspended and r awaiting response from ukba..in the mean time i had planned to go back to my country to attend an imp family function…so i was worried that wud they let me in again or simply tell me u cant enter as college is not on the list..its almost 3 months the college is been suspended….
plss suggest..
cheers
Manu
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Hi Manu
The UK Border Agency advises students of college’s whose licence has been suspended not to travel. If you really have to travel, I suggest you get a letter confirming the dates of your absence from your college at the very least and also speak to a qualified immigration adviser.
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Dear Sir
I have taken admission in MBA at (WEST LONDON COLLEGE) UK.My college has accepted me as i have done IELTS(BAND 7) and a FOUR Year Bachelor’s Degree In Computer Science.
Sir the total Tuition fee of my course which is a 2 Year MBA is 9600 Pounds.I have already paid a deposit of 4850 pounds to the college which is the tuition fee for the first year.
Now sir how much funds are required for me to show in my Bank Statement to the UK Embassy to claim the remaining 10 Points of Tier Policy.
Do i need to show the remaining tuition fee or just the maintenance fund of 7200 pounds.
Waiting for your reply.
Thank You!!!
Best Regards
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Hi Salman
As I understand it, only your first year’s tuition fees will be considered as part of your application. As you have paid in full, you therefore only have the maintenance funds to demonstrate to get your points. I think you therefore only need to show £7,200 less any accommodation fees already paid to your college and shown in your CAS.
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hi..
my visa is under hold and my college is suspended by UKBR so pls tell me how much time it takes to return from suspension as its 2 months gone already plzz reply me
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sir m vipul arora i have takem admission in AA HAMILTON COLLEGE LONDON i have applied for student visa on 11/01/2010 but after a week i came to know dat my college is suspended by UKBR till now my visa is not clear n also my college is under suspension i m not clear wat to do now as its already 2 months i m waiting 4 the clearence i would be very greatful if u please help to find out the clear status of my college.
i m waiting 4 ur reply……
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Hi daniel
Im applying for tier 4 student visa.Im going to study for MCA CHief Engineer(its marine engineering course for 8 months in southampton)
My query is that in the CAS it is written NQF Level 5 whether is these is equivalant to foundation degree?
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hi daniel….
its been now 2 months i have not received any response from UK Embassy..even my College (holborn College) is again reinstated by UKBA on 5th Feb but till now i have not received any response.i spoke to Holborn college Admissions they told me you have extension till 12th march ..i dont know what to do.. em just waiting and waiting..why they have made my application so late even i fulfill there all requirements financially and even my Visa Letter is valid i achieved 40 points but no reply from them..
even i had sent so many Emails but they are not responding positively.wots the reason..
they must tell me the reason or they should send my Visa Application and my Documents back if they had any problem or any doubt but they even dont reply me……
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Given the suspension there is also likely to be a large backlog of visa applications for the Embassy to process. I’m sure you can appreciate that given the extra workload – plus the new applications that keep coming in for colleges that aren’t suspended – that this will result in delays.
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and that is VFS soo please reply me for this…..and lemme know why they are making it so late…..
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It is the Embassy, not VFS that decide the application.
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hi daniel.
i have not received any response from UK embassy till now .its been now 52 total days.my college has got license back(holborn college) but they are not sending my Visa Application back.why is that so?
let me know that if Embassy can deffer me to next session without my decision or not?? because i am not willing to enter into next session..
please reply.
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What country are you applying from?
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hi ..
well i am applying from Pakistan..its center is in Islamabad..(UK VISA APPLICATION CENTER)
please reply….
coz i am very much worried and now em trying to withdraw my money from Bank…coz its been now 53 days with no reply.
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Hi
Given the suspension there is also likely to be a large backlog of visa applications for the Embassy to process. I’m sure you can appreciate that given the extra workload – plus the new applications that keep coming in for colleges that aren’t suspended – that this will result in delays.
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hi
still waiting for my reply from Embassy…i heard tht UKBA is posting a final list of colleges on 22nd March is that true
and i heard they will send Pending Visa Application back…
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Not sure Muzi, but I’ll try to find out tomorrow.
