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Essentials International students Visa and immigration Visa compliance

Visa compliance

Enrolling at the University of Reading

Visa documentation requirements

Before enrolling on your course at the University of Reading, you will need to provide evidence of your right to study in the UK. This could be in the form of your current visa or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or, if you have submitted an immigration application inside the UK and are waiting for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration, you will need to provide evidence of that application. 

Visa 

This is a currently valid visa which is stuck in your passport or travel document. This may be your initial entry clearance visa to enter the UK or a visa which is valid for the duration of your UK immigration permission (leave).

Visas can be green, yellow and pink or blue and pink. Example Visa.

Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)

BRPs are now issued to all those from outside the European Economic Area who are granted a visa to enter the UK for more than six months. A BRP is a visa in the form of a small plastic card, the size of a credit card and holds your personal details (name, date and place of birth), biometric information (facial image and fingerprints) and shows your immigration status and working conditions while you are in the UK. Example BRP.

Outstanding immigration application made inside the UK

If you have made an immigration application inside the UK and are waiting for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), you can enrol on your course whilst the application is under consideration but you must provide evidence of this. The University requires confirmation of the date you made and paid for your application and the application must have been submitted before your previous immigration permission (leave) expired. Evidence the University can accept includes:

  • a payment confirmation email or a Document Checklist cover sheet (both of which would have been generated when your application was submitted); 
  • written confirmation from a solicitor acting on your behalf that your application has been submitted; or
  • written confirmation from UKVI that they have received your application. 

You will also be required to provide evidence of your previous immigration permission (leave) so that the University can confirm that your application was made before it expired. 

If the University is unable to confirm from your documents the type of application you made, the date it was paid for, that it was made before the expiry of any previous leave or if it has been outstanding for longer than the advertised processing time without a decision being received, the University may have to carry out a right to study check with UKVI.  The University will need your consent to do this. If your do not give consent and the right to study check cannot be done, you will not be allowed to enrol on your course until satisfactory (as determined by the University) evidence has been provided and verified.

 

Protecting your Tier 4 Visa

You must ensure that you comply with the conditions of your Tier 4 visa. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and can have very serious consequences for your leave to remain in the UK. It can result in the refusal of future UK visa applications you might wish to make, for a period of up to ten years.  

You must not stay in the UK beyond the expiration of your Tier 4 visa (unless you have made an application to remain in the UK before your visa expires).

You must not work more hours than your visa allows, find out more.

 

Your Tier 4 visa responsibilities

Please read and make sure you understand the University of Reading’s Institutional Tier 4 Compliance Policy.

You must cooperate with the University in fulfilling its Tier 4 Sponsorship duties. By working together, we can ensure you comply with the conditions of your Tier 4 visa. You must: 

  • Provide the University with your passport and visa documentation at enrolment. Thereafter, you should provide the University with any renewed/replacement passports and visas so that we always hold a copy of your current immigration documentation. 
  •  Provide the University with evidence of any applications for further leave to remain in the UK during the course of your studies with us. 
  • Inform the University if you change into a different visa category and provide evidence of your new visa. 
  • Inform the University if you acquire a different nationality and provide evidence of your new nationality. 
  • Ensure your current UK term-time contact details (address and phone number) are held on your RISIS web portal at all times.
  • Register with the police and, once registered, inform the police of any changes to the details on your police registration certificate. This requirement is not applicable to all students. To check if you are required to register with the police, find out more.
  • Attend and engage in all academic aspects of your course. 

Failure to comply with these responsibilities can lead to the University of Reading withdrawing sponsorship of your Tier 4 visa. This will mean it is cancelled by the Home Office and you will need to leave the UK. 

For more information on your responsibilities as a Tier 4 student, you can contact the University’s Home Office Compliance Officer at immigration@reading.ac.uk. 

The University of Reading’s Tier 4 visa responsibilities

Please read and make sure you understand the University of Reading’s Institutional Tier 4 Compliance Policy.

If you are undertaking a work placement, please read and make sure you understand the University of Reading's Tier 4 Work Placement agreement.

As a Tier 4 sponsor, the University of Reading is required to act in accordance with Home Office policy. The International Student Advisory Team is responsible for overseeing The University of Reading’s compliance with the Home Office’s Tier 4 policy. The University must: 

  • Hold a copy of your current passport and immigration documentation.
  • Hold up-to-date UK term-time contact details for you, including both address and phone number.
  • Monitor your attendance and engagement with your studies.
  • Notify the Home Office if you do not enrol on your course as expected.
  • Notify the Home Office if there is a change of circumstances with your studies, for example if you change course, suspend or withdraw from your studies prior to completion or you complete earlier than the expected course end date given on your CAS.
  • Notify the Home Office if we believe you are breaching the conditions of your leave (e.g. working more hours than is allowed by your visa).

If the University of Reading fails to comply with its responsibilities, it can lead to the Home Office revoking its Tier 4 sponsor licence. 

 

Additional Resources

 

Return to International student support