IGS and student visa problems

[ci07jjs]

Hi,

I am currently on a student visa expiring october 2008. My masters degree results would be published before then - however, the grades would only be provisional as it has to be confirmed by the exam board which convenes in november. Given this situation, can I apply for the IGS scheme with the university letter just stating my PROVISIONAL grades?

I hear the grades would have to be confirmed to be eligible for the new IGS scheme. I would appreciate your kind expert opinion on this?
If this is true, can I extend for a student visa on the basis to confirm my grades and to attend my graduation in Jan 2009? Will there be any problems? The HO should have really given me visa till Jan 2009 when I applied for student visa like all the other students - not sure why they gave my visa only till october 2008.


Many thanks

[paulp]

You should be able to extend to attend the graduation ceremony.

[ci07jjs]

but on what visa? I have been reading on the internet that if I am getting my grades after my visa expired, I should extend it by visitor visa? is this true?

I don't want to extend it on a visitor visa as I won't be able to switch to IGS from visitor visa?

Many thanks

[aprilrose]

when do you finish your master's degree course? You should have been given four months of leave after you finish (so for master's courses that finish in September, the student visa should normally be valid until the following January.)

If you *don't* have the four months of leave and your student visa was issued overseas ask your university's international office about the Entry Clearance Correction Scheme. They'll know what that is- it's a programme whose sole purpose is to correct the expiry dates on student visas where the consulate has erroneously not given the student enough leave. The application can only be made through your university, and it's free. If you qualify, you should get your visa extended until four months after the end of your course (which, if you finish in September or later would take you up to January 2009 for your graduation and so you can apply for IGS!)

edited to add: here are some links from individual universities about the scheme (but all universities should have someone who deals with these applications)
http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/io/entryclear.shtml
http://www.campus.manchester.ac.uk/ssc/ ... ionscheme/
http://www.shef.ac.uk/ssid/international/sheet10.html

[ci07jjs]

Thank you very much for your reply.

I applied for the visa by myself (not through the university batch scheme). Do you think the university will still help me in this matter?

Many thanks

[ci07jjs]

btw, i didn't need entry clearence last year as it was just an extension(from differnent category of visa - workpermit).

p.s. for the note I am an indian passport holder

[ci07jjs]

The link you provided says it can only be corrected for visas issued abroad. but my visa was extended in the uk, what can I do?

[aprilrose]

ah, then ECCS won't work for you then, unfortunately- it only applies to those on student visas issued overseas. I'm not sure if you'd be able to extend your visa as a student or not or if you'd need to try to extend as a visitor- someone more knowledgeable will have to weigh in on that point! I think that only those with student leave will be able to switch into IGS/Post Study Work, though. And you can't apply for IGS until you have your official results confirmed by the exam board.

[pakstar]

Hi,

I am currently on a student visa expiring october 2008. My masters degree results would be published before then - however, the grades would only be provisional as it has to be confirmed by the exam board which convenes in november. Given this situation, can I apply for the IGS scheme with the university letter just stating my PROVISIONAL grades?

I hear the grades would have to be confirmed to be eligible for the new IGS scheme. I would appreciate your kind expert opinion on this?
If this is true, can I extend for a student visa on the basis to confirm my grades and to attend my graduation in Jan 2009? Will there be any problems? The HO should have really given me visa till Jan 2009 when I applied for student visa like all the other students - not sure why they gave my visa only till october 2008.


Many thanks

IGS Evidence of your qualifications

Evidence of your qualification. Documents showing that you have been awarded a qualification at the required
level and by a relevant UK institution (if you were awarded your degree before 1 May 2007, the qualification must be on
the relevant list of eligible courses). If you have graduated, you must provide your original degree certificate. If you are
awaiting graduation, you must provide a signed letter from your personal tutor confirming that you have been awarded a
degree at the required level from a UK institution of higher or further education and are awaiting graduation.

Download IGS applicaiton form http://www.shef.ac.uk/union/advice/inte ... s-form.pdf
Read the requirements. Hope that help

[ci07jjs]

Hello,

I spoke to the ho helpline today and they adviced to send a letter stating my exact finish date and also when I will be graduating. I am thinking of sending the following letter to them. Do you think, this is ok? do you think its right for me to mention about the IGS bit?

thanks in adance and sorry for the bother.


Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to request for you to reconsider my student visa duration that has been granted to me during september 2007. My current student visa is granted until october 31st 2008 based on my post-graduate degree that I am studying at the XXX University.

I was adviced by one of your colleagues in the helpline to detail my course duration details. My course finishes in september 2008 although I had to be present at the university until the graduation, which takes place in January 2009. During this period I will be obtaining my grades and feedback from the academics on my performance in the course, specifically for my dissertation. I am also unable to apply for the International Graduate Scheme with the current length of visa provided. This is because I can only obtain the confirmation of masters course between november 2008 and January 2009, after my current visa expires.

I have noticed that international post-graduate students are given visa for the duration of the course plus four months. However, my visa has been given to me only for one additional month. I kindly request you to extend my current student visa until January 2009.

I am enclosing my passport with this letter and please return to my address

stated above.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely

XXXX

[paulp]

You can apply for IGS before your visa expires with a letter from your tutor giving your provisional result. You can also include a covering letter, stating that you will forward the official result straight after the exam board meeting.

[ci07jjs]

Thanks Paul,

One of the above thread by pakstar states the degree had to be "awarded". I am very concered the University will not be able to provide me this letter before my visa expires.

I will be applying when the new IGS scheme comes through for 2 years.
In the worst case scenario what would happen if they HO turn me down for IGS - will I have a right to appeal? Hopefully by the time of appeal I should have had my degree confirmed. Will they accept this?