General terms and conditions
The Student Immigration Service (SIS) offer Student visa related immigration advice to applicants, current students, and recent graduates of the University of Bath. We are also able to offer guidance and information on other immigration routes and visa related issues.
SIS is regulated by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), and we offer immigration advice and information in line with OISC Guidance. SIS advisers are fully trained to OISC level 2 for Student visa immigration advice.
The Immigration Services Commissioner has the power to examine students’ files and you have the right to complain to the Commissioner at any time. Additionally, the University of Bath Student Complaints Procedure makes sure that any complaint made to the University is fairly investigated and resolved.
SIS advisers will support you as much as possible to achieve the best possible outcome to your immigration status so that you can continue to study unhindered. Advisers must also act in accordance with the University’s sponsor duties as a Student visa sponsor. As such, SIS policies and procedures are in place to safeguard our Student visa Sponsor Licence.
Immigration rules are subject to frequent change. Advice you receive from our advisers, and the information on our web pages is reviewed regularly. However, advisers have no control over when advice provided may no longer be valid due to policy changes. Therefore, it remains your responsibility to ensure that you meet the immigration requirements and to check any previous advice or information is still valid before taking any action.
SIS can help you to check that your documents meet the Student visa requirements and, in the case of current students, that your application is complete and accurate. However, the ultimate responsibility for this remains with you, the visa applicant. We do not accept liability for applications that are returned invalid or refused.
We may send you written confirmation via email of issues that we have discussed with you that may adversely affect your application. We may also record case notes and contact you with any updates. It is your responsibility to check your records on SAMIS and your email accounts regularly for correspondence.
It is your responsibility to make sure you have valid immigration permission to study in the UK, to keep your contact details up to date on SAMIS, and to let SIS know if there are any changes to your circumstances or studies, you have changed your immigration permission, have a new passport, or a new Biometric Residence Permit.
Visa sponsorship
The University will act as your Student visa sponsor for the duration of your studies, and your Student visa is therefore issued for your studies at the University of Bath. If you have a Student visa for a different institution, you can't begin a course at the University of Bath, (unless the University has a partnership agreement with your institution).
As your Student visa sponsor, the University of Bath complies with UKVI regulations and requirements. In certain circumstances, the University of Bath is required to withdraw sponsorship of your Student visa. This will result in the visa being cancelled by UKVI. The University has no control over the visa cancellation. As such the University does not accept liability for any financial loss (whether as part of the visa application costs, or travel costs) as a result of visa sponsorship being withdrawn. Students are encouraged to contact SIS if there are any changes to their studies or circumstances which may adversely affect their visa status.
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issuing
SIS reserve the right to refuse to issue a CAS in line with CAS issuing procedures for applicants and current students. The issuing of the CAS will be at the discretion of SIS at all times.
SIS will make the CAS statement available to you once they have evidence that you will be able to make a successful visa application. Information in the CAS is not legally binding and is subject to change (for example tuition fees). It is your responsibility to inform the Student Immigration Service if any details on your CAS are incorrect.
The issuing of your CAS does not guarantee a successful visa application. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet UKVI requirements and provide accurate and complete information, and supporting documentation when submitting your Student visa application.
Late arrivals
All students are expected to arrive for the start date of their course. Delays to arrival are permitted for a standard period of two weeks after the course start date for all students, except for pre-sessional students who are permitted to arrive up to one week late. For new international students requiring a Student visa, a latest date of arrival after the course start date is always stated on their CAS.
If you are experiencing exceptional circumstances which will delay your arrival beyond the latest date of arrival, such as visa or travel delays, you must notify your department and SIS. We will liaise with your Director of Studies to confirm whether the latest date of arrival can be extended. If it cannot be extended, the department will liaise with you, and SIS will withdraw visa sponsorship.
If a new latest date of arrival is agreed, SIS will notify UKVI as appropriate. You will not be able to commence studies until you arrive in the UK in accordance with Student visa regulations - remote study overseas is not permitted.
Any non-visa related consequences of a late arrival are the responsibility of the student and the department.
SIS advisers and contact details
- Jessica Scott, Head of Student Immigration
- Natasha Tiley, Senior Student Immigration Adviser
- Aneta Venables, Senior Student Immigration Adviser
- Carolyn Dyer, Student Immigration Adviser
- Tom Elsworth, Student Immigration Adviser
- Adam Flint, Student Immigration Adviser
- Rebecca Intavarant, Student Immigration Adviser
- Lucie Oghomone, Student Immigration Adviser
Relevant policies and procedures for Student visa holders
- Terms and Conditions for applicants
- Admissions terms and conditions of offer (undergraduate and postgraduate)
- Data protection statement for student registration
- Academic engagement monitoring policy
- Applicant CAS issuing procedure
- Current student CAS issuing procedure
- Time limits for study procedure
- OISC client care letter
- Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) procedure
- Student Immigration Service policies and procedures to ensure UKVI compliance