News, trips and events

Information on the latest immigration news, events, talks and trips organised by the International Support Team

Immigration news

1st July 2013

Information received from the Home Office concerning Croatia:

Today, 1 July 2013, Croatia became a member of the European Union (EU).

Croatian nationals are now able to move and live freely in any Member State of the EU as they do not need permission under our immigration rules to reside legally in the UK. A Croatian national has a right of residence in any EU Member State for the first 3 months of residence on an unrestricted basis and can remain legally resident in that state as long as they wish, providing they are exercising a Treaty right as a student, a self-employed person, or if self-sufficient (and not economically active). They will not have an automatic right to reside as a worker or a jobseeker in the UK. Croatian nationals wanting to work in the UK need to obtain work authorisation (permission to work) before starting any employment, unless they are exempt from this requirement.

Students wanting to study in the UK do not need to be sponsored under Tier 4, but if they want or need to work, they must obtain an accession worker authorisation document unless they are exempt.

For further information on how you can exercise Treaty rights in the United Kingdom see the Home Office website. The relevant link is below.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/documents-eea-nationals/

Work authorisation

Work authorisation is normally in the form of an Accession Worker Registration Certificate (or "Purple Registration Certificate"). A Croatian national with an offer of employment in the UK from a licensed sponsor must obtain this document from the Home Office before commencing work. This document will contain an endorsement restricting the holder to a particular job or type of employment.

The criteria for approving an application for a Purple Registration Certificate will be the same as applied to non-EEA nationals at the point at which the Accession Treaty was signed (December 2011) and applications will therefore normally be subject to Points Based System criteria.

It is an offence under the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 to work in the UK if you need worker authorisation and do not have it. This could lead to criminal sanctions such as a heavy fine and/or imprisonment for both the employer and employee.

For further information on what work authorisation is and the circumstances in which it is required see the Home Office website via the link below

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/croatia/liveworkuk

13 June 2013

New immigration rules will come into force on 1 July 2013:

Extra law courses, specific to Northern Ireland and Scotland, have been added to the list of those which are exempt from the time limit on degree level study
Tier 4 leave under the doctorate extension scheme will be exempt from the 8 year time limit on degree level study
Minor correction to the placing of the condition which restricts study at a lower level (as mentioned in our last Briefing)
New requirement that when a SELT is relied on for evidence of English language ability, the SELT provider's letter must confirm the test is within its validity date
SELT requirements have further changed to incorporate some providers using online results and Appendix O has been totally replaced by a new version with the documents required from each test provider now differing depending on whether the test was taken on/after 6 April 2013 or before that date
List of specified evidence for previous qualifications has been amended. Original transcripts no longer need to be provided if the applicant is applying through UCAS to study at an HEI with HTS status where qualification is issued by a UK awarding body and has been studied for in the UK.
Changes to the maintenance requirements to allow for the fact that the FSA has been replaced by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA)
Some changes to the lists of acceptable and unacceptable financial institutions
New countries added to the list of those requiring TB testing with corresponding testing centres added. Plus, a new testing clinic for Cote d’Ivoire has been added.

1st May 2013

Croatia is due to join the European Union on 1 July 2013. This means that from this date, nationals of Croatia and their relevant family members will no longer be subject to immigration control in the UK. They will have an initial right of residence for three months and after that they will need to be here as a student, worker, self-employed person or self-sufficient person or the relevant family member of any of these.

The UK government has drafted Regulations which contain the restrictions it will impose on the right to work in the UK and these Regulations are currently being considered by Parliament before they become law. The draft Regulations are publicly available.
Before you start to work in the UK, you will need to obtain authorisation (unless you meet any of the exemptions outlined in the Regulations). The application forms for applying for work authorisation are not yet available.
If you are here with student immigration permission (either Tier 4 or pre-Tier 4), you will be able to continue to be here beyond the date your immigration permission has expired without needing to make an immigration application. You must ensure you have valid immigration permission until 30 June 2013.

Trips and Events

Sunday 6 October 2013 - BATH & STONEHENGE - £32

A chance to visit the site of Britain’s only hot springs and the famous ancient stone-circle of Stonehenge. Price includes coach travel, entrance to the Roman Baths and Stonehenge.

Saturday 12 October 2013- SUSSEX COUNTRYSIDE TOUR - £14

A guided coach tour through the beautiful countryside travelling along the Sussex coast. Stopping for afternoon tea in the pretty village of Alfriston.
Price includes sightseeing tour with a local guide and coach travel.

Sunday 20 October 2013– HAMPTON COURT PALACE - £23

Visiting this magnificent Royal Palace where our famous King, Henry VIII lived with all six wives! Attractions such as Tudor kitchens, Great Hall, maze and beautiful landscaped gardens. Price includes coach travel and Palace entrance.

Saturday 2 November 2013- OXFORD - £26

Includes a guided tour of our famous university city & entrance to Christ Church College.
Price includes coach travel, guided tour and entrance to Christ Church.

Sunday 17 November 2013- 'HARRY POTTER EXPERIENCE’ - £35

Explore behind the scenes at the Warner Bros. Studio and see the famous film sets.
Price includes entrance to studio tour and coach travel.

Evening events

Thursday 10 October 2013 – INTERNATIONAL FOOD PARTY - Free

Time to get your chef’s hat on and cook your favourite meal – share the food from your own country! Bring a dish – sweet or savoury. 6.30pm Northfield Social Centre on campus.

Thursday 24 October 2013– GHOST WALK - £5

An evening guided tour through the back streets and lanes of Brighton and find out about our city’s haunted past! Tour will finish in the centre of Brighton at 9pm.

Terms and conditions for trips and events:

** Tickets are non-refundable unless resold by International Student Support

** If you do sell your ticket to a friend, please let us know of the change

** Trips will take place no matter the weather so please be prepared with rain gear/umbrellas and as some trips involve a lot of walking – comfortable shoes are preferable.

** Remember to bring your Sussex ID card with you.

** If you are late arriving at a meeting point, we may have to leave without you. In this case you would have to find your own way back to Brighton at your own expense.

** If you have any medical conditions, you should inform us.

** If you are not returning with the group you must let the leader know.