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International Students: Extending your immigration permission (Visa) Web Chat

Date:23 October 2009

Time: 14:30 - 15:30

Details: Does your visa expire soon?
Are you preparing your extension application but you have some questions about the new Tier 4 form?
Are you unsure what documents you need to include with your application?

A member of the International Advice Team will be online to answer your questions about extending your student visa in the UK.

User
Expert
Moderator

Helen (Moderator)
Hello and welcome to the International Students: Extending your immigration permission (Visa) Web Chat. I'm Helen and I'll be moderating the web chat today. Our expert Ros will introduce herself shortly and then we’ll start the chat.

Ros (Expert)
Hi everyone. My name is Ros and I’m one of the advisers in the International Advice team, ready to help with questions you have about extending your permission to stay in the UK as a student. I’m ready for your questions now……!

Farin
Hi there,

Thank you so much for your kind assistance.

I have already started to write up my PhD thesis since September 2009(end of my third year).My student visa will expire on 31 January 2010.Hopefully my viva will be about January. I’m worry if my visa letter indicates that my viva would be in January, they extend my visa for a very short time . However I am not still sure about exact date of my submission, viva, and also may be need some days (or weeks) for corrections my thesis after viva.

Please advise me how long my visa will extend?

Cheers

Ros (Expert)
You should get a period of 4 months after your viva date. Nearer the time when your visa expires please contact us in IAT and we will advise you in more detail about getting a visa letter with the correct dates on.

qwerlkj
Hi Ros,I have got a visa letter but the address on the letter is my home town not in the UK . Is that fine? Will it be a problem?

Ros (Expert)
That's fine.

qwerlkj
should I print an application form? Or is there any place I can get?

Ros (Expert)
You can try ringing the UKBA on 0870 606 7766 to ask them for a copy, but this is a VERY busy number. It is usually easier to download and print the form off yourself. It is 41 pages though........!

qwerlkj
and I printed the new application form and it is 41pages long. Do I have to print all 41pages even I dont need from page 29 to page 41?

Ros (Expert)
Yes, I'm afraid you do - a terrible waste of paper I know, but if you don't send all the pages, your application may be rejected for being 'incomplete' !

Elson
Hello, Can I ask a question? My visa is going to expire on the 31st Oct. I am going to submit the A-level results, visa letter, bank statement, visa extension form, passports, are these all i need?

Ros (Expert)
You will also need the correct payment and 2 recent passport photos. For more information and some help with filling in the form, look at our webpages here: http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/acad...

Elson
Hello, I think I can't wait for the bank to post me a bank statement, is the statment without my address on OK or not?

Ros (Expert)
The statement needs to have your name, the account number and the account balance. It should be on the letter head of the bank and be no more than one month old when you send it. The statement must also cover 28 days. If it is an online statement you have printed yourself, it must be stamped and signed by a member of staff at the branch. Your own address is not needed.

qwerlkj
What is full name of the sponsor? Is it supposed to be The University of Manchester? or Should I give more details like Manchester Business School , The University of Manchester?

Ros (Expert)
The University of Manchester. The number is Q3DK76WN4

Badr
Hi Helen Hi Ros,

the sponsor Letter I will get is likely to be issued with the end of sponsorship being about four months before the end of my program, is this likely to cause a problem? will I be given the extention to the earlier or the later date? thanks

Ros (Expert)
It might be a problem. It would be good to ask your sponsor either to extend the length of your sponsorship or to write another letter saying they give their consent to you staying longer in the UK. You may also need to supply further evidence of your funds, but this is quite complicated, so please contact the International Advice Team for more assistance.

Badr
Hi,

my sponsor letter again, should it mention how much I'm paid? or just that I'm paid the tuition and the living allowances? and is it a must to mention that my dependants are covered too?

Ros (Expert)
It should give as much information about how much they are paying for both your fees and living costs and list how many dependants. There is a suggested template letter for official financial sponsors available from the IAT so please email us on iat@manchester.ac.uk and we can send you a copy.

gretchen
Hi my situation is a bit complicated - can I speak to you ??

