Student visa blacklisted overseas banks published by UK Border Agency to prevent fraudulent applications

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) is publishing a blacklist list of financial institutions which, on the basis of experience, they will no longer accept to verify financial statements.

This week the UKBA has announced the creation of a new initial list containing hundreds international banks and financial institutions which will be used when considering points under a Tier 4 student visa application.

The bank blacklist will be used when verifying maintenance funds under Tier 4 of the points-based system. A student visa applicant will receive no points for maintenance if they submit documents showing that the funds are held in a financial institution on the list - and could also face a ban from the UK.

The list includes banned banks from India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The list forms part of the reforms to the Tier 4 student visa immigration route, which say the UKBA will ensure that they can verify that student visa applicants hold the required maintenance funds to support themselves and pay for their course in the UK.

Thousands of international students have arrived in the UK with little or no money, despite presenting ‘proof’ of funds to entry clearance officers at their local British Embassy.

Many have failed to pay fees on arrival or keep up with monthly payment plans. Some colleges are having to resort to legal action through the county courts to recover debts owed by non-paying students.

Students end up on credit blacklists with County Court Judgements (CCJ) registered against them, which means they will find it extremely difficult to obtain credit, open a bank account or rent a property.

The consequences of court actions, criminal offences or civil action, can be even more serious for migrant workers under Tier 2 or Tier 4 students.

County Court Judgements, or civil actions, must now be declared on new style immigration forms for further leave to remain or visa extensions and may affect your chances of renewing your Tier 4 student visa. A CCJ or Credit Default (e.g. not keeping up with payments on a credit card, loan or mobile phone agreement) will stay on your credit file and history for six years or more and will have to be declared on immigration forms.

The UKBA will give a 30-day notice period from the date when a financial institution is first listed before the new rule takes effect. This will enable applicants to make the necessary financial arrangements, so that they can provide financial documentation which meets the new requirements.

The list will be kept under review, and we will make additions or deletions as appropriate.

The UKBA said it will continue to verify financial information from financial institutions not on the list, on a case-by-case basis, and may refuse applications on the basis of these individual checks.

The following criteria provide an example of the minimum standard for banks in order for us to satisfactorily verify documentation:

• international banks; or
• national banks with a UK private banking presence; or
• regulated national/state banks that provide a core banking service.

The UKBA adds that 'points may still be awarded if banks do not meet these criteria, where they have a history of providing satisfactory verification checks'. However, as many have found to their cost, once an entry clearance officer (ECO) or UKBA case worker discovers that a fraudulent bank statement has been submitted as part of a Tier 4 student visa application or student visa extension they are highly likely to slap a 10 year ban on the student.

The list of 'FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT DO NOT SATISFACTORILY VERIFY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – PHILIPPINES' runs to 36 pages.

Philippine banks included on the blacklist are:

ABN Amro Bank LKG Tower 6801 Ayala Avenue 1200, Makati City, Manila

Al-Amanah Islamic Bank PHIDCO A. Building Veterans Avenue, Zamboanga City

Allied Banking Corporation Allied Banking Centre, 6754 Ayala Ave. cor. Legaspi St., Makati City

Allied Savings Bank Allied Bank Centre, 6754 Ayala Ave. cor. Legaspi St., Makati City

Asia United Bank JN Bldg., Joy Nastalg Centre, 17 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Centre, Pasig City 1605

Australia & New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) 9F Metrobank Card Corp. Centre, 6778 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. BDO Corporate Centre, 7899 Makati Avenue, Makati City

Bangkok Bank Public Co Ltd 10th Floor Tower II The Enterprise Centre 6766 Ayala Avenue, Makati City

Bank of America, N.A. 27/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 1226

Bank of China (Limited – Manila Branch) 36/F Philamlife Tower, 8767 Paseo de Roxas, Makati City

Bank of Commerce San Miguel Properties Centre (SMPC), No. 7 Saint Francis Street, Mandaluyong City 1550

Bank of the Philippine Islands BPI Bldg., Ayala Avenue cor. Paseo de Roxas, Makati City 0720

