1. Anthony Dangerfield and Rosie Bell
Student Immigration
Anthony Dangerfield and Rosie Bell
International Student, Academic Division

2. International Student Office
Visa advice
Oversee University’s student immigration compliance responsibilities
Support student mobility activities
Administer some specific international funding awards
Maintain and develop information and guidance for international students on webpages

3. Why is this important?
Tier 4 Sponsor licence granted by the Home Office.
Enables University to accept students from outside the EEA.
Institutions have responsibility for students they support in coming to the UK.
Sponsor licence requires the University to undertake a number of compliance responsibilities.

4. University’s responsibility
Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance, version 06/2017:
A sponsor has a duty to comply with all aspects of the Immigration Rules and sponsor guidance, and support immigration control, including taking steps to ensure that every student at your institutions has permission to study in the UK throughout the whole period of their study.
Responsibility to advise the student appropriately.

5. Who requires a visa to study in the UK?
All nationals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland
European Economic area =
European Union + Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
Switzerland part of the single market

6. Student visas
Two options:
Tier 4 visa
Short-term study visa

7. Tier 4 Tier 4 used for: Full-time degree courses
Visiting students longer than 6 months
Visiting students with work placement
University ‘sponsors’ the student’s visa.
CAS issued to confirm sponsorship.
Visa linked to a specific institution.

8. Tier 4 visa application requirements
Academic qualifications
Evidence of finances
Evidence of English language proficiency
ATAS clearance if applicable
Finances – need to show evidence of course fees + £1015 per month for living expenses. Held for a consecutive 28 day period.
Some countries also require TB clearance certificate.

9. ATAS certificate
Security clearance check for PhD / Masters students in certain science / technology subject areas.
All relevant students on time-limited visas studying on courses of 6 months+.
Apply to Foreign and Commonwealth Office via online application. Takes about 20 days.
Requires ATAS statement from Department.

10. Tier 4 – vignette issued in passport

11. Tier 4 - BRP
Tier 4 visa, in the form of a Biometric Residence Permit, collected on arrival in the UK:

12. Tier 4 compliance responsibilities
For students sponsored under Tier 4:
Retain application documentation.
Assess and keep records of English language proficiency.
Ensure students hold a valid visa and passport.
Monitor attendance on studies.
Report to the Home Office a student’s change of circumstances.
Hold students’ up-to-date contact details.

13. Working on Tier 4
Term-time up to 20 hours a week but University regulations more restrictive.
Full time during official vacation periods but cannot fill a permanent vacancy.
Work placements allowed in vacation periods or during term-time when an integral and assessed part of the course.
Cannot be self-employed, engage in business activity or take a permanent full-time job.

14. Tier 4 students & changes in circumstances
Change to start date
Intermission
Non attendance and withdrawal
Changing course
Changes in immigration category
Early completion
Work placements

15. Short-term study route
Supports students undertaking:
a short course of study
a training course
a short period of research as part of, or relevant to, overseas degree course
Maximum 6 months
Cannot work or undertake placement
Expectation that student will leave the UK at end of study

16. Short-term study visa application requirements
Letter from University
Financial evidence
Travel and accommodation plans
TB certificate (for certain nationalities)
Research students
Require a letter from their home institution confirming that visit is part of, or related to, their course overseas.

17. Short-term study visa application
Visa nationals
Visa must be applied for overseas.
Application process may take up to three weeks.
SHORT TERM STUDENT or VISIT STUDENT visa issued in passport. Department may wish to ask for a copy in advance to avoid any issues on arrival in Cambridge.
Non-visa nationals
Do not need to apply in advance, visa obtained at UK border.
Must bring all application documents, including University letter in hand luggage and actively request to be entered as a short-term student.
Entry stamp should read “leave to enter as a short-term student”

18. Short term study – visa in passport

19. Short term study – stamp in passport

20. Standard visitor visa Mainly intended for tourism or business.
Only allows study in specific circumstances:
up to 30 days
must be an extra activity and not main purpose of visit

21. Academic Visitor Sub-category of standard visitor visa.
Leave granted for up to 12 months.
For an individual highly qualified in their own field of expertise and currently employed in that field at an academic or higher education institution.
Current PhD students and recent graduates do not qualify as Academic Visitors.

