Would depression qualify as medical circumstances?

[a235bha]

Hello!

I'm currently doing my BSc at a Scottish Uni which is normally 4 years long but because of medical reasons I had to take an extra year to complete my undergrad and will finish after 5 years this summer.

I would like to apply to Social Work Masters in Scotland but they are two years long.

My medical reasons were accepted by my university and they allowed me to undertake the extra year. I am also now registered with the university's disability service for adjustments.

I have all the documents regarding this and can easily provide additional letters from my doctors/tutors. I could even provide empty bottles of my medication if so required (kidding).

I was told by my university's immigration officer that even though it would be over the normal limit the Home Office would take into consideration my special circumstances but obviously could only let me know until I went forward with the application.

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this and the likelihood of my application being accepted?

[a235bha]

Sorry I should've laid out the timeframes.

Since I'm going from a BSc to a Masters would I qualify for the 5 years 11 months (71 months) Tier 4 cap or the 6 years 11 months (83 months) cap?

My current Tier 4 visa was issued September 2012 and will expire 1 August 2017 giving a total of 59 month. I finish my degree at the end of May meaning a total study time of 57 months.

The Masters programs I'm applying are 2 years in length (specifically says 21 and 22 months on the university websites).

Calculating the maximum amount of time I would spend on the Tier 4 visa would be 59 months + 24 months = 83 months.

If I subtracted the two extra months this summer and used the specified programme length on the university website it would be 57+21 = 78 months.

[sah10406]

The 6 years 11 months cap applies, but it is designed to allow you to complete a 6th academic year, not a 7th.

Has your university definitely agreed to issue a CAS for the new 2-year course? If so, I am surprised.

[a235bha]

Technically it would be 6th cause my second and third year of study were only part time. As far as the head of the Immigration Office has said yes they would but I have emailed to double check.

[a235bha]

I had to repeat a year to complete my normally 4 year undergraduate degree because of my undiagnosed severe depression. I have loads of medical documentation and letters from my university to support my special circumstances. I have applied to a 2 year MSc but it'll go over the normal time cap. I've been in contact with my university's immigration office and this is the response they received from the UKVI.

"Applications are decided on a case by case basis. When a case is received which falls over 5 years with medical information they are sent to the senior manager who then decides whether discretion can be applied."


So my question is, give that I have loads of supporting documentation and can provide even further documentation, do you guys think that my severe depression would qualify as "medical circumstances"? The university's immigration office said that the UKVI's benchmark for what qualifies is reasonably high.

[Wanderer]

Surely your doctor can provide evidence of this?

[sah10406]

So my question is, give that I have loads of supporting documentation and can provide even further documentation, do you guys think that my severe depression would qualify as "medical circumstances"? The university's immigration office said that the UKVI's benchmark for what qualifies is reasonably high.

Your international student adviser will have more experience and insight into this matter than anyone here.

The modernised guidance on Tier 4, which presumably you have read, says on page 63 that a caseworker can consider not counting the whole period if there are "exceptional compelling and compassionate circumstances (for example, serious illness or disability)". There is no further guidance or any more detailed examples.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... sed-system

It is up to your Tier 4 sponsor to make the case for you in the CAS, for which you can then provide supporting evidence in your application.

[a235bha]

Surely your doctor can provide evidence of this?

Yes she has! I have supporting documents from doctor at home, GP here, university personal tutor here, clinical psychologist here, and my father. These are from that period of time. The university has these documents and accepted them, which is how I was allowed to repeat part time. I can easily get further current ones as further evidence and proof of the circumstances.

on page 63 that a caseworker can consider not counting the whole period if there are "exceptional compelling and compassionate circumstances (for example, serious illness or disability)"

Yes I have read this! It seems like the immigration officer believes that we should just try and if I'm not successful then I will lose my application money. I guess it's a matter of what they will think of my case. Would I just write a letter and attach all the supporting documents to my application?

[sah10406]

Would I just write a letter and attach all the supporting documents to my application?

I advise you get help with your application from the International Student Adviser at the university. That's their job.