Doctorate Extension Scheme

Rebecca BlightCompliance Manager (Overseas Students)

Academic Division, University of Kent

Teresa AshleyStudent Adviser

Kent Union Advice Centre

10th April 2014

Disclaimer

The Presentation was given to students on 10th April 2014

The UKVI changes its rules in relation to Visas and Immigration frequently.

The information in this presentation is correct as at the 10th April 2014.

It is YOUR responsibility to check that you meet the requirements that are in place at the time you

make your application.

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The aims of today’s workshop

To provide PhD students who are nearing the end of their course with information about the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES). To include:

1. What is the DES?2. The benefits of applying3. Eligibility requirements4. When to apply5. How to apply6. What happens after you have made your

application.

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What is the DES?

• The DES was introduced in April 2013 as a new visa category to enable PhD students to remain in the UK for 12 months after completion of their course to gain work experience or look for skilled work.

• The student remains in the UK under Tier 4 of the points based system.

• The University continues to sponsor the student and must maintain contact with the Student at regular intervals during the 12 month period.

• The student will be allowed to work full time but ONLY once the University has confirmed to the UKVI that the student has successfully completed their course and has been awarded their PhD.

• If you do not maintain contact with the University or your Immigration status changes the University is required to report this to the UKVI and sponsorship will be withdrawn.

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The benefits of DES

If your DES application is successful:

•You will be allowed to work in any role (Except as a Doctor or Dentist in training or as a professional sportsperson)

•You can work full time without restriction as to hours

•You can bring your dependants to the UK or apply to extend their current visas when you make your application

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Eligibility

• You must have a valid Tier 4 student visa on the date of your application.

• You must be a current student at the University of Kent.

• You can only apply from within the UK

• Your course end date must be no more than 60 days after the date of your application

• You must have evidence that you have the required funds for your living expenses.

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Eligibility

• If you have financial sponsorship for your course you must obtain your sponsors consent to your DES application

• If you have an ATAS certificate for your course you must make an application to renew the certificate UNLESS you will be making your DES application less than 28 days before your expected course end date. https://www.gov.uk/academic-technology-approval-scheme#how-to-apply

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Extensions to current Tier 4 visa to qualify for DES

• The University is unable to extend sponsorship on current Tier 4 visas for the sole purpose of qualifying for the DES

• PhD students are sponsored for 4 years (previously 3 years plus a 1 year continuation year)

• The University does not extend sponsorship past this period, as it’s the maximum period of registration as a PhD student under University regulations and the expectation is that students will complete their studies (including viva and corrections) within this time frame

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Sponsorship

• Requests for sponsorship are considered on an individual basis. Factors taken into consideration by the University:

No outstanding tuition fee debts with University Prior visa refusal history Engagement throughout doctorate Breaching current visa conditions Acting dishonestly and not cooperating with the University

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When can I apply?

• You can apply for the DES no more than 60 days before the expected end course date but you must apply

• before the expected course end date and

• before your current Tier 4 visa expires.

• The University cannot issue your CAS more than 60 days before the expected course end date.

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When is my course end date?

• This is not the same as the course end date which was set at the start of your current visa.

• The University defines your expected course end date as the date on which your name is entered on the pass list and is signed off by the Dean “…..[students] will be regarded as having successfully

completed their course on the date that their Tier 4 sponsor formally confirms that their PhD is completed to the standard required for the award of a PhD….” (para 57, Document 2 Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance 04/2014)

• Your course end date will be calculated once you have taken your Viva and will be based on the level of corrections you need to make to your thesis.