Ros (Expert)
You can telephone for advice and we will make an appointment for you if we can't help you over the phone. Call 0161 275 5000 and choose option 1. You cannot make an appointment via email.

peggy
hi i'm wondering how to fill the new form D8 the current immigration status . my visa was issued in 2006. so which one should i choose. tier 4 (general) student or a student. thx

Ros (Expert)
Student. Tier 4 only came into effect in March 2009.

peggy
at the third table of summary sheet, documents provided column, how to fill the 'total'? is that the number of documents or something else? thx

Ros (Expert)
Leave it blank, but make sure you put 40 points in the middle column

sunshine
can you please tell me about the tier 1 visa?

Ros (Expert)
There are 2 types of tier 1 visa: general and Post study work. Today's webchat is really about extending student immigration permission, so have a look at the information on our webpages for more about Tier 1 and other options for working in the UK after your studies:http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/acad...

yangan
can i use bank statements from my relative to support my application for extention

Ros (Expert)
Only from your parents and you will also need a birth certificate showing your name and theirs, and a letter from them giving their permission for you to use the funds in their account for your immigration application. If another relative wants to support you they should tranfer the money into your account and you then use your own bank statements as evidence.

qwerlkj
I have two bank account and all the amount of money I have is enough but saved in two different bank account. Should I put all the money in one account and show one bank statement? Or Can I just give them two bank statement?

Ros (Expert)
You can send both bank statements as long as they both meet all the UKBA's requirements as stated above.

sunshine
is it enough if we apply for a tier 1 visa a couple of weeks before the student visa expires?

Ros (Expert)
Yes, but make sure you fill in the form correctly and have all the right documents when you send it. All immigration applications must be made BEFORE the current visa expires.

Yoyo
Hi,I have moved in a new house but the address has not changed in my visa letter. Is it necessary for me to get a new visa letter?

Ros (Expert)
Yes, this would be better otherwise the UK address on the application form will be different from the one on the visa letters. Overseas addresses are OK though.

imt
Hi, I just completed my MSc from the Manchester business school and am now continuing with a PhD. However when coming for my MSc I wasn't sure if I would continue with a PhD so applied for only a year's visa, which expires in january 2010. I now want to extend my visa for another 3 years at least but I still do not have my MSc dissertation result. Can I apply for the extension right now or do I have to wait for the dissertation result to come? And how long does it take for the visa application to be processed? Lastly, I am on a scholarship from my government, and I heard that the immigration office requires a specific format of the sponsorship letter. Could you please tell me what needs to be included in the sponsorship letter? Thanks

Ros (Expert)
You can apply now if you have a visa letter from the school. Presumably you were accepted onto the PhD without having to complete the Masters? As long as you apply before the date in January when your visa expires, you will be in time. We will be able to help you send your application through the Batch Scheme - details here:http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/crucial-guide/acad.... Applications are taking about 8 weeks at the moment, but it is difficult to predict what the situation will be like in December or January. Email us to ask for a copy of the Sponsor letter template.

Asraf
Hi Ros! I did my MSc under European Union scholarship at Bangor University, UK. and finished just last month. I have visa until 10.01.2010. Within this time I got funded PhD at the University of Manchester and started accordingly. Now, am I elegible to apply for work permit visa or I have to apply for student visa?

Ros (Expert)
If you are studying full time for your PhD here you should apply to extend your student visa. You can then apply for Tier 1 post study work after your PhD, assuming the current rules don't change before then. If you want to work full time and study part time, then a post study work visa would be the better option. Contact us for more information on 0161 275 5000 option 1.

Asraf
Thanks for the advice. As I got my student visa in 2008 and now according to your advise for my PhD I need to extend it. so, I think I dont need to go for Tier 4. What documents I need to apply in the earlier system. My wife will also apply for her student dependent visa extension.

Ros (Expert)
All student visas are now under Tier 4, even if you had an 'old' type of student visa before. Information about dependants can be found on our webpages, and look up the information about our Batch Scheme as referred to above.

Farin
"Yes, but make sure you fill in the form correctly and have all the right documents when you send it. All immigration applications must be made BEFORE the current visa expires." If I apply just one day before expiration of my visa, is ok?