22. Tier 5 (GAE) – Sponsored researcher
For an individual leading or taking part in a formal research project hosted by the institution.
A sponsored researcher fills a research post and works under full or partial control of institution, which will itself benefits from the research.
Can be funded from sources in the UK or overseas.
Sponsored under Tier 5 by the University. Managed by the HR Compliance team.

23. Other visas Dependant visa Spouse visa Ancestry visa
Family member of EEA national
Tier 5 Youth Mobility
Tier 2
Indefinite leave to remain

24. University’s guidelines on visiting students
Produced by Standing Committee on Student Mobility.
Maximum time a student visitor can be at Cambridge is one year.
Standard English language requirements should be used as a guide.
Student visitors are liable for an appropriate fee.
Student visitor’s agreement should be completed and signed.

25. English language proficiency for visiting students
Important consideration when accepting a visiting student.
The University’s standard English language requirements should be used as a guide for this assessment.
Referral to Language Centre can be made with minimum IELTS and TOEFL 80 in all components.
Language Centre should be contacted directly by department, not student, with evidence of above included in referral.

26. Is a visa required for Cambridge?
ISO provide advice to departments. It is useful to know the following in the first instance:
Nationality of student (passport copy)
Purpose of the visit – type of activities to be undertaken
Length of the visit
Student’s status overseas
Any financial arrangements

27. Which visa? Short-term study Tier 4 Less than six months
Six months or more
Course of study or research towards studies overseas
Part of a full-time degree overseas
Letter of support
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies
ATAS clearance not required
May require ATAS clearance
Attendance monitored informally
Formal attendance monitoring
University’s English language standard
Certain nationalities can obtain visa at the UK border
All must apply for the visa in advance of travel to the UK
No work/internship permitted
Can undertake a work placement

28. Tier 4 for visiting students at Cambridge
Maximum of one year and as part of overseas course.
ISO uses the CAS Proforma to determine eligibility but welcomes more informal queries if departments wish for advice at an early stage:
Current study status
English language proficiency
Previous UK study – checks on time limit; visa copies required
ATAS – application takes four weeks
Departmental attendance monitoring plans
CAS proforma is completed by department, not to be sent to student.
ISO requires documents on academic assessment and language as well as the passport page.

29. Tier 4 - Application process for visiting students
ISO creates a CamSIS record once visit is confirmed (completed CAS statement required in order to do this)
Where relevant, ISO produces ATAS letter and student applies
ISO issues CAS statement to student by
Student makes visa application in their country of residence
ISO can check application and supporting documentation
Processing times vary by country
Student receives visa and confirms arrival date

30. Tier 4 attendance monitoring
Departments must arrange for the student to register in person at the start of each academic term and record contact on CamSIS.
At this point the student should be asked if any of their contact or immigration details have changed.
Departments should have mechanisms in place to recognise if a student is no longer engaging with study outside of termly registrations.
Records should be maintained of meetings with supervisors.
If a student misses an agreed contact, the International Student Office should be informed.

31. Tier 4 compliance
The University must hold the following for each sponsored student:
Up to date UK contact details
Evidence of immigration permission
Attendance record
Departments to inform ISO of any of the following changes:
New arrival date
Early completion of studies or break
Unexplained absence
New UK visa obtained

32. Short-term study visa route for visiting students
ISO provides advice and letter templates. Departments provide ISO any short-term study letters issued.
Two main types of visa letter issued:
Research students
Require a letter from their home institution confirming that visit to Cambridge is part of, or relevant to, their course overseas.
Course of study
For specific short courses, normally offered to a number of students at the same time e.g. summer schools or termly JYAs.
Department is required to check original immigration documents on arrival and retain evidence.

33. Erasmus+ work placement students
Departments are able to host students for work placements or internships under the Erasmus scheme
The majority of these students are EEA nationals and so do not require a visa
For those who are non-EEA nationals a Tier 5 visa is required:
Arranged between the Home Institution and the British Council
British Council won’t communicate the progress of the visa with the Host Institution
These often have long delays so you may need to rearrange start dates

34. Contact us
International Student Office: Telephone: