New rules are in the process of being implemented. For full details and information please check the UKBA website. Here we give a brief note of the main points.• Existing students who applied for their visa prior to 3rd March 2010 can continue under the old rules.
Students who have applied on or after the 3rd March 2010 and are taking a course that is below degree level will be subject to the new restrictions.
Students who study at degree level or above or study on a recognised Foundation Degree will not be subject to the new restrictions. Nothing has changed for them.
MAIN POINTS
You are now required to prove to the satisfaction of the college and the immigration officer at your port of entry into the UK that the standard of your English Language ability is at least equivalent to level B2 CEFR. The college will supervise this until at some point in the summer of 2010 UKBA will announce a list of acceptable English Tests and Score Levels. From then on you will need to show evidence that you have taken and passed one of those tests at the required level.
The maximum 20 hours per week working is reduced to 10 hours. During term time you are now only allowed to work up to 10 hours in any week. You may still work any hours the college requires as part of your course in addition to this and you are still permitted to work unlimited hours during your term breaks.
If your course is six months or less you are no longer permitted to bring a dependant.
If your course is over six months long you are still permitted to bring a dependant but he/she is NO LONGER ALLOWED TO WORK unless he/she qualifies in his/her own right.
NEW SPONSOR RULES
From 6th April 2010 a new classification of “Highly Trusted Sponsor” comes into effect. Only colleges that have a UKBA sponsor license and are awarded the extra status of “Highly Trusted Sponsor” will be permitted to deliver courses to overseas students that are below degree level or contain a work placement as part of the course.
A & S Training College is confident of achieving “Highly Trusted Sponsor” status.
UKBA have not yet announced what will happen to colleges who do not achieve this new status or to the students studying sub degree level courses or work based courses in those colleges after 6th April 2010 when the rule becomes law.
