INTERNATIONAL
MASTERS
IN ECONOMY,
STATE & SOCIETY
with reference to
Central and Eastern Europe
Erasmus Mundus Funding Category A deadline: 17 December 2010
Erasmus Mundus Funding Category B deadline: 29 April 2011
IMESS Bursary deadline: 29 April 2011
Non-scholarship deadline: 29 April 2011
Visiting Scholars deadline: 31 January 2011
IMESS Student Handbook
UK Visa Renewal
The UCL Batch Scheme
Your initial visa application will probably only cover you for your first year of study. During year 1 of the programme we will provide you with the support necessary for obtaining your year 2 visa.
If your Visa or Entry Clearance runs out before you have completed your study, then you will have to apply for leave to remain in the UK as a student. Information about whether you are eligible and how to apply is available from the UK Border Agency. You will need to complete an FLR(S) form, and submit it along with supporting documentation to the Home Office before your visa expires. We advise that you submit the form 4 – 6 weeks before this date. You can pick these forms up from the UCL International Office, or alternatively you can download them here.
It is extremely important that you renew your visa before it expires. If you do not, you will be in breach of the immigration rules, and you will not have appeal rights.
Please note that you cannot renew your visa at the airport.
Your supporting documentation:
- Valid passport for you and your dependants
- Two passport photographs for you and any dependants, with your name written on the back
- Three months of recent bank statements on headed paper. You should use the statements that you receive from your bank through the post. If you do not have enough, you can request your bank to print out statements for you, but these must be stamped and signed by the bank to prove authenticity.
- An Unconditional Offer or Enrolment letter is essential. If you only hold a conditional offer, you should seek further advice from the International Office as you will not be issued a student visa with this.
- Attendance and Progress. You will need a Certificate of Student Status from the Student Records Office. It will show that you are enrolled, the start and finish dates, attendance and progress. Your department will need to fill it in. This must be returned to Student Records who will produce the Certificate.
- Police registration certificates for you and any dependants. It is very important that it is up to date as failing to do so is a breach of the immigration rules .
- If you receive regular financial support from family or friends, you will need to provide the following:
- A letter from them stating how much they give, and how long they will continue to support you.
- Proof that they can support you, e.g. 3 months of their recent bank statements or a letter from their employer stating their salary, and that they have a permanent position.
- If you receive one or more scholarships, you will need a letter from the scholarship body confirming continued support. If your scholarship period has ended, the scholarship body must provide a letter giving their consent to your continuing to study in the UK.
Please Note: the Home Office is obliged to issue visas according to the date given on the scholarship letter (normally visas for students on degree courses expire 4 months after the end date of the course). Your scholarship body may be willing to state in the letter that they give their consent to your being in the UK up to 4 months after your course ends; this will enable the Home Office to grant you the maximum amount of time that they can.
- If you are writing up a thesis or re-sitting exams, you will need a letter from your tutor/supervisor confirming this and supporting your application. If you are writing up a thesis, the letter should indicate when you are expected to complete your work. And if you are re-sitting exams, the department should indicate that it expects you to pass the exam successfully on the next occasion.
How to submit your application
You have three options as listed below (you will find relevant addresses on the application form):
Premium Service - £500
You can go in person to the Home Office in Croydon. Your application should be processed the same day, provided the application is complete and there are no complications. If you pay by cheque, you will have to return to have your application processed once your cheque has cleared (you will find the phone number and address on the form).
Postal Service - £295
You can post your own application and supporting documents to the Home Office. It can take up to 13 weeks to process applications from the date that the Home Office receives them (you will find the address on the form).
UCL Batch Scheme - £295
You can submit your application to the International Office as part of this fast track scheme. Processing normally takes between 4 and 6 weeks. Complex applications may take up to 13 weeks. Students are also informed about the Premium Service where students make an appointment in person and have the visa issued the same day, provided that the application is complete.
We would advise students who need to travel urgently to submit their application in person. Applications can be submitted through the Batch Scheme but if any problems arise - for example, with the postal service - they may jeopardise your plans to travel. If you do intend to travel urgently you should provide evidence of this, e.g. a ticket, or a letter from your department if you are travelling for your course.
Using the UCL Batch Scheme
You must do the following in order to take part in this scheme:
1. Complete the form, ensuring you leave the following sections blank :
Payment Details: |
Sections 6 & 7, Page 3 |
Section 1, Applicant's Details: |
Sections 1.13 & 1.14, Page 4 |
2. Obtain all the required documentation. Ensure that they are originals . Make copies of all your documents, including the application form, to hand in with your application. Also keep copies for yourself.
3. Go to the UCL Union Rights and Advice Centre to have the application checked:
Place: 1 st Floor, Bloomsbury Theatre |
You will also be asked to complete a registration form. Once it is completed, an Advisor will sign it.
4. Hand in the application to the International Office for processing.
Place: Rm 19, 1st Floor, South Wing |
Applications without a signed registration form from Rights and Advice will not be processed.
5. You must pay using postal orders. These can be obtained from any Post Office. There is a charge of £8.75 to issue them, and credit and debit cards are not accepted. The nearest Post Offices are at Russell Square and opposite Kings Cross Station. You should clearly write your name, date of birth and nationality on the back of the postal order and ask to have HOME OFFICE LEAVE TO REMAIN printed on the postal order.
Please note:
1. UCL cannot accept applications that have less than 10 working days left before the visa expires. If this is the case you can still submit using the Postal or Premium Service. It is vitally important that you make your application before your visa expires. If your visa expires whilst you are in the UK, and you have not made a renewal application, you will be in breach of the immigration rules.
2. You must follow the instructions on the form carefully, including using black ink to complete the form.
3. You must hand in the registration form from Rights and Advice with your application, otherwise UCL cannot process your application through the Batch Scheme.
4. You must hand in copies of all your documents including the application form alongside the originals.
After submission
The International Office will be in correspondence with the Home Office regarding your application. They will keep you informed of any changes to its status. Please do not enquire about your application until after 4 weeks from the date of submission. Once your passport has been returned to the International Office, a member of staff will contact you. You will then need to collect your passport from the Office between 10am and 4pm. Please ensure that you have your Student ID with you.
If you need any further advice, information or clarification on extending your stay in the UK, please contact international@ucl.ac.uk.
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