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I HAVE CHOOSE THE COURSE—–CERTIFICATE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
OF 1 YEAR
” ” DONE 12TH CLASS FROM——C.B.S.E BOARD(INDIA)
IN IELTS I SCORED ——-6.0 BANDS
NOW…
COLLEGE IS ——-ANGLIAN COLLEGE LONDON
SUBMITTED FILE IN EMBASSY——- 6 JAN 2010
WHAT DO YOU THINK ACCORDING TO NEW RULES EMBASSY GIVE ME VISA as you above say that BELOW DEGREE LEVEL ALL FILES WILL REFUSED………..ANSWER ME SIR ……..
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You submitted your application before the rules were changed so it will be judged on the old rules.
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Dear Sir,
I am a I.T. worker having 17 year experience.
Is IELTS is must in new policy affecting on 22 feb in Pakistan for student and work permit?
What are the minimum requirements to work permit as I.T. worker? [minimum qualification and experience]
What is the procedure to get work permist?
Thanks awaiting your reply.
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Hi! I’ve been following you in twitter. I’d like to ask about my possible status right now. I’ve submitted my application for the UK student visa on December 29, 2009, that is before ALbion College was suspended. Now, my application is still under processing in the British High Commision. I understand that new rules are effective immediately. SO, are they going to judge my application based on the new rules?
-
http://giliwness.wordpress.com/
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Hi Giliwness
Don’t worry, applications in this situation are judged by the rules on the day they were submitted. Otherwise, all the documents you submitted with your application would be invalid too!
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thank you for the reply. that gave me peace of mind on that area…
–
http://giliwness.wordpress.com/
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Good Morning Mate, Just need to know that i am applying for student from PSW ,what should be the balance without fees with four dependants, and for how many days ? only the day i will apply or for 28 days? Thanx
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If you have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you must show £1,600 per dependent.
If you have been in the UK for more than 12 months, you must show £533 per dependent.
For yourself, if you are applying from within the UK, you must show £800. If you are applying from outside the UK, you must show £2,800.
All of these figures must be cash deposits and the total amount required must be in your account for a minimum of 3 months.
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What is the minimum level of English required for entrance to the UK on a student visa?
May I suggest that an IELTS 6 – minimum in the four disciplines shold be the lowest acceptable? I have no idea what the TOEIC, TOEFL comparative marks are.
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Sounds like you’re probably applying from a country that had a blanket ban in place. Where are you applying from?
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Dear Daniel,
As i asked you before that my college(Holborn College) was suspended but it is again now reinstated by UKBA is the college has been posted on the sponsored colleges list.
but the problem is that i have applied on 30th Dec 2009 but i have not received any response from UK embassy, the college was again registered and was on the list of 5th FEB 2010 so why my application is so late???
i would be looking forward for your reply
Thank you
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hi muzill,
when u applied on 30th of dec 2009,did u get any acknowledgment letter frm ukba, bkoz i got da same prob….i han ben applied on 29th of dec 2009 and now its 10th of feb 2010 and i m stil waiting 4 acknowledgment letter….
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hey seema,,
well..the same case haan,.and no i have not received any of acknowledgment letter .i took admission in Holborn college which was than suspended and now again it is on the list so my application was on hold..i also send Emails to Embassy and they replied like this ” your application is currently being processed and a decesion will be made shortly” em really surprised wid this reply coz its been now 40 total days and still they say “a decision will be made shortly”
well..seema u tell me in which college u are going, have u seen the list of UKBA ,ur college is on the list or not if it is not so still they will hold ur application untill the problem resolves ..
u can also send the reminder to embassy. as i have applied from Islamabad Pakistan.if ur case is in abudhabi so here is the Email
visa.abudhabi@fco.gov.uk
send them ur GRY Tracking number>>(GRY-PK-01-……..-X) it will be on the slip,,and ur passport number,ur name and ur date of birth,
if any thing else u can Email me.
muzi_ahmad2002@yahoo.com
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Hi
What country are you applying from? There have been suspensions all on applications in certain regions of the world.
