Following the Home Office’s announcement in November of yet another review of the Points Based System, the education sector was a nervous wreck, waiting for news that could destroy the industry in the UK. Alan Johnson went someway to settling our nerves in February when he announced that education providers on the new Highly Trusted Sponsors list could continue to teach foundation and A-level programmes. We wanted to learn more about this new accreditation and how to achieve it.
Initially, the UK Border Agency said that applications for inclusion on the list could be made from 22 March 2010. However, with the system due to launch on 6 April, only 9 days later, the short timescale worried me very much indeed. From past experience, we knew the application process would be bureaucratic, slow and exhaustive. It could have been worse however, as if we were unable to issue CAS numbers until the new Highly Trusted system launched, then our usual busy weeks before our September intake would be unusually quiet. Positively, it seems that industry action from the likes of English UK and Study UK has had an effect; the whole process was revised following a recent meeting with the UK Border Agency on 27 March.
The UK Border Agency’s position on the Highly Trusted Sponsor programme is now that all education providers that receive public money will be automatically included on the new Register on 6 April and will be given until 30 May to submit all relevant and required documentation to keep their Highly Trusted licence. Deadlines have been extended for current A rated sponsors on the Register of Sponsors too, to 30 April and the UK Border Agency aims to process all education providers by 30 June 2010. During this time, we will be able to issue CAS numbers, thank God!
The other interesting element of the new Highly Trusted Sponsor programme is the statistics; the UK Border Agency has set strict thresholds for student dropouts, which institutions must stick to in order to retain their licence. Initially the UK Border Agency proposed 3% as the baseline and that any education provider who was Highly Trusted would be allowed a further % dropout rate from students who complete at least 75% of the course. The recent meeting with the UK Border Agency did not see these percentages changed, but instead they will be applied to all publicly funded institutions too. Further, the UK Border Agency seemed to soften their stance, stating that education providers who exceed these baselines would not necessary have their licence withdrawn, but would be subject to UK Border Agency review of the sponsor’s processes.
The extended deadlines for the submission of relevant documents for a Highly Trusted Sponsor licence applications is warmly welcomed as is the UK Border Agency’s revised approach to dropouts.
We expect the education sector in the UK to remain in a state of shell shock, but the impact of the new system has definitely be softened. However, major damage has been done following the UK Border Agency’s intervention, with the UK losing many international students to the USA and Australia. We’re confident that the new approach from the UK Border Agency and shift in attitude signals a new era and offers real hope that the UK Border Agency is finally beginning to consider all the variables at play and making informed decisions when deciding policy. Hopefully we can now move on and secure the UK’s reputation for a fine education as well as begin to repair the damage to the sector’s reputation.
Hi,
I am prospective student of City of London Business College, I have now the CAS with the course of BTEC Higher National Diploma in Health and Social Care Level 5.
I have some queries about my application of my visa:
1. Does my course is within the restricted courses (study and work) in UK?
2. If yes, how can they treat my application for my visa since the school is RATED-A and not a Highly Trusted Sponsor? but my CAS is released within the transitional agreement wherein RATED-A can still admit student until JUNE 30, 2010 if they have applied for HTS. Fortunately, my sponsor was able to apply for it before APRIL 30, 2010.
3. How can I know when will be the released of a RATED-A sponsor in their application for HTS because what confound me is on how they can treat me application while my sponsor is still waiting for confirmation?
Please help me on this matter. Thank you!
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Hello Sir!
I am an applicant of South Chelsea College. I applied my application to British Embassy in Myanmar country on December,2009 For the first attempt.,I was refused on January,2010. And then UK education rules and regulations changed. All of the applicants must submit their school letter with CAS number.That is why, I asked for my CAS number to my College. But till now, I didn’t get my CAS number.According to your Time Limited Transitional Arrangements., even if i will get CAS number., this CAS number is valid to submit to British Embassy in our country Myanmar for my visa.If i won’t get CAS number, How can i do for my visa. Please advise to me. My applied course is Information Technology Level
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it’s CITY OF LONDON BUSINESS COLLEGE.. My course is BTEC HND in Health and Social Care Level 5.. When will my CAS be released since they are A-rated institution? What does the UKBA means to the end of transitional arrangement? does it mean that all rated A-institution who applied to HTS will have their decision this JUNE 30, 2010? Please help me on this matter thanx
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Hello,My college is A rated( trusted) however they applied the highly trusted after April 30th and they are unable to issue any CAS to me. My school is now waiting for the final approval and may i know how long this would take? Is the final outcome will due on June 30th?
