Closures, Curtailment and other Tier 4 related information

As many of you know, the UKVI (Home Office), took action and is still taking action against colleges and universities that break the Tier 4 sponsor rules.

Please take note of the following:


Glyndwr University is only able to issue CAS for their Wrexham campus and they have very strict controls over their London campus. They must also close their Elephant and Castle campus by the summer of 2015.  In other words, if you wish to apply to this university, you must be willing to go to Wrexham.


COURSE INFORMATION TOOL (CIT):
The CIT contains details of courses that licensed Tier 4 sponsors are offering to students who wish to find a new sponsor, in order to continue their studies in the UK.

Students of some revoked colleges may have received a letter with a unique code which allows them to find a new approved Tier 4 sponsor via the special link given.

This special feature will expire and no longer be available from 23rd March 2015.

Please make sure you have taken all the details of the relevant colleges/universities you may be interested in applying to.



CURTAILMENT LETTERS (60day letters)
Students who have been studying at an institution that has surrendered its licence or had its licence revoked do not need a curtailment letter from the Home Office in order to find a new sponsor.

Sponsors wishing to offer a course place to such a student do not need to see a curtailment letter before they issue a CAS.
 

PASSPORT / DOCUMENTS still with UKVI (Home Office)
Many students who have applied for extensions of the Tier 4 visas and were enroled to a revoked college, have had the UKVI retain their documents.

In most cases, the UKVI would have sent you a letter and a copy of your documents in order for you to show your new potential Tier 4 sponsor as proof that your documents are with the Home Office.

If you have not yet received this letter and your documents are with UKVI, you are advised to ensure you get these as soon as possible or have proof that your documents were given to and are still with Home Office.   In this circumstance it is best you hire an immigration solicitor.

For advice on applying to a new Tier 4 college, please click here.


Please note:
Colleges / Universities in the UK who are on the Highly Trusted Tier 4 sponsor list are only interested in genuine students.

They will not be taking your application further if you cannot show progression, do not have the English language qualifications,  do not know the name of the course you wish to study at their school or if one of your questions is 'how much is your CAS'.

College Revoked,What to do next

If your college has been revoked, or suspended it is advised that you start looking for a new Highly Trusted Tier 4 sponsor immediately.

Do not wait to receive the 60 day notification letter from UKVI as you may have missed the enrolment date of many colleges.

You will also need to have as many of your documents as possible to show to the Admissions and Compliance officers at the new college.

Our friends at  Student Recruitment International have created a check list of the documents you will need to provide.  CLICK HERE for more information.

Remember:
As we mentioned in a previous post: If you are at a college that has been suspended, IMMEDIATELY ask for and make sure you get - a copy of ALL your transcripts, progression letters, certificates, CAS letters and other relevant academic records.  This is to avoid being in a situation of not being able to access these documents should the UKVI take the decision to revoke the license of your college.

IF your college has already been revoked, keep requesting your document or copies of your documents.  They should not be charging you to receive these documents.  You have paid for your course and if it  has not been completed, most likely the revoked college owes you money.

Do seek the advice of a solicitor if the college refuses to hand over your documents.

Update on Tier 4 Suspended Colleges - August 2014

Please see below for the latest list released 21st August 2014, of UK based colleges / universities that have had their TIER 4 licenses, CAS allocations re-instated, revoked completely or suspended pending an investigation after 24th June 2014.



 The following Universities have had their license reinstated

 1.       University of Bedfordshire (CAS allocations reinstated on 5th August)


The following colleges have either had their license revoked or surrendered after 24th June 2014.
  

1.       Alpha Meridian College – (Revoked)
2.       Birmingham Institute of Education Training & Technology  – (Revoked)
3.       Bradford College of Management – (Surrendered)
4.       Bradford Metropolitan College – (Revoked)
5.       Britain College  – (Surrendered)
6.       College of Excellence Limited – (Revoked)
7.       Eynsford College – (Revoked)
8.       Hammersmith Management College – (Revoked)
9.       Katherine and King's College of London – (Revoked)
10.   Kinnaird College – (Revoked)
11.   London School of Technology – (Revoked)
12.   Midlands Academy of Business and Technology – (Revoked)
13.   Queensbury College – (Revoked)
14.   Shakespeare College – (Revoked)
15.   Stanfords College UK Ltd – (Revoked)
16.   Superior College London -– (Revoked)
17.   UK Business Academy – (Revoked)
18.   West London Business College – (Revoked)


 The following colleges have had their license suspended after 24th June 2014.

