Changes to Tier 4

Schools, Colleges and Universities around the UK that are registered by the UKBA as Tier 4 sponsors should be aware of the importance of complying with their sponsorship duties.

As of 21 April 2011, B-rated Tier 4 sponsors will not be able to sponsor non-EEA national students unless they are existing students who need to extend their stay in the UK to continue with a course of study. This means that A-rated sponsors and Highly Trusted Sponsors will want to ensure that they are not downgraded to a B-rating.

Compliance with duties as a Sponsor as set out in Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance, is more important than ever. From April 2012, all Sponsors will have to hold Highly Trusted Status in order to sponsor non-EEA nationals. In order to retain an A-rating and be successful in an application for Highly Trusted Status, the UKBA will be scrutinising the practices and procedures that an institution has in place for monitoring the movement of students, record keeping, ensuring that students have permission to study and record keeping. The UKBA is also looking closely at visa/leave to remain refusal rates and the percentage of students failing to enrol and complete their course if study.

The downgrading of a licence in the event of non-compliance and the refusal of a Highly Trusted Licence application, will prevent Sponsors from taking on new students under Tier 4 and in the latter case, prevent Sponsors from applying for a further Highly Trusted licence for 6 months from the date of refusal