Post
by Deviser » Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:07 pm
See what UKCISA (UK Council for International Students) advise.
Maintain attendance on your course, and submit your work on time
Your college or university must report poor attendance to the UKBA in certain circumstances. If it does not, it will lose its licence to recruit students under Tier 4. Therefore, your sponsor will monitor your attendance and participation on your course. They will explain to you what attendance and participation is required, and how this is recorded. If you miss a certain number of these expected contacts or attendances, your sponsor is required to report this to the UKBA and they are likely to withdraw your Tier 4 sponsorship.
If your sponsorship is withdrawn and your Tier 4 sponsor cancels your place on the course, the UKBA will curtail your immigration permission to 60 days, unless you already have less than 60 days.
Therefore, if you know you will miss a required attendance or deadline, for example because you are ill, contact your tutor or department straightaway to inform them. Ask whether they need to see some evidence from a doctor.
If you need to take an longer break from your course, for example for illness or pregnancy, speak to your Tier 4 sponsor about it as soon as possible. You need to know whether they will treat your absence as an "authorised absence", during which your Tier 4 sponsorship continues, or a as "deferral", during which your Tier 4 sponsorship will be withdrawn and your visa will be curtailed. If your break means that you cannot complete your course as planned within your current Tier 4 leave, this will be a "deferral". If it is not physically possible to leave the UK during your deferral, even though your Tier 4 leave will be curtailed, speak to your international student adviser, who will need to refer you for specialised immigration advice.
If there is any other reason you cannot attend your course for a short time, (for example, a family bereavement, or religious festival), ask your tutor or department to approve your absence.
If you think you might have problems submitting your work on time, talk to your tutor or an international student adviser as early as possible, so you can talk about your options.