Thanks for your attention
Regards
Joo
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Thanks.. my course is BTEC HND in Health and Social Care Level 5 in City of London Business College. How long will it take to make my college be in the list of Highly Trusted Sponsor? I have inquired from them and they told be that they are waiting for the confirmation from the UKBA. I am confused right now if when will they be in the list so that they can release my CAS? Is there a particular date that all rated-A institutions will know UKBA decisoin on their application?
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it’s City of LOndon Business College.. Daniel, when will be the release of all rated-A institutions who have applied for HTS?
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Hi Daniel,
I would like also to know if Cooperatve Banks are still accepted in my application for a student visa. I have 700 thousand plus in one of the Cooperatives here in our locality. Can I used it for my show money? Thank you
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Hi Daniel,
I have some queries in my application of my tier 4 visa:
1. My sponsor is City of London Business College and it is rated-A in the list of sponsor. Can they released me my CAS even the decision of “highly trusted scheme” has not been released? my course is BTEC HND in Health and Social Care Level 5..
2. How can I know if my school applied for this new scheme?
Thank you very much..
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Hi Mike
You would have to enquire with the college to find out whether they have applied for a Highly Trusted Sponsor licence.
The course you mention is not a restricted course I believe, so can still be offered by A (Trusted) Sponsors.
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Hi Daniel,
Thank you for considering my inquiry, but I am not so sure if my course BTEC Higher National Diploma is exempted from those restricted courses that UKBA requires a HIGHLY TRUSTED SPONSOR. I browse the new updates of UKBA that all NQF level 6 and below degree level need to have a highly trusted sponsor. Please enlighten me about this matter. Thank you!
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I need to extend IGS visa, who knows what to do exactly based on the new rules, thanks.
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Hi Valentine
The International Graduate Scheme is now closed. A transitional arrangement has been put in place for situations such as these.
You will be able to apply to extend your permission to stay in your existing category for long enough to give you a combined total of two years under your current category and the Post study work category. This will be a one-off transitional arrangement.
If you have already been here for 2 years you will need to apply in the relevant Tier of the Points Based System.
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I have already been here for 2 years. so kindly tell me what to do next. My visa is due to run out second week of June,I really dont have time left.What can I do,thank you for your help.
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Hi Daniel
Am I missing something?
How is it that some colleges reappearing on the UKBA list have managed to get there?
Do our inspectors know (or wish to know) that some of these crooks import lecturers for the day of inspection, have special records created and unique records of attendance – just for the inspection. Some even have special classes!
I am really trying to understand this. Is is because money is the deciding factor? Can you help me, please?
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Dear Daniel,
As I expected, you never failed to deliver another brilliant response. Apparently, the institution I’d like to be verified is South London College. Currently, the education provider holds an A rating as per the UKBA register of sponsor. The fact of the matter is, the CAS given to me by them was issued before April 30 (which is their deadline to apply for HTSL). As per my previous post, the CAS provided to me can still be used to support an application for leave. However, what confounds me is how they will treat my application during this changeover period. Will my application at the embassy in my country of residence be put on hold whilst they await for the UKBA decision (HTSL application made by my education provider) before they could decide on my student visa request? Then, what happens to me (a migrant) if that licence request made by my sponsor didnt materialise?Am I going to be considered against the new rule or they will have to regard my application based on the transitional arrangement guidelines?
Cheers,
Ron
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any thoughts on this yet?
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Hi daniel,
First and foremost, let me thank you for the wonderful job that you have carried out so far to enlighten some of us.To single out one of which is the outstanding information you provide to applicants who applies under PBS tier 4 student.
My query is with regards to the new implemented Highly Trusted Sponsor Licence Scheme. As per the UKBA transitional arrangement, an A rated school can or (shall i say) “was” still eligible to provide CAS for NQF/VQ courses below level 4 before 30 April 2010. Thus, for A rated (deemed to apply for HSTL) schools to provide CAS after this date, they must apply for the said licence on the mentioned date. Any applications made after 30 April 2010 will automatically forbid A rated schools to issue CAS for restricted courses.
My questions are:
1. How can we determine if A rated schools was deemed to apply for the new UKBA HSTL without verifying it directly to the schools admin officers? (As such person is capable of the use of deception to fabricate statements or the schools aren’t transparent enough to disclose such information).
2. Further to the above, Is there a system in place (aside from the “Register of Sponsor” as this just simply illustrate the current rating given and not the exact date when they obtained the category) that we can use to verify the schools eligibility to qualify for the aforementioned licence?
