Practical Information for International Students

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Practical Information for International Students
Mrs Beverly Potts and Mr James Tibbert
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Practical Information for International Students

• Introduction
• Visa and Immigration Matters
• Health care information
• Working in the UK
• Cultural differences

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Introduction

• Introduction to the International Office
• www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io

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Visa and Immigration Matters

• Examples of visa stamps
• Your legal responsibilities
• Dependant student visas
• EU citizens
• Registration with the police (St Aldates Police
  Station)
• Entry Clearance Correction Scheme
• Schengen visas

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Location of International Office

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Example of Entry Clearance stamp

work permission
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Entry Clearance Correction scheme

• to correct mistakes made when you were granted
  entry clearance outside the UK, free of charge
• cannot be used to correct mistakes made in this
  country
• need to show that you were given the wrong amount
  of leave based on the letters provided and
  standard guidance given to embassies
• guidance is explained at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io
  but basically course length plus four months
• International Office can process application for
  you

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Your legal responsibilities

• Criminal offence to overstay visa, you may be
  deported from the UK and you will be refused an
  extension.
• Any serious offences will stay on your record and
  may affect applications from members of your
  family
• Must return home or change status if you withdraw
  from course

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Staying longer in the UK

• Extending your leave to remain in the UK
• FLR(S) form (Further leave to remain)
• Student Batch scheme- quicker and safer
• (see International Office website)
• Home Office www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
• International Graduate Scheme- year to work
• MBA Scheme, Highly Skilled Migrants
• www.workingintheuk.gov.uk

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Dependant student visas

• If you are here for more than 12 months your
  spouse should be able to work full time
• Spouse may also join you later, if you send
  photocopies of documents home for them to use
  when applying for entry clearance
• similar visa stamp but with student dependant
  marked

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EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

• No requirement to register at the town hall as in
  some other EU countries
• Family members may join you
• Non EEA family
• members need free
• EEA Family permit
• Cannot normally claim state benefits

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Police registration

• Some nationals need to register with police (will
  be stamped on your visa in your passport)
• Must register within seven days at police station
  in St Aldates (near main post office in Oxford,
  past Christ Church)
• need two passport photos and 34 in cash and
  exact change only
• If you change address or extend your visa you
  must report this to the police station

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Schengen visas- travelling to Europe

• Some nationals need a visa to visit Europe
• Use one visa to visit 15 designated
• countries within the
• European Economic Area (EEA)
• Multiple visas possible
• Apply to main country you are visiting or first
• country you will enter
• must apply early, especially for Christmas
• Interviews often needed in London

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Health Care

• Doctor and Hospitals
• Dentists and Opticians
• Assistance with costs (HC1 form)

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Doctors and Hospitals

• Treatment under the National Health Service
  (NHS), includes spouse and children
• GP (General Practitioner or Doctor)
• Medical Care
• Prescription note 6.85
• Prescription Prepayment Certificate
• 35 four months, 98 year
• Meningitis vaccination

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Dentists

• Dental Care- maximum 194
• (excludes cosmetic treatment)
• NHS or private dental care
• Typical costs (NHS- three levels of treatment)
• Dental check-up 16
• Filling, extraction 44
• More complex work 194
• (private work is much more expensive!)

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Opticians

• All private care
• Sight test approx 20
• Glasses approx 100
• Contact lens scheme approx 10 a month

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Assistance with costs

• Assistance with costs (HC11 leaflet)
• HC1 - the claim form
• From dentists or opticians or website of
  Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk
• Health benefits are not public funds so your
  immigration status does not affect this
• (i.e. stamp on visa- no recourse to public
  funds)

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Working during your studies

• EU/EEA, Swiss students- no restriction
• Non-EU/EEA students
• (20 hours a week in term time,
• unlimited in holidays)
• Finding a job
• National Insurance Number
• (Work and Pensions department,
• 7 Worcester Street tel Oxford 445002)
• Tax (allowance 5,035)

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Possible to work stamps
1. No recourse to public funds.Work (and any
changes) must be authorised or 2. Able to work
as authorised by The Secretary of State or 3.
Leave to enter/remain in the UK on condition
that the holder maintains and accommodates
himself and any dependents without recourse to
public funds and does not enter or change
employment paid or unpaid without the consent of
the Secretary of State for Employment and does
not engage in business or profession without the
consent of the Secretary of State for the Home
Department is hereby given for/until (specified
time)
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Forbidden to work stamps
1. No work or recourse to public funds or 2.
No work or engaging in business or 3. Leave
to enter/remain in the United Kingdom on
condition that the holder maintains and
accommodates himself and any dependents without
recourse to public funds, does not enter
employment paid or unpaid and does not engage in
any business or profession, is hereby given
for/until (specified time)
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Cultural differences

• What do you already
• know about the British?
• Be on time
• RSVP and invitations
• Dress code-
• Black tie, White-tie,
• smart-casual

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Cultural differences

• Settling in at Oxford

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Further information

• websites- see back of programme timetable booklet
• International Office www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io
• Drop-in to International Office (9am-5pm)
• Freshers fair (Exam Schools 3 5 October)