Events > International Student Recruitment: Understanding and Working with the Points Based Immigration System

Event Details

Title:

International Student Recruitment: Understanding and Working with the Points Based Immigration System

Date:

Wednesday 10th March 2010

Time:

9:45am — 5:00pm

Venue:

One Whitehall Place at The Royal Horseguards

“From the end of March 2009, students applying to come to the UK will be assessed under the new points system … All education providers wishing to bring students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) into the UK will need a licence from the UK Border Agency. Education providers must: Ensure that students comply with the terms of their visa; and comply with record keeping duties – keeping copies of passports, keeping and updating student contact details.”
— Points Based System Tier 4 Implementation Plan (Phase Two), UK Border Agency

“From February 2010, all potential students applying in- and out-of-country will require a sponsor issued Confirmations of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to apply to the UK Border Agency. It will be mandatory for sponsors to use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) to issue a CAS to all potential students who are applying in- or out-of-country. Students will not be able to use visa letters to apply to the UK Border Agency for a Tier 4 visa once CAS are mandatory.”
— Points Based System Tier 4 Implementation Plan (Phase Four), UK Border Agency

Overview

The most radical shake-up of Britain’s immigration laws for over 35 years has now come into force. The complex and often confusing legislation dating back to the 1971 Immigration Act has been be superseded by a “single, consistent and coherent framework” for dealing with potential immigrants. One of the key elements of the new framework is the introduction of an ‘Australian-style’ points-based system which ministers believe will lead to a “clear and simple legal system for fast, but fair decisions”.

As part of the PBS implementation process, Tier 4 category regulations covering non-EU/EEA students came into force at the end of March 2009. With many colleges having already lost their sponsor’s license during this first year of the new framework, the impact on education providers of all types across the UK has been profound. With the international student market providing such a significant contribution economically, academically and culturally to this country’s education sector, particularly universities, it is imperative that institutions are up to speed with the new system and are fully compliant with UK Border Agency procedures.

As we embark upon the latest stage of the PBS implementation plan (Phase 4), this special one-day training seminar, hosted by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies, provides a timely opportunity for education providers, international student recruitment officers and advisers to understand the new immigration landscape and its impact on vetting, sponsoring and recruiting overseas students. As well as providing an overview of the new legislative framework, some of the themes to be explored at the seminar include:

Understanding the New Points-Based System

Ensuring Your Institution is Licensed and Maintains Compliance

Legislative Update, UKBA Priorities and the PBS in Practice

Implications for ‘Gap-Year’ Students and Student Working Holidays

Recruiting Non-EU Teaching and Support Staff

Programme