Ros (Expert)
Well, it's not ideal, but legally it is OK yes. We normally advise sending an application about 4 to 5 weeks before expiry, if all the documents are ready.

gretchen
why do I have to send the immigration application BEFORE it expires?

Ros (Expert)
Because, if you send it late, and it is then refused, you will not have the right to appeal against that decision. You will have to leave the UK quickly and then apply for a new visa from home. To be avoided if possible!

sunshine
hi can you please tell me if the careers service can help me in making the tier 1 applicaion.....i mean can i get the application checked by careers service along with the documents,etc?

Ros (Expert)
No, but the IAT can refer you to other agencies outside the University who might be able to help. You may have to pay for this advice. Helen - do you want to add anything to this?

Helen (Moderator)
Hi Sunshine, As Ros said, the careers service can't help you with the tier 1 form or other immigration matters. You can find a list of immigration agencies/organisations that might be able to help on our website: http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/internationa...

Yoyo
Thank you very much for your help... With regard to the Tier 4, I have some questions. 1 B11 on page 6 If the student made an application before and has previous home office reference number Please provide them-I made a visa extention last year and received a letter from home office. What does home office reference number mean? Case ID? 2 D2 on page 6, What does post (city) mean? a name of city? 3 D9 on page 11, Will the student be getting official financial sponsorship, or has he/she previously had official fiancial sponsorship for his /her recent studies in the UK...I just got the alumni award. Does this award included into sponsorship or scholarship?

Ros (Expert)
B11: the case ID number if you have one D2: Post means which city was the British Embassy or High Commission in? Eg Beijing D9: No, you don't need to list an alumni award or any other kind of fee bursary or discount as 'official financial sponsorship'

Yoyo
F3 on page 7 in tier 4 application form, What does the British Diplomatic Post mean? A embassy?

Ros (Expert)
Yes, the embassy or high commission you applied to for your original visa before travelling.

imt
I got into the PhD program on the condition that I will have at least 60% in my MSc. However, since the final MSc results come in later than the start of the PhD programme, I was allowed to join for now, but will have to meet the 60% condition when my results come. Does that change anything?

Ros (Expert)
You need to talk to your school urgently if you do not get the required 60% in your MSc, then get some advice from IAT about how this might affect your immigration situation.

imt
Thanks a lot for your answer! But does that mean I should not apply now and wait for my MSc result to come?

Ros (Expert)
this is a bit complicated for the webchat, imt, so why don't you contact us and we'll advise you in more detail? 0161 275 5000 option 1.

qwerlkj
What should I put for the section L 10?

Ros (Expert)
£1200, but make sure you qualify for the 'reduced maintenance level' by reading the Help text which comes with the form. If you don't qualify for the reduced level you will need to show evidence at the higher rate: £5400

qwerlkj
And I am now living in private accommodation not provided bu the uni. I have made a payment for the accommodation as well. In section L 11 , which one should I tick then?

Ros (Expert)
You should tick 'no' if you are in private accommodation - they are only interested in accommodation fees you have paid to the University directly.

sunshine
can you kindly answer one more question- if we apply for a tier 1 visa from uk then is it necessary to provide a uk address only?

Ros (Expert)
Sorry, I don't have a form in front of me so I can't remember whether an overseas address is requested. Look carefully at the forms and the policy guidance which goes with them for more information.

peggy
The date shown on the closing balance in the bank statements was 14 OCT, is that fit the rule when i apply on 27 OCT? THX

Ros (Expert)
Yes, it is less than one month before the date of application, so it's OK.

Helen (Moderator)
Hi all, well we're just about out of time and no more questions for Ros so thank you all for your great questions today.

Helen (Moderator)
We will post the transcript of the web chat online - just check back here in the coming days!

http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/aboutus/even...

Yoyo
Many many thanks!

Ros (Expert)
You are very welcome!

Farin
Thank you Helen and Ros

Ros (Expert)
It's been a pleasure!

Ros (Expert)
Thanks for all your really good questions everyone. I hope it was useful for you. Bye!

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