> Protect your Student Visa - Essential tips for Student visa holders

Check your eVisa

• Check that there are no errors on your eVisa, such as your name
• Check any conditions attached to your visa such as working conditions
• Make sure you have been given enough time to complete your studies - your visa end date should include four months after your course end date on your Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (CAS)
• Be sure to report and amend any errors on your eVisa
• Your visa is your responsibility - make sure you know when it runs out.  If you need to remain in the UK after this date, then take action at least 3 months before its expiry date.  

Attend lectures and stay engaged with your studies

• Study must be full-time, in person and in the UK (fully on-line study is not permitted)
• You must request authorised absence if you will be out of studies during term time.  Failure to do so will mean you will be recorded as having taken unauthorised absence.

  Please be aware that unauthorised or prolonged absence can have serious implications for your immigration status.

  Absence may not only affect your ability to extend your current Student Visa, but it could also impact future visa applications—including the Graduate Route—after you complete your studies.

  In addition, any absence (including authorised absence) may impact any future visa application as you may be required to meet strict Home Office financial requirements before a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) can be issued.

• You risk being withdrawn as a student and having your visa cancelled if you don’t attend and engage with your studies
• Please note: There is a Home Office time limit on how long you can study at degree level in the UK on a Student Visa.  Repeating or deferring modules could take you beyond this limit, meaning you may not be able to extend your Student Visa to complete your studies.
• If you wish to change programmes (transfer), then you may need to leave the UK and apply for a new visa first

Stick to your working conditions

• At degree level and above you can work 20 hrs per week  during term time.  You should check that you have been given the correct working conditions in your Student Visa
• Any errors with your visa working conditions must be reported to SITCompliance@herts.ac.uk immediately.

The 20 hour limit:

• Is strictly per week, defined as running from Monday to Sunday
• 20 hours is the total number of hours you can work per week,and must never be averaged over a longer period of time.
• 20 hours includes paid and unpaid work, on-call hours, on-the job training and working as a voluntary worker.
• Make sure you check the type of work you can do.  https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student-advice/working/student-work/

Exceptions:

• Unless you are a research student, you are allowed to work full time during University vacation periods and while on a University-approved work placement

Pay your fees on time

• You risk being withdrawn as a student and having your visa cancelled if you don’t pay your tuition and fees by the deadline dates (known as ‘liability dates’). Read more about the student tuition and fee payment rules.

Keep your contact details and visa information up to date

• If anything has changed in the passport and visa you first registered with when you joined Herts, please make sure you send a new copy to SITCompliance
• It’s also essential to inform SITCompliance of any changes to your immigration status, such as if you’ve been refused a visa or you’ve changed to another immigration category
• Learn how to update your contact details if your name or address changes, and be sure to keep your contact details with the Home Office up to date.
• If you get a new passport, make sure you link this to your e-visa.

Understand the University's policy on international students

• It's important that you read and understand the University's policy on the requirements for Student Route applicants and students which explains when we will need to withdraw visa sponsorship, and provides other essential information. 

Make sure you do not miss out on the Graduate Visa (GV - known as ‘graduate route’)

• The Graduate Visa (GV) allows international graduates to remain in the UK to work or to look for work after successfully completing their studies
• You must have valid student leave to remain at the point of application and you can only apply while you are already in the UK
• Your award must be locked and the University must confirm your successful award to the Home Office before you can apply

Read your emails – you could risk losing your visa sponsorship 

• As a visa holder you are responsible for maintaining contact with the University as your visa sponsor
• The University uses emails to communicate with you so you could miss out on important or urgent reminders if you don’t read your emails regularly
• Don’t forget to check your junk folder and add our mailing addresses to your ‘safe list’
• The email address we use to contact you will be the personal email you used when you first registered, so if you change your email, be sure you update your record
• Many emails to international students require an urgent response, so if we email you and you don’t reply we must assume that you have left and your visa sponsorship will be cancelled