3. To the best of my knowledge any CAS given by A rated schools before 30 April can be used to support an application for leave. What happens if an A rated school wasn’t granted a Highly Trusted Sponsor Licence(decision of UKBA After 30 June 2010)? Are those CAS (issued before 30 April 2010) provided for restricted courses will still be considered upon the student visa application?
4. Lastly, are we to expect further delays (for restricted courses) on the processing of visa application due to the new licence scheme?
Looking forward in being enlighten with the above. Maraming salamat po!(Many thanks!)
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Hi Ron
Thanks for your comments and kind words. Nice to hear that I’ve been of help. I’ll answer your points in the same order.
1. All A rated sponsors who have applied by 30 April will have the application decided by 30 June. This is the only way we will know who has and has not applied for Highly Trusted Status. As you point out, this information can only be gotten from the sponsor themselves.
2. The Register of Sponsors is the only document detailing a sponsor’s licence status. No public information is available on dates and so forth. What is the name of the college in question – if they were re-included on the Register since December 2009, I should have a record.
3. I’m not sure what would happen to migrants whose sponsor’s highly trusted application was turned down. I will try to find an answer – it’s a good question.
4. I imagine we can always expect delays (unfortunately). More to the point, if you are coming to study a restricted course, expect stringent checks at the airport. We’ve had 3 students recently held at Heathrow for many hours pending further checks by the Immigration Officer.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
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Do CAS from the school we are enrolled from will be only released after JUNE 30,2010? Do all insitution who have applied last APRIL 30 for the HTS scheme be decided by the end of JUNE? Thank you for your guidance
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Hi Mike
What level of course are you studying? Failing that, what is the title of your course?
Your college may be waiting for the outcome of their application for Highly Trusted status, allowing them to offer restricted courses. For most colleges, this should not be a problem, as there are transitional arrangements in place. Perhaps your college has run out of CAS records altogether and has requested more from the UKBA? This is quite a common thing to happen.
Give me some more details and I’ll try to help you further.
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My course is BTEC Higher National Diploma in Health and Social Care Level 5.. Do this course fall from the restricted course in UK? Since it is a below degree level..
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please help me..
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Hi Ana,
There are some time-limited transitional arrangements for students in the process of applying during the changeover period. For your perusal kindly see the below link.
Tier 4 Migrant Guidance 1 (Updated).
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I am currently waiting for my lawyer to process my enrollment. I have taken the IELTS too with a total bandwidth score of 7.5 . Im waiting for my CAS. Just a clarification, do universities and colleges who have licence to accommodate international students currently issue CAS? or do we have to wait for June 30,2010 before they can issue CAS? I have complied and submitted the required documents and due to some immigration changes I am at a lost what to expect next. Please help me be informed… thank you very much
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Hi Ana
Please see my more detailed reply to your newer comment.
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my status is the same with you ANA, I am accepted in a college which is A-rated sponsor and until now I have no CAS yet.. please help us.. we paid our tuition fees in our respective school..
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What’s the name of the college Mike?
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Pls is there any way whereby some of the suspended colleges will be included in the highly trusted list after their suspension has been lifted or is there no hope for the suspended colleges?
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Hi Dominic
Only sponsors who have A rated (Trusted) status will be able to apply for Highly Trusted Status. If a suspended college comes back on the Register with a B rating, they have at most 12 months to become A rated again, or their sponsor licence will be permenantly withdrawn. To apply for Highly Trusted Status, a sponsor must have been A rated for a minimum of 12 months. View the Highly Trusted Sponsors list and more details about the scheme.
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Congratulations to the STUDY GROUP for their well-thought out and carefully worded synopsis of the TIER 4 system.
I have some questions:
1. What empirical / researched evidence is there to back-up the statement, “However, major damage has been done following the UK Border Agency’s intervention, with the UK losing many international students to the USA and Australia”?
2. What empirical / researched evidence is there to inform us as to how many “undesireables” were kept out of the UK education system as a reult of the UKBAs interventions?
3. Will the UKBA learn from the 27 March meeting? The avalanche of questions their reprsentatives had to field plus their seemingly desperate attempts to reply (that they were only following instructions) revealed much of the arrogance of the top-down dictatorship that still exists in HM departments. With elections just around the corner we voters need to bear in mind that our democratic country’s UKBA still appears to be run by behaviour that characterises that of Cromwellian “thuggery”. For the sake of STABILITY and DEMOCRACY – will the UKBA now consult stakeholders before issuing edicts that have to be adjusted later. Proactive management is less costly than reactive management.
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