 1.       Alpha College
2.       APS Computer Solutions Ltd Trading as Pitman Training Centre Peterborough
3.       Birmingham Informatics College
4.       Blake Hall College
5.       Bradford Regional College
6.       Bristol College of Accountancy
7.       CAHRO Academy Ltd
8.       Central College London (Huawen Institute Division)
9.       Central College of Studies (CCS)
10.   Central Cranbrook College
11.   Citizen 2000 Education Institute
12.   City of London Academy
13.   College of Advanced Studies
14.   College of East London
15.   Cranford College
16.   Essex College Ltd
17.   Finance and Business Training Ltd (FBT)
18.   Forbes Graduate School
19.   Helios International College
20.   IIM Bedford
21.   Interlink College of Technology and Business Studies
22.   LIT LON Ltd
23.   London Academy of Management and Business (LAMB)
24.   London College of Business Management and Computing Studies
25.   London College of Finance and Accounting
26.   London Corporate College
27.   London Educators Limited
28.   London Empire Academy
29.   London Metropolitan College
30.   London Premier College Limited
31.   London Regal College
32.   London School of Advanced Studies
33.   London School of Business and Finance (LSBF)
34.   London School of Marketing Trading as LS Business School
35.   London St. Andrew's College
36.   Manchester College of Management Sciences Limited
37.   Manchester International College
38.   Manchester Trinity College Limited
39.   North West College Reading
40.   Pharez UK Ltd Trading as Pharez College
41.   Radcliffe College
42.   Sanjari International College
43.   South London College
44.   UK Vocational Training College Trading as UK College of Arts and Technology
45.   Vernon Community College
46.   West George College

List updated 21st August 2014 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-students)

More Colleges have their TIER 4 License revoked or suspended

Below is another listing of college in the United Kingdom that have had their Tier 4 License either completely revoked, suspended or in Legacy status -(to be shut pending outcome)

Again, be aware that if you are a student at these colleges, they will no longer be able to offer you a place as an International Student, issue a CAS letter which is needed for your Student Visa application or to renew your student visa.

• Williams College London (Tier 4 Licence revoked)
• Swarthmore College London (Tier 4 licence suspended)
• Lea Valley College (Tier 4 licence suspended)
• Access College London (Legacy)
• Bishopthrow College (Legacy)
• London College of Advantage Studies (Legacy)
• College of Excellence Limited (Legacy)
• Eternity College Ltd (Legacy)
• London West Valley College (Tier 4 licence Revoked)
• Future Training College (Legacy)
• Greys college Ltd (Legacy)
• London Educators Ltd (Legacy)
• London Learning Center (Legacy A)
• North London College (Legacy)
• Select International college (Legacy)
• Trinity College Ltd (Legacy)
• Cromwell College of IT & Management (Revoked)
• Westlink College (Revoked on 13 May 2014)

 For those not familiar with the term 'LEGACY SPONSOR'-:

UKVI  introduced Legacy sponsor for institutes/colleges who are unable to meet their standard requirements of Tier 4 licence.  As a result Legacy sponsor will be force to shut their activities in a specific time of period if the corrections/recommendations by UKVI upon further inspection within a specified period is not made.

You will need to do several things after finding out the exact situation from your college or even simply making the decision to change colleges as often times in our experience, the affected college does not inform their students in time or some even close without any notice to the students.

• Find a new Tier 4 Highly Trusted Sponsor (College/University)  before 60days or immediately
•  Try to get any refund that may be due to you from the college about to be closed
• Organise and pay Tuition fees for your new CAS to apply for your  new visa.
• Make sure you have enough maintenance funds as indicated by UKVI to apply  for your visa under a new Tier 4 sponsor.
• Book for IELTS/TOEFL  with a UKVI approved centre to prove your English proficiency to your new sponsor (some nationalities may not have to take an English test -click here)

For further advice contact:
Igor & Co Solicitors
Telephone:  +44 203 174 1311
Email: info@igorandco.co.uk 

CAS Letters & Student Visa Renewals

Do you have your CAS letter (Confirmation of Acceptance) from your college?

Remember Tier 4 - Student Visas are on the Points Based system:
* 30 points for a Confirmation for Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
* 10 points for maintenance funds

Is your school/college HIGHLY TRUSTED?  or 'A' rated?  If not, your student visa renewal may encounter many problems and be refused -   If your college is ‘B’ rated or lower, they may be restricted to how many CAS letters they can give. 

You may not get a CAS letter at all.

Without a CAS letter from your college, you will not be able to apply for your visa or renewal.

Don't be a victim of a visa refusal or lack of CAS letter.

CALL OR TEXT US NOW:   0794047 6082

Consultation appointments for students are reasonably priced and will be deducted from your overall fee should we be taking your case forward, representing you at UKBA or any appeals or court.

Send us an email with the details of your case / requirements and we will respond to you with an appointment date and time if needed.

Colleges Licenses Suspended & Downgraded

Within this last week, the UKBA has suspended several colleges licenses AND downgraded others to B rating, which means they are no longer a Highly Trusted Sponsor. 

This may mean that the downgraded colleges can have their license suspended or withdrawn shortly.
 
If your college is among one of these, this has an effect on you, your course and your student visa.  Especially if you will be needing to renew or your CAS letter.

For assistance or further information on how this affects you, your work permission, your family and your stay in the UK please contact us as soon as possible.

Email
britishvisas@gmail.com

Telephone
+44 794047 6082 - (text messages accepted)