Immigration Statement of Service – International Student Support
This statement outlines the level of advice and support that we provide to assist international students with
immigration issues. The service is available to prospective and current international students at the University
of Sussex and those who have graduated from the University within the previous four months.
When can you see an adviser?
 A drop-in immigration advice service operates throughout the year (these are times when you can see
an adviser without an appointment). We will issue a monthly schedule on our webpages to confirm
these times and detail any changes, however normal weekly drop in times are Monday to Friday 24pm, www.sussex.ac.uk/internationalsupport/immigration
 Please note we will not be able to see you outside these times (unless you have an appointment).
 From time to time, drop in sessions may change or be replaced by workshops. When this happens,
these will be advertised on the International Student Support notice boards and webpages.
 During the drop-in you can receive up to 20 minutes of information/advice from an adviser. If you need
more time, they will book you a longer appointment or ask you to return to another drop in session.
 An appointment service operates weekly for Tier 4 and Dependant form checks and for cases that
cannot be dealt with within the allocated time at the drop-in. If you feel you need an appointment please
email us: immigration@sussex.ac.uk
What advice and information can the International Student Advisers provide?
 We can advise you on UK immigration procedures and visa extensions that allow you to take up a
place of study or continue your studies at the University of Sussex, in line with the Office of the
Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) Code of Standards, www.oisc.gov.uk/
 We can contact the Home Office on your behalf to resolve any application delays/problems, or to check
on your current immigration status
 We can advise you on employment regulations during studies and advice on options available after
study. (However, we do not check Tier 2 forms.)
 We can assist with Doctorate Extension Scheme visa applications including a form and document
check
 We can assist with Dependant applications
 We can advise you on visa refusals or rejections. We will in some cases refer you to a solicitor if you
wish to appeal a refusal.
 We can advise you on the immigration implications of repeating a year, intermitting or withdrawing from
your course
 We can advise you on how you can protect your Tier 4 student immigration status and comply with your
Tier 4 visa conditions
 We can advise you if you think you have been given an incorrect visa from your home country and
assist you to apply to the Entry Clearance Correction Scheme to get it changed. In the first instance
please email your details to international@sussex.ac.uk
 We can advise you if any of your details are incorrect on your Biometric Residence Permit issued in the
UK. In the first instance please email your details to immigration@sussex.ac.uk
 We can assist with lost/stolen passport or BRPs
 We can not give advice on residency, or marriage/civil partnership related visas.
 We can not check Schengen visa forms.
What can you expect from our service?
 Our advisers are authorised and trained to provide immigration advice and information up to, and
including, Level 2 of the OISC Code of Standards (excluding matters related to asylum and some
aspects of the appeals process). If we are unable to advise you, we will refer you to a suitable
alternative source of advice.
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All advice and information is in line with UK Council for International Student Advice (UKCISA) Code of
Ethics for those advising international students
Advice is free of charge, non judgemental and without discrimination.
In exceptional circumstances we may decide to offer to send your application via the Batch scheme.
The Student Batch Scheme is a system for institutions to send Tier 4 (General) application forms to the
Home Office on behalf of students who are applying for a Tier 4 visa from within the UK.
Although we make every effort to ensure that the advice we offer is accurate, the ultimate responsibility
for any visa application is your own. You need to check your form and documents are correct before
signing and sending your application to the Home Office.
Information about you will be treated as confidential. We will not talk to anyone else about your
situation without your permission other than:
 where we are obliged to either by law or under the terms of the ‘University of Sussex Code of Practice
on handling personal data’ (in particular section 17) which can be found here:
www.sussex.ac.uk/ogs/policies/information/dpa/staff/studentdata as required by our obligations as a
Tier 4 sponsor. The University has a duty to comply with the sponsorship, recording and reporting
duties set out by the Home Office in the Tier 4 policy guidance and the Tier 4 sponsor guidance,
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-application-for-uk-visa-as-tier-4-student
 where we have significant concerns that you present a risk of harm to yourself or others.
The University policy on data protection guidance for students can be found at
http://www.sussex.ac.uk/records/1-2-2.html)
If you have problems accessing our service we will try to make arrangements that are suitable for you.
You can email us for advice, immigration@sussex.ac.uk, we will reply to you in 2-4 working days.
If for any reason we have to change an appointment or drop-in session, we will try to let you know.
At busy times of year drop-in sessions may be replaced by workshops for different categories of
students. We will try to notify you of these sessions.
What do we expect from you?
 You will do your best to keep any appointments made with us and, if you are unable to do so, you will ,
let us know as soon as possible by emailing immigration@sussex.ac.uk
 You will provide us with all the information/documents we request in order that we may provide you with
the appropriate advice and information for your needs.
 You will seek advice or information relating to a UK visa extension at least three weeks before your visa
expiry date. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to assist you after that time, and may need to
refer you to an external agency, who may charge you for their service. (We recommend that you make
contact with us, in person or by email, approximately two months before your visa expires.)
 You will inform us of any changes to your immigration status, or contact details
For us to perform a form and document check for a UK visa extension application you must have
already obtained a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS), have filled in your tier 4
application form online, and gathered your supporting documents to the best of your ability. We will
answer your questions where you are experiencing difficulty. It is your responsibility to fill in your
personal details.
How to contact us
 In person:
International Student Support, Bramber House (Level 2)
 By telephone: +44(0) 1273 678422
 By email:
immigration@sussex.ac.uk
Further sources of information available to students
 Please check our website for information, www.sussex.ac.uk/students/international/
 UKCISA, the UK Council for International Students offers many resources including a free immigration
helpline which is available from 1-4pm Monday to Friday on 0207 1079922, or you can look at their
website, www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/immigration.php
 Immigration solicitors: there are several in the Brighton area. You can use an internet search to find
one at www.clsdirect.org.uk. Please note that you are likely to have to pay if you use a solicitor. Two
immigration law specialists who have assisted Sussex students in the past are:
 Irving & Co Solicitors: In the first instance you can email Rachel Meates at
mail@irvinglegal.co.uk, or look at their website www.irvinglegal.co.uk. They have offices in
Brighton and London.
 Farley & Associates Ltd: info@farleyandassociates.co.uk, or look at their website
www.farleyandassociates.co.uk
How can you help us improve our service?
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We welcome your suggestions for improvements and would like you to let us know
what you think of our service. In the first instance please email us at immigration@sussex.ac.uk
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We hope you will be happy with our service but should you have any issues of concern, please note
that the University is monitored by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) for
immigration advice and is required to abide by the Commissioner's Code of Standards. Copies of the
Code of Standards and the Complaints Procedure are available from this office. In addition, the
University complaints procedure can be found at www.sussex.ac.uk/governance/1-2-4.html
Immigration advice and services regulated by the Immigration Services Commissioner
Written and