1st Macro Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank)	B. Morcilla & P. Herrera Sts., Pateros City	24 November 2011
1st Valley Bank, Inc. (A Rural Bank)	Baroy, Lanao del Norte	24 November 2011
5 Speed Rural Bank, Inc.	J. P. Rizal St., Poblacion, Padre Garcia, Batangas	24 November 2011
A B Capital and Investment Corporation	Unit 1008, 10F Tower I & Exchange Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Ayala Avenue, Makati City	24 November 2011
Advantage Bank Corp. (A Microfinance-Oriented Rural Bank)	Stop Over Commercial Complex, Mac Arthur Highway (Namkwang Road) corner Gerona-Pura Road, Brgy. Abagon, Gerona, Tarlac	24 November 2011
Agri-Business Rural Bank, Inc.	Poblacion, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya	24 November 2011
Agricom Rural Bank (Sta. Maria,Bulacan), Inc.	F. Santiago cor. A. Morales Sts. Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Bulacan	24 November 2011
Agusan Norte - Butuan City Coop RB	UCCP Bldg., R. Calo St., Butuan City, Agusan del Norte	24 November 2011

The list of Indian banks runs to 49 pages and includes:

Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Ahmedabad Mercantile Co-Op Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Amanath Co-operative Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Andhra Pradesh Mahesh Co-Op Urban Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Bassein Catholic Co-operative Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Bharat Co-operative Bank (Mumbai) Ltd	24 November 2011
Bharati Sahakari Bank Limited	24 November 2011
Bombay Mercantile Co-operative Bank Limited	24 November 2011
Charminar Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Citizen Credit Co-operative Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Cosmos Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Dombivli Nagari Sahakari Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Goa Urban Co-operative Bank Limited	24 November 2011
Gopinath Patil Parsik Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank Limited	24 November 2011
Indian Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Jalgaon Janata Sahakari Bank Ltd	24 November 2011
Janakalyan Sahakari Bank Ltd	24 November 2011

You can find the full list at:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/studying/financial-institutions/

Earlier this month a pilot scheme to help UK banks and credit providers identify fraudulent applications by immigration offenders was launched by the Audit Commission.

The Commission and the UK Border Agency will share ‘real time’ information with financial institutions. Each year the UK Border Agency processes around 3.5 million applications to visit, live, work or study in the UK.

The aim is to prevent those with no right to stay or work in the UK from accessing financial services. In return, financial institutions will provide the Agency with information on where illegal working and employment is taking place, supporting the Agency’s work in tackling immigration crime.

Revised Tier 4 General application form (07/11) now asks for a lot more detailed information covering criminal and civil offences, good character, benefit claims and includes the following statements:

'I understand that if the UK Border Agency has reasonable cause to believe that any document or documents I have submitted with this application are forged, fraudulent or not genuine, and the UK Border Agency has sought to verify the documents using processes specified by it but has not been able to verify them, no points will be awarded for these documents even if the UK Border Agency cannot prove that they are not genuine.

'I understand that my details may in certain circumstances be passed to fraud prevention agencies to prevent fraud and money laundering. I also understand that such agencies may provide the UK Border Agency with information about me.

'The UK Border Agency may request information from other law enforcement agencies, Government departments or Agencies, local authorities, the Police, foreign governments and other bodies for immigration or research purposes to enable them to perform their functions.'

Section E.1 of the form asks:

'Has the student had any criminal convictions in the United Kingdom or any other country (including traffic offences) or any civil judgments made against them (i)?'

In signing the declaration the student agrees to the following:

'I am aware that it is an offence under the Immigration Act 1971, as amended by the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, to make, to a person acting in execution of any of these Acts, a statement or representation which I know to be false or do not believe to be true, or to obtain or seek to obtain leave to remain in the United Kingdom by means which include deception.

'I understand that information I provide to the UK Border Agency will be treated in confidence but it may be disclosed to other law enforcement agencies, government departments, agencies, local authorities, foreign governments and other bodies for immigration or research purposes, for purposes as stated in The Biometric Registration Regulations, or to enable them to perform their functions.'

The student agrees to post issue enquiries and information discovered being used in court. There is also a short line which warns that 'providing information or documentation that is not correct will normally result in my application being refused and may lead to my prosecution for a criminal offence'.

It should also be remembered that work permits, visas and even 'indefinite' leave to remain (ILR) can be cancelled by the Home Office for various offences. The Home Office has or the Home Secretary has the power to revoke British Citizenship under the 2006 Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act.

Most in-country refusals carry the right of a full appeal before an immigration judge at a tribunal, unlike out of country student visa refusals which are reconsidered under an administrative review.

The student visa crackdown has no effect on Bulgarian and Romanian students who want to work full time in the UK by taking NVQ vocational courses.

Although Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not enjoy full free movement rights to work in the UK they can obtain Yellow Card permits to work full time as part of a vocational study programme such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care.

Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not enjoy full free movement rights to work in the UK, but can obtain Yellow Card permits to work full time as part of a vocational study programme such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care.

See also:

Health care workers needed in UK now

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

What is ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ and why do Bulgarian and Romanian student yellow card applicants need it to work in the UK?

Crackdown on immigration fraud – banks and UKBA to share information on debtors

Home Office can revoke British Citizenship as well as deny it for civil offences

If you need any immigration advice or are worried about the new immigration rules or need help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Majestic College offer special packages and free advice for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

Majestic College also has access to funding for Apprenticeships.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance needed by Bulgarian and Romanian work study yellow card applicants

Since 20 June 2011 the UK Border Agency introduced new guidance which makes it mandatory for Bulgarians and Romanians to take out a 'Comprehensive Sickness Insurance' policy when applying for yellow card registration as a working student. But finding out what is actually meant by 'comprehensive sickness insurance' is proving more difficult than you would expect?

The new requirement was introduced as part of changes to the BR1 Yellow Card form and BR1 Guidance Note (version 06/2011) in June.

Comprehensive sickness insurance is actually a form of private medical cover offering policyholders treatment for serious illnesses in private hospitals normally outside of the NHS.

What is ‘comprehensive’ cover?

There is no standard wording for comprehensive sickness cover in the insurance world and you cannot simply ask for a comprehensive sickness policy.

Insurance companies are reluctant to claim that a particular policy is comprehensive as there are dozens of variations of cover, options, exclusions and plans on offer.

Many students have already been refused yellow card on the grounds that they have not provided ‘evidence’ that they have comprehensive sickness insurance in place.

In some cases the student had not provided original documents or the documentation from the insurance company did not specify the schedule of benefits in the 12 page letters sent to applicants. For example, AXA, does not issue a letter containing a schedule of benefits and told a Romanian student that the UK Border Agency caseworker should ‘refer to the attached booklet’.

Another Romanian student was refused because her top of the range Aviva policy contained a number of ‘exclusions’ or exemptions including ‘pre-existing conditions’ and ‘alcohol abuse’.

Insurance companies not sure what qualifies as comprehensive

Immigration Matters has talked to the UK Border Agency Bulgarian and Romanian helpline as well as several leading insurance companies, including Aviva, AXA and specialist brokers Active Quote, to try and clarify the situation so that Bulgarian and Romanian student know exactly what type of policy will give them the ‘comprehensive’ cover that is required for a yellow card.

The insurance companies are not much help as they claim they are not sure of what qualifies as comprehensive. Some policies offer hospital treatment only and would be considered as budget or low cost alternatives. The more expensive policies will cover the policyholder against a wider range of illnesses including those requiring out-patient treatments.

The UKBA helpdesk, Bulgarian and Romanian section, was not specific but said that comprehensive cover means you are covered against most eventualities including out patient treatment.

In other words a budget policy is probably not going to be sufficient, although many applicants have no doubt managed to obtain a yellow card using such a policy.

The Home Office Guidance for Bulgarian and Romanian section caseworkers (ANNEX A) states:

'Assessing whether an EEA national who claims to be a student or self sufficient person holds Comprehensive Sickness Insurance

A. Acceptable evidence of CSI

• From 20th June 2011 applications from EEA nationals applying for documentation confirming their right to reside in the UK as a student or self-sufficient person must show that they have one of the following forms of evidence in order to demonstrate comprehensive sickness insurance:
• A comprehensive insurance policy document confirming that the applicant has private medical insurance. A proportionate approach should be taken when considering what is ‘comprehensive’. For example, a policy may contain certain exemptions but if the applicant is covered by the policy for medical treatment in the majority of circumstances then this will be sufficient.'

In other words, exclusions are acceptable and caseworkers should be ‘proportionate’ or balanced in their decision making approach.

Tom Parker from Active Quote added that all health insurance policies have certain standard exclusions – self inflicted injury and pre-existing conditions - no matter how expensive the premiums.

The company, however, announced today that it will no longer be offering sickness policies to Bulgarians and Romanians due to high cancellation rates.

Applicants can go direct to insurers such as Aviva and AXA.

Whilst Bulgarian and Romanian EU member citizens have access to GP’s and NHS hospitals, the guidance notes stress that this does not qualify as comprehensive sickness cover.

‘The following forms of evidence remain unacceptable as evidence of comprehensive sickness insurance:

‘Cash back health schemes such as dental/optical/prescription charges.

