International Student Immigration Service (ISIS)
Changes to the UK Border Agency
updated 16 May 2013
On 1 April 2013, the UK Border Agency was split into two divisions within the Home Office. You may start receiving correspondence on Home Office paper rather than UK Border Agency paper.
Information on visas will eventually be moved to the UK government's information portal www.gov.uk|
Find out more on the UKBA website|.
Telephone fraud targets international students in the UK
updated 25 April 2013
We are aware that telephone fraud against international students is still taking place and strongly advise students to read the information below.
LSE students have been contacted by fraudsters who are asking for money for a CISA number and administration fees. The fraudsters will usually call from a private number in the UK but will claim to be the UK Border Agency.
They will ask the student to confirm if they obtained a CISA number when they travelled to the UK . They will also ask the student to confirm personal data such as their address or passport number.
They will then offer one of these choices:
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provide you contact details for a "government solicitor";
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direct your call to the accounting department;
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provide you with a reference number to verify your identity when a colleague calls.
The UK Border Agency will not contact students directly and they will never ask you to submit money to them.
If you are contacted by a group saying they are UKBA, do NOT give them any information, do NOT agree to send them money and please contact security at LSE. You can contact security by phone on extension 2000 (from a phone within the School) or call 020 7955 6200. Alternatively you can contact Richard Mulcahy at r.mulcahy@lse.ac.uk
If you are at all concerned about this, you can also contact the International Student Immigration Service (ISIS) at LSE for advice at ssc.isis@lse.ac.uk or come to the Student Services Centre reception Monday to Friday, 10 -4pm
The UK Border Agency advise you to report this to Action Fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040
Action Fraud|
You may also want to report this online:
Who Calls Me|
UKCISA, the UK Council for International Student Affairs have also issued the following guidance:
UKCISA latest news|
Interviews as part of Tier 4 (General) Student application
updated 29 April 2013
In July 2012, the UK Border Agency introduced Tier 4 credibility interviews for students as part of the application process. These interviews will be further rolled-out in 2013. Some LSE students may be affected by these credibility interviews.
Further information can be found on the UKCISA web page:
UKCISA |
New Online Application Form for Tier 4 Applications in the UK from 5 April 2013
Updated 8 March 2013
From the 5 April 2013, all Tier 4 (General) applications that are made in the UK must be submitted to the UK Border Agency through an online 'Print and Send' application form. The only exceptions are:
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Applicants who have already booked a Public Enquiry Office appointment - if you have already booked an application please contact ISIS for advice on accessing the application form and booking costs.
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Applicants who are using the Super Premium Service. This service costs £6000. See the UK Border Agency website for details.
We have produced guidance| to help you complete the form.
Increase in Tier 4 Application Fees from 6 April 2013
The cost of applying for a Tier 4 (General) visa will increase on the 6th April 2013 to the following:
Tier 4 and Tier 4 dependant entry clearance application: £ 298
Tier 4 application sent by post: £406
IMPORTANT: The system for charging for Public Enquiry Office appointments will change on the 6 April 2013. It will cost £100 per applicant to make an appointment . If you fail to make the appointment (without good reason) this £100 will be retained by the UK Border Agency. The total cost of a PEO appointment will be £781 to be paid when the appointment is booked. We strongly advise that you seek advice before making an appointment.
Changes to the immigration rules 28 February 2013
Changes to the immigration rules regarding using loans as evidence of your finances will come into effect from the 28 February 2013.
From this date, if you wish to use a loan letter as evidence of your funds, it will need to confirm that,
"the loan is provided by the national government, the state or regional government or a government sponsored student loan company or is part of an academic or educational loans scheme."
Further information is available on the UKCISA |website.
New post-study working permissions for PhD students
We have updated information on the scheme which is due to start in April 2013 although the UK Border Agency guidance has not yet been issued and the scheme is not yet open:
Working after your studies|