Current position
- Guidance has been updated for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents. Anyone teaching students on a visit visa can let students know they can apply from any VAC. There is also more information for those applying to stay on the right to family and private life.
- Guidance for Student sponsors, migrants and short-term students on temporary concessions in response to the outbreak of coronavirus has been updated, primarily to reflect the release of the new Points Based System guidance on 5th October. Critically they have clarified that blended learning is permitted for the 2020/21 academic year and that all students can study via blended or distance learning.
- UUK has released guidance for international students arriving in the UK. Read in full.
- New international student immigration routes are to open early. The Student route and Child Student route will open on 5 October 2020. Read the Home Office statement.
- There is now updated guidance for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents. Those whose leave is expiring and have not yet applied for an extension in the UK are expected to take all reasonable steps to leave or apply to regularize their stay. Those leaving have been given a month’s grace period until 31 August. Those individuals unable to leave by 31 August must request ‘exceptional indemnity’ via the coronavirus immigration team (CIT)
- The Home Office has released new guidance for students and providers of Tier 4 and short-term study which replaces all guidance issued to date. Read the guidance for clarification around language testing, starting courses online, extending leave in the UK, online contact points, hours of study, volunteering and more.
- Visa holders and short-term residents can apply to have their leave extended to 31 May 2020 by contacting UKVI’s Coronavirus Immigration Team.
Official guidance
- International students Covid-19 messaging script
- Department for Education – Travel guidance for education settings
- Home Office – Covid-19 factsheet: visa customers outside of the UK
- Home Office – Covid-19 factsheet: visa holders and short-term residents in the UK
- Home Office – Covid-19 factsheet: guidance for sponsors
- Home Office – Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for Tier 2, 4 and 5 sponsors
- Joint ministerial letter to international students on 9th April 2020
- Joint ministerial letter to international students’ on 22nd June 2020
- Home Office – Coronavirus (COVID-19): Tier 4 sponsors, migrants and short-term students
- UKVI new guidance for visa migrants and visitors which gives those with leave expiring 31 July 2020 a month’s grace period to get a new visa or leave the UK. Those with leave until 31 August 2020 have the full month of August to do the same.
- The Home Office has made revisions to the guidance for migrants and visitors. This includes a new process for replacing expiring 30-day visas now that VACs are re-opening and a clarification that a new replacement will be valid for 90 days.
- Home Office – Updated Covid-19 guidance for Visa holders in the UK
Useful resources
- UKCISA – Information for international students
- UKCISA – Mindfulness seminar
- UKCISA – HEPI Blog Looking after international students during the Covid-19 crisis – and after
- Carter Thomas – Guidance on Tier 4 student coronavirus (Covid-19) related absences
- Carter Thomas – UK immigration updates
- IC Cafe Webinars – HE International Student Recruitment Covid-19 Tracker
- British Council – All Chinese provinces have now announced dates for the staggered reopening of schools and universities
Joint ministerial letter to international students
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan MP has published a joint letter with her counterparts within the devolved administrations addressed to international students seeking to study in the UK. The letter,which IHE members have been asked to send to their prospective students, is written to ensure prospective students feel confident in their decision to come to the UK. It highlights:
- Universities and education providers are recruiting now and on an ongoing basis.
- The UK is launching a new Graduate work route for international students that will enable individuals to work, or look for work in the UK, at any skill level for two years after graduation.
- UK degrees main a globally high standard even if some provision is delivered online
- The UK government and devolved administrations are committed to safeguarding student wellbeing and safety
Please take a look on our website to read the documents in full.