Comments | brits_americans: Home student classification?

the_gwenzilliad in brits_americans

Home student classification?

Jul 01, 2009 17:42

My settlement visa (spouse) dates from September, 2005. My ILR dates from 2007. I thought the classification would be from the date of my settlement visa and place me firmly in the home student bracket, since I've had residency for more than the three years I've seen specified. However, a recent postgraduate application has landed in my prospective ( Read more... )

studying in the uk

Comments 7

tisiphone July 1 2009, 16:48:06 UTC

Contact them and ask, they might just not be used to dealing with that particular situation or might not have noticed you had an earlier visa.

raketje July 1 2009, 17:03:06 UTC

Thank you for asking this! I'm trying to get into a programme for Sept 2010, and will have a similar problem, m'thinks!

mrs_ralph July 1 2009, 17:05:09 UTC

Definately get in touch with school's department for international admissions. They will have all information and can help you get it straightened out.

As a side note I was amused at the way different places and government departments regard my time of residency. Immigration regards me as resident from the time I entered the country on a tourist visa, NI seems to regard me as resident from the time I had my first marriage visa and DWP regards me as resident from the time I had my first visa that allowed me to work. I think there is nearly a 12 month difference between the first date and the last date so it was pretty confusing for a while there.

lilitu93 July 1 2009, 20:59:16 UTC

I'm not sure what the cutoff is, but I'd been living in the UK for 7+ years when I did my MSc, and I still had to fill out a form after being accepted to prove that I was a UK student, even though I'd specified that on my application.

So even if you technically do qualify, don't be surprised if academic bureaucracy makes you prove it over and over again.

dancingxstar July 9 2009, 11:16:19 UTC

I was counted from the time I moved into the UK (as a dependent on a fiance visa) for my home student status, but I did have to fill in additional forms for every uni I applied to, despite it being clear that I'd been in the country long enough. So, it should be fine, just a bit of a pain in the ass to sort out.

the_gwenzilliad July 9 2009, 17:33:20 UTC

Yeah, unfortunately they are saying that I can have no restrictions on any of my visas, and the spousal visa says 'no recourse to public funds', so even though I've been living and working in the UK for four years, I apparently don't qualify.

dancingxstar July 9 2009, 18:25:27 UTC

Ah, I was on indefinite leave to remain when I applied, which I guess made the difference, although I certainly saw nothing about anything like that when I was applying...