‘Reliance on access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

‘This does not constitute comprehensive sickness insurance for the purposes of the Regulations, including for students.’

Immigration Matters is often asked whether or not a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is sufficient proof o sickness cover. The guidance notes state that an EHIC is only acceptable for temporary stay in the UK:

‘For persons temporarily in the UK (e.g. less than one year), a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC is the replacement for the E111 form.

The revised BR1 form has caused some confusion as it does not make it clear that a student will need Comprehensive Sickness Insurance, as the actual question relates to those applying as ‘self sufficient’ EU applicants. However, the guidance does specify that insurance cover is required

No other students, for instance non-EU Tier 4 students, or Tier 2 migrantss have so far been asked to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance to work or study in the UK.

See also:

Health care workers needed in UK now

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email:

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

UKBA launch new style Tier 4 sponsors guidance

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has published their Tier 4 Guidance for sponsors of non-EU students on visas in a new format.

The UKBA pointed out that ‘the content of the document is the same as the guidance published on 5 September 2011’.

The new Tier 4 sponsors guidance covers the following areas:

• Highly Trusted Sponsorship (HTS), including the date by which Tier 4 sponsors who are not already highly trusted need to apply for HTS by; what will happen to existing Tier 4 sponsors who do not apply for HTS by the deadline or who do apply and fail; and details of transitional arrangements for sponsors who are not already highly trusted.
• educational oversight, confirming the previously announced detail of the new approach, including a reminder of the date by which applications should be made and to which oversight body; and information Tier 4 sponsors who either do not apply by the specified deadline or who apply and fail to obtain it.

The sponsor guidance can be downloaded from the UKBA Guidance for sponsors page. Source: UK Border Agency.

See: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance/

These changes do not affect EU migrants such as Bulgarian and Romanian students coming to the UK to study and work on a Yellow Card. They need to find a college on the ‘pre-tier 4′ DIUS register and can still work full time when taking a vocational work based course, such as an NVQ or QCF in health and social care.

See also:

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

University of Wales cease validating degrees at colleges and other institutions

UK Universities and Colleges report thousands of Tier 4 students to UK Border Agency over visa suspicions

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk

Looking for a college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

University of Wales stop validating degrees for colleges UK and overseas

The University of Wales will cease validating courses at all other institutions in the UK and abroad following a BBC Wales investigation.

Earlier this year BBC Wales uncovered ‘concerns’ over several centres overseas which ran courses leading to the university's degrees.

The Welsh government said it brought Wales "into disrepute" and a watchdog criticised "significant failings".

New vice-chancellor Prof Medwin Hughes says it will now award degrees only for courses it designs and fully controls.

He said the decision reflected changes in higher education in Wales, including the university's merger with Swansea Metropolitan and Trinity Saint David.

Prof Hughes said the university would cease to be an accrediting body for other universities in Wales, and that it would be closing validated programmes at centres in the UK and overseas.

He said: "We believe the time is right for us to adopt a new academic strategy and only award University of Wales degrees to students on courses designed and fully controlled by the University of Wales.

"We have a duty of care to all students on existing programmes and will honour our current commitments to them."

The vice-chancellor added: "Our own international collaboration will now be based solely on courses designed and fully controlled by the University of Wales, embedded in our faculties and led by our own academic staff.

"We remain committed to a global role and believe it can serve Wales well."

The decision came as a shock to institutions bearing the university's name.

University of Wales Newport vice-chancellor Dr Peter Noyes only learned of the news on Monday afternoon.

He said: "It is with great regret that we were informed by the University of Wales of its plan shortly before they called their press conference.

"It is worth noting that none of the University of Wales' recent problems have been cause by the excellent Welsh universities that it offers awards through and yet today it has announced plans to effectively terminate our relationship without consultation or discussion.

"This is of deep regret to me and it now seems inappropriate for the University of Wales to hold the title that it does."

He added that Newport would consider using its powers to award its own degrees as a way to "reassure our students that this announcement will not affect their studies in any way".

Colleges affected by the introduction of the new University of Wales strategy will be given a notice period of one year before the changes come into effect at the start of the 2012 academic year.

Fresh revelations concerning University of Wales partner colleges will be broadcast in a special BBC Wales investigation on Wednesday 5 October.

In June, Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the University of Wales had brought the nation "into disrepute" over its links with overseas institutions.

A review by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) said it had "confidence" in the university but identified weaknesses in its external validation processes.