Given the suspension there is also likely to be a large backlog of visa applications for the Embassy to process. I’m sure you can appreciate that given the extra workload – plus the new applications that keep coming in for colleges that aren’t suspended – that this will result in delays.
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It is inform you that i have confirmation of a acceptance-visa letter for January section in Advance diploma in business management (Albion College of london. My last date of joining in college 5 February 2010. I applied for uk visa on 21-10-2009 But uk embassy refused my case with abjection on dated 02-12-09(ECO Comment: You have claimed 30 points for your visa letter but have failed to provide the qualification certificates as listed on your visa letter. I am not satisfied that you have provided the specified documents as required under Appendix A of the immigration rules. I am therefore not satisfied that you achieved 30 points under Appendix A and meet the requirements foe entry clearance as a Tier 4 (General) Student. I therefore refuse your application under paragraph 245ZV (b) of the immigration rules).
Sir I have sent my file again for administration review on 03-12-2009. But still waiting for reply by uk embassy in Abu Dubai. As i mention before that my last joining date in college is 05-02-2010. But I hope I will not be able to attend the class. Because of the objection by embassy so please inform me about my case and help me to continue my study in your college. I am to much disheart because of embassy’s wrong disc ion. I hope you will help me and reply me by email.
Thanks,
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Hi Moshin
Did you include the original copies and photocopies of your certificates with you application? You need to submit everything listed on the visa letter / CAS.
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I am confused about the new rule which was published on 8th of feb. 2010.actually I am in dependent visa with my husband who has been studying in degree level and according to new rule there is no right to work for dependent.But we are here before 5 months and I am working in a company.But according to the new rule can i work or not? moreover what about the working condition?there is not clear about dependent who has already working legally.I am waiting for your kind information.
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Hi Manushi
The new rules will not apply to you as you were given your visa before they came into force i.e. 3 March 2010.
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I am confused. He said effective immediately but there is no formal announcement in their ukba website.
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Hi CKJ
Thanks for your comments. I agree, it’s totally farcical. How can the Home Office announce something and not brief his own department or any of the agencies which he is the boss of! And I can imagine there will be so many questions from international students who currently have pending visa applications – as the English level requirement has risen from Beginer to Intermediate, will all pending applications be refused?
And what about the new Highly Trusted Sponsors Register – the UK Border Agency hasn’t heard of it and if it’s effective immediatley and all education providers offering courses below degree level must be included, does that mean you can only get a visa if you’ve applied to a degree programme?
Like the majority of changes to the visa system this seems very knee jerk and ill conceived.
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Dear Sir
I hv just completed my 4 years Becholor’s Degree(GRADUATION) In Computer System Engineering n my whole course was in English as u better know the Education System in Pakistan mostly in English.I have taken admission in 1 year Masters Diploma in British Institute Of Science & Technology London and they did not asked any EILTS certificate from me.
Sir do i need to hv EILTS before applying for a visa in British Council or not.
OR
Whether EILTS will give me any benefit or play any role in obtaining Visa easily.
Waiting for your reply.
Thank You!!!
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Hi Salman
When you apply for your visa you only have to produce the documents that are listed in your visa letter from your education provider. As you say that your new college did not require any evidence of English level – and presumably won’t be in the visa letter – then you will not have to demonstrate your English level as part of your application.
If the education provider assessed your English level by internal test, then you should mention this in the relevant place on the Appendix 8 form, but no copy of the test or confirmation of results is required.
Just remember to submit every piece of documentary evidence listed in your visa letter with your application.
However, as you’ll of noted in the post, the minimum level of English has been raised, with immediate effect, apparently. This could not be confirmed by the UK Border Agency and no-one knows how current applications will be affected.
Keep me updated with your progress and if you hear anything new, let us know!
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Could you kindly mention the weblink where Home Secretary has announced on last Saturday that a number of new tier 4 rules going to be effective immediately please ?
http://www.lwvc.org.uk
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From 1:30 in the video clip above, it’s announced the changes are to be effective immediately.
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