Visa and immigration information
The Student Information and Advisory Service provides visa and immigration information to new applicants and to current students studying at Oxford. This includes how to obtain a visa to study whether you apply from overseas or within the UK, correcting visa errors, information about your status and your legal obligations, immigration for family members, travel during your stay and staying on to work after your studies.
Latest visa information
Interviews for Tier 4 student visa applicants
The UK Government have introduced immigration interviews for those applying for a Tier 4 student visa and it is the intention to roll the process out to most countries by the end of 2013 (excluding those nationals/passport holders from "low risk" countries who apply in that country). See the UKCISA webpage for the current list.
Working after studies - new schemes for DPhil and MBA students
Tier 4 Doctorate Extension scheme NEW
From 6 April 2013 students completing a PhD (DPhil) in the UK will be allowed to remain for one year to find work or set up a business. For further information see the After your Studies page.
There will also be the opportunity for MBA graduates to apply under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) scheme to set up in business.
Proposed increase in visa fees
Visa fees are set to rise with effect from 6 April 2013. For details of the proposed new fees see the UK Border Agency Latest News Page under "Related Documents".
Loans and loan letters
From 28 February 2013 a letter confirming financial support through a loan for the purposes of obtaining a Tier 4 student visa must state:
"the loan is provided by the national government, the state or regional government or a government sponsored student loan company or is part of an academic or educational loans scheme"
You will be unable to use a loan if is does not meet one of the above requirements. See the UKCISA website for more information
Pre-entry TB Testing for Students
Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa (including Lesotho and Swaziland) and Zimbabwe
Student visa applications made in Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, South Africa/Lesotho/Swaziland and Zimbabwe must now be accompanied by a valid TB clearance certificate. This requirement is only required for student applications for visas longer than 6 months and does not affect anyone coming to the UK on a 6 month student visitor visa.
Please see the UKBA webpage for the relevant country (for example UKBA Malaysia)
International Students contacted by Capita
Unlike the recent telephone scam (see below), the UKBA have employed Capita to contact students who no longer have immigration permission to remain in the UK. This is not a scam. However, some students are being contacted in error. Please read the information on the UKCISA site but if you face any difficulties please contact us at student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk
Beware visa scam targeting International Students
Some students have received calls from people claiming to be from UKBA and telling students to pay money to correct an error with their visa or application. These calls are fraudulent. UKCISA have advice on what to do below. Please report any such calls to us: student.immigration@admin.ox.ac.uk.
The UK Council for International Student Affiars (UKCISA) have information on all of these announcements.
