Immigration newsletter 25 Feb 2010

UK immigration recently announced full details of the UK student visa changes under Tier 4 of the points based system.  The intention of the changes is to make it more difficult for bogus students from outside Europe to gain entry to the UK. This follows a review of the Tier 4 visa system in November 2009.

The new UK Tier 4 Student Visa requirements include the following:
 

• You will need to have English ability just below GCSE in a foreign language to gain entry to the UK on a student visa. This will cover those who wish to study English in the UK and those who wish to study at below degree level.
• You will only be able to gain entry to A level or equivalent courses if the college or school is included in a list of “most trusted institutions”.
• If you are a student studying below first degree level or on a foundation degree course you will only be able to work 10 hours during term time instead of the previous 20 hours during term time.
• You will not be able to bring in dependants if the duration of the course is less than six months.
• If you are studying a course lower than foundation or undergraduate degree level your dependents will not be allowed to work in the UK.

On 22 February the other changes to the UK Tier 4 student visa were implemented in full.  The main change is that Visa letters are no longer accepted for visa applications.

All Tier 4 student applications made inside or outside the UK now require a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) with the application.  Tier 4 student visa applicants will need to be provided with a CAS reference number and sponsor licence number.

Australian immigration will soon start implementation of biometric checks for Australian visa applications in ten Countries.   $69 million Australian dollars will be invested over four years.
The Australian Government had the following to say about the new Australian visa biometric requirements.
 

• If you apply for an Australian visa in any of the ten Countries you will need to also submit  your fingerprints and facial images   This biometric data is unique to a particular individual and will enable the Australian Government to confirm the true identity of visa applicants.
• Checks will be made in databases for known terrorists and criminals and other people of concern.
• Australia shares biometric data with the United Kingdom and Canada.

The sponsorship management system for any tier visa of the points based system was unavailable from late afternoon Friday 19 February 2010 to the morning of Saturday 20 February 2010 UK time. This was to enable the new IT system for student Tier 4 sponsors to be set up.