Work abroad

[balth]

Hello, one of the restrictions of the student visa is that the visa holder can only work part-time, up to 20 hours, within the UK. Could someone, then, infer that this does not apply in the case where one moves to another country for full-time employment? Would this breach the conditions of the visa?

[meself2]

If you live in another country, then you're under the conditions of the visa you have for the other country - UK laws and restrictions have nothing ot do with this.

Are you planning to move abroad while studying or? The obvious question that UKVI might get is how can you keep up with studies.

[secret.simon]

one of the restrictions of the student visa is that the visa holder can only work part-time, up to 20 hours, within the UK.

I think the restriction of the student visa is 20 hours of work per week in term-time, full-stop. That applies whether you are working within or outside the UK.

See the Immigration Rules - Work Conditions for a Student. It does not state any limit on whether the employment is in the UK or abroad.

So, yes, working in term-time, whether in the UK or abroad, would be a breach of the terms of the student visa terms.

[vinny]

Working for an employer outside the UK

If you personally are physically outside the UK, any conditions of a UK visa you hold are irrelevant, including the work conditions. The UK government has no jurisdiction over and no interest in your work activites when you are not even in the UK.

You will of course need check what are your work rights in the specific country where you are working.

However any work you do when you are physically in the UK, for example working for a non-UK employer remotely or doing a "virtual internship" with them, counts towards your weekly 10 or 20 hour maximum. This is because the Student work restriction has no specific exception for work undertaken for an employer who is outside the UK.

[balth]

If you live in another country, then you're under the conditions of the visa you have for the other country - UK laws and restrictions have nothing ot do with this.

Are you planning to move abroad while studying or? The obvious question that UKVI might get is how can you keep up with studies.

It's more about moving abroad while studying (in a research programme, where this could happen at a later stage, like 3rd/4th year). Would the UKVI be informed by the academic institution? It's a practical question whether the academic institution would actually accept this in the first place.

[meself2]

If you live in another country, then you're under the conditions of the visa you have for the other country - UK laws and restrictions have nothing ot do with this.

Are you planning to move abroad while studying or? The obvious question that UKVI might get is how can you keep up with studies.

It's more about moving abroad while studying (in a research programme, where this could happen at a later stage, like 3rd/4th year). Would the UKVI be informed by the academic institution? It's a practical question whether the academic institution would actually accept this in the first place.

If you're moving abroad while studying, you're most likely going to get some sort of a permission from the host country, so it depends on the country you're going to and their rules - for example, Ireland states it grants Stamp 2A for students going for a semester abroad, which allows no work whatsoever.

Other than that, see the first paragraph that vinny quoted - if I understand it right, you'll be outside UK working (I assume) for a nonUK based employer, so your UK conditions shouldn't matter.

[meself2]

one of the restrictions of the student visa is that the visa holder can only work part-time, up to 20 hours, within the UK.

I think the restriction of the student visa is 20 hours of work per week in term-time, full-stop. That applies whether you are working within or outside the UK.

See the Immigration Rules - Work Conditions for a Student. It does not state any limit on whether the employment is in the UK or abroad.

So, yes, working in term-time, whether in the UK or abroad, would be a breach of the terms of the student visa terms.

On the other hand, guidance (Work conditions) states:

This page tells caseworkers what employment a Student or Child Student can undertake in the UK.

I would not expect restrictions from UK student route to apply from abroad. Visiting students come to another country, which is entitled to decide Students' work hours, just like UK does here (eg, "sponsored by an overseas higher education institution to undertake a short-term study abroad programme in the UK").

[sah10406]

I think the restriction of the student visa is 20 hours of work per week in term-time, full-stop. That applies whether you are working within or outside the UK.

[...]

So, yes, working in term-time, whether in the UK or abroad, would be a breach of the terms of the student visa terms.

Let's call this over-thinking. The conditions of any UK visa someone holds have zero relevance to any activities they undertake when they are outside the UK.

Someone with a 10-year visit visa has a prohibition on working. Clearly this does not mean they are not allowed to work in their home country for 10 years.