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How to apply

• Make sure you have read the Tier 4 Policy guidance paying particular attention to the DES requirements: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261401/Tier4migrantguidance.pdf

• You must apply to the Student records and Examinations office for a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies). You can find more information about this here: http://www.kent.ac.uk/student-records/students/des.html

• The University cannot issue your CAS more than 60 days before the expected course end date

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The application form

• You can submit your Tier 4 DES visa application (including any Dependants) online. Follow the steps below to access the UKVI online application form:

• Go to the UKVI website: https://apply.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/iapply.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=confirmAndDownload&com.sun.faces.portlet.CLEAR_STATE=true&_nfls=false&formId=Tier4&rpl=formList and click on ‘Apply Online’ on the menu to the left of the screen

• Click on ‘Register’ in the top right hand corner and follow the steps

• The UKVI will then send an email for you to activate the account and log on

• Click Apply online, click on Forms A-Z, then click on T and select the Tier 4 Student online application DO NOT use the “Tier 4 Print and Send” form as this is due to be deleted.

• Click Apply online at the bottom of the page and complete the form

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The application form

• The application is on the same form completed by all students applying for a Tier 4 visa. The only difference is in the section “course details” –

See the screen shot on the next slide:

• When you submit your application online you will be required to pay the fee of £422 by credit or debit card. If you have dependants you will need to pay a further fee of £422 for each dependant.

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The Application Form

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What documents will you need for your DES application?• Your CAS

• A valid ATAS certificate if this applies to you

• Your current passport and any old passports used for travel to the UK

• Your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you have one

• Up to date Police Registration Certificate (PRC) if you are required to register

• 2 recent passport photos that meet the UKVI Photo guidance

• Evidence of required funds for living expenses

• Letter of consent from sponsor

All documents MUST be ORIGINALS. If you have dependants you may need to submit extra documents

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After your application

• You will receive a biometric appointment letter from the UKVI and will need to take the letter and barcode to your nearest Post Office to give your biometrics. A further fee of £19.20 is payable at the Post Office.

• Once you have given your biometrics the UKVI will look at your paper application.

• Processing times can be anything from 3-8 weeks from the date on which you give your biometrics. (The UKVI target is 20 working days)

• If your application is successful the UKVI will write to you to confirm this and will return your passport and all your other documents.

• Your new visa will be in the form of a BRP which will be returned to you separately by courier. The new BRP should state that you have been granted a “Tier 4 (G) DOCT EXT SCH” visa.

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After your application - continued

• Check that all the details on your BRP are correct!!! Errors must be reported within 10 days or you may have to pay a fee.

• Inform the University that your visa has been granted and show the Student Records and Examinations office your new BRP.

• Inform the University of any changes to your contact details, visa status or if you leave the country before your visa expires and you don’t intend to return.

• Make sure that you respond to all contacts from the University throughout the duration of your DES visa.

• You cannot extend a Tier 4 DES visa. You must apply for a new visa in another category or leave the UK before your DES visa expires

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Monitoring

• Para 80 Document 3 Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance (04/14)

You must maintain contact with them. At a minimum, there must be at least two contact points at regular intervals during the time the migrant is on the scheme. You should determine the most appropriate format for these contacts…..Skype, telephone contact or contact by email. You must tell us if the student misses a scheduled contact with you …….

• The University will contact you at least three times throughout year Beginning, middle and towards the end of the year (review

form)

• Missed contact points: Two further attempts, if no response or not able to re-

establish contact then sponsorship is withdrawn

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University Expectations

• You will provide us with your biometric residence permit and passport (we are required to keep copies)

• Keep your contact details up to date (through SDS or Student Records office stu_rec@kent.ac.uk)

• Abide by the conditions of your DES visa

• Notify the University if you switch to another type of visa (eg. Tier 2 or spousal)

• Maintain contact with University through established contact points so the University can comply with its monitoring duties

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Further help:

• Kent Union Student Advice CentreMandela BuildingWeb: http://www.kentunion.co.uk/advice/international/workingintheukafteryourstudies/ Email: advice@kent.ac.ukPhone: 01227 827724 (9am to 12 noon weekdays)Drop in: 1pm to 3pm each weekdayAppointments: Ring reception on 01227 824200

• UK Council for International Student AffairsWeb: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/ Student helpline: 020 7788 9214 (1- 4pm weekdays)

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Conclusion

• Any questions?

• Thank you for attending today – please complete the feedback form and leave on the table for us to collect.

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