International Opportunities and Immigration

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International Opportunities and Immigration

• Helen Challis Angela Lin
• International Office

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International Opportunities Overview
Summer Schools
Conferences
Collaborative PhDs
Student Grants
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Joint PhD Programmes Overview
Three options...
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Joint PhD Programmes Overview
One programme of collaborative research
supervisors at both institutions Any discipline
(project-permitting) Joint degree one
certificate with both institutions names and
logos Time split according to research, with a
minimum of 12 months at Imperial
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Asian Summer Schools Early-Stage PhD Students

• Singapore / Hong Kong
• 1-week course 3-week research placement
• NUS, NTU or ASTAR/ University of Hong Kong
• 48 students per course drawn
• from participating institutions

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IDEA League
Five partners Imperial, TU Delft, ETH Zurich,
RWTH Aachen, ParisTech
Summer School 40 students from five partner
institutions Residential 4-day course Research
skills, Communication, Teamwork, International
Collaborations
Student Grants 1,000/month Research
placement 2 weeks 6 months in duration 18,000
available per year
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Tsinghua Summer School

• Employability and Entrepreneurship
• Grant-writing, commercialisation of research
• Alternates between Beijing and London
• Late-stage PhD students
• 1-week

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International Office can help you with

• Visa renewals
• Dependent visas
• Correcting Entry Clearance mistakes
• Travel visas
• Family visits
• Working during your studies
• Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies

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International Office can help you with

• Visa renewals
• Dependent visas
• Correcting Entry Clearance mistakes
• Travel visas
• Family visits
• Working during your studies
• Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies

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International Office can help you with

• Visa renewals
• Working during your studies
• Checking permission to work
• Working after your studies

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Points Based System

• Tier 1 Highly Skilled / Post Study Work
• Tier 2 skilled workers with a job offer, to
  fill gaps in the UK labour force
• Tier 3 low skilled workers to fill specific
  temporary labour shortages (dormant)
• Tier 4 students
• Tier 5 youth mobility and temporary workers

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Student Entry Clearance Rules

• The applicant needs to prove that s/he
• Has been accepted on to a full-time course
• Has the ability and intention to follow the
  course
• (CAS number 30 points)
• Has adequate finances
• (bank statement 10 points)

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Student Visa Rules

• Enrolled on full-time course (no part-time
  study)
• No gap years
• Degree level course OR
• 15 day-time hours/week at bona-fide college
• Enough money without needing to work

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Three ways to apply

1. In person at Public Enquiry Office, Croydon -fast
   but expensive (650)
2. By post independently - cheaper (357) but
   slower)
3. Using the International Office Student Batch
   Scheme - same cost as postal (357), added
   support of College

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Student Visa Renewal

• Write visa expiry date in diary
• 1 month before it expires
• Print complete visa renewal form
• Collect your supporting documents
• Book appointment / attend a visa clinic in the
  International Office to get your application
  checked

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Working in the UK during your studies

• Non EEA students can work
• 20 hours per week in term time
• Unlimited hours in holiday time
• PG students 20 hours max during dissertation
• Special rules for new Europeans, Romanians
  Bulgarians

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Permission to Work visa wording

• Work / Business as in Tier 4 Rules
• No recourse to public funds
• Work (and any changes) must be authorised
• Limited Leave to remain in the UK. No recourse to
  public funds. Able to work as authorised by the
  Secretary of State.

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Work after your studies

• Student visa holder after end of course
• (short-term but full-time)
• Long-term and full-time (current options)
• Tier 1 Post Study Work (2 years)
• Tier 1 General Highly Skilled (3 years)
• Tier 2 Skilled Worker (Work Permit)

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Tier 1 Post Study Work

• Launched June 2008
• Permission to remain in the UK to work and look
  for work for up to 2 years
• Postal application 550 (in person 850)
• Apply up to 12 months from date when course
  completion is confirmed
• Guidance from International Office
  www.imperial.ac.uk/international/visas

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Tier 1 General Highly Skilled

• Points for Qualifications, Age, Previous
  Earnings, UK experience, English Language and
  Maintenance
• Check points at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/point
  scalculator

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Tier 2

• Job offer (sponsor) required
• Points for Qualifications, Future Salary,
  Certificate of Sponsorship, English Language and
  Maintenance

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General Tips on Points Based System

• Things are changing check you have latest
  advice, application form and follow UKBA guidance
  
• Maintenance requirement 800 in UK, 2800
  overseas
• Dont breach your student visa conditions!
• Complete applications only keep a copy

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International Office

• Room 164, Level 1, Sherfield Building
• www.imperial.ac.uk/international
• international_at_imperial.ac.uk
• Tel [phone]

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Any questions?

• More information at
• www.imperial.ac.uk/international
• or contact
• international_at_imperial.ac.uk