A BBC Wales investigation had previously found the university's overseas links included one run by a Malaysian pop star with bogus degrees and a college in Bangkok said to be operating illegally.

The QAA's report found the university had not run proper checks while setting up partnerships with the colleges in question - a process known as validation.

It said the university "missed the opportunity to be circumspect" about Fazley Yaakob, a Malaysian pop star who claimed to have a doctorate in business administration.

Its approval of a fashion college in Thailand was judged "inadequate" and "flawed".

The BBC appear to be gunning for the university and a special edition of Week in Week Out will be on BBC One Wales at 20:30 BST on Wednesday 5 October. Source: BBC

Following raft of student visa changes and restrictions on international students this year, UK universities have been keen to set up overseas campuses and collaborations to 'export' their brand directly into new markets.

Some sections of the media in Britain have criticised the entrepreneurial spirit of British institutions who have set up overseas operations.However, the use of properly controlled course validation by universities is accepted and practiced in the UK and abroad.

Recent Tier 4 student visa changes do not affect EU migrants such as Bulgarian and Romanian students coming to the UK to study and work on a Yellow Card. They need to find a college on the ‘pre-tier 4′ DIUS register and can still work full time when taking a vocational work based course, such as an NVQ or QCF in health and social care.See also:

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

UK Universities and Colleges report thousands of Tier 4 students to UK Border Agency over visa suspicions

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

Free Movement of EU nationals explained

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk

UK Universities and Colleges report 1500 Tier 4 students a month to UK Border Agency

UK University academics are sending reports on over 1,500 non-EU students a month to immigration officials over suspicions about their student visa status, figures show.

At least 27,121 migrants were reported to the UK Border Agency by UK universities and other foreign student sponsors, such as private colleges, between March 2009 and August 2010, the BBC reports.

The figures were released to the Manifesto Club campaign group under the Freedom of Information Act.

Some 228,000 foreign students came to the UK to study last year.

Three in four of these come from outside the EU.

In its ‘Students Under Watch’ report, the Manifesto Club, which campaigns against regulation, said strict visa controls were forcing academics to spy on students, eroding academic autonomy and damaging relationships between students and staff.

Josie Appleton, the group's director, said: "Academics are not border agents, and they should not be dragooned into spying on their students.

"The UKBA now has rights of entry to any university campus, which is a major threat to academic autonomy. We call for a more proportionate system, which recognises the historic autonomy of the university."

The University and College Union, which represents academics said the relationship between staff and students was incredibly important.

Its General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: "It is built on trust and must not be jeopardised by fears that lecturers may be spying on students.

"Successive governments have had plans to turn lecturers into spooks overwhelmingly rejected by the academic community."

In July, MPs accused the government of rushing plans to curb student visas, saying they could harm the economy.

The Home Affairs Select Committee said that it was concerned that official figures indicated the restrictions could cost the economy £3.4bn.

Officials estimate the measures will cut net migration by 230,000 by the end of the current parliament.

But immigration minister Damian Green said the changes were introduced after full and extensive consultation.

A UKBA spokesman said: "There has been widespread abuse of the visa system for too long and we have made radical changes in order to make the system more rigorous and accountable.

"We expect education providers who are sponsoring foreign students to make the necessary checks." Source: BBC

The UK Border Agency has recently published proposed criteria to become a Highly Trusted Sponsor under Tier 4, which could be the final ‘nail in the coffin’ for some private colleges.

Dozens of private colleges are shutting their doors every month and telling their students to “find another college”.

Tier 4 students are also utterly confused by further set of rule changes. In the last few weeks I have received an increasing number of calls and emails from panic stricken students reporting that their college had ‘closed down’, usually following their suspension from the Tier 4 Sponsors Register or perhaps following changes to the Tier 4 Immigration Rules on 4 July 2011.

Furthermore, students assume that if they are registered with any ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’, they will be treated equally. NOT TRUE if the sponsor is a private college. A private college is a private college no matter how ‘highly’ they are trusted, and students applying to those colleges will not be allowed to work or sponsor their dependants.

These changes do not affect EU migrants such as Bulgarian and Romanian students coming to the UK to study and work on a Yellow Card. They need to find a college on the ‘pre-tier 4′ DIUS regsiter and can still work full time when taking a vocational work based course, such as an NVQ or QCF in health and social care.

See also:

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

Free Movement of EU nationals explained

Comprehensive Sickness Insurance now required for Bulgarian and Romanian study work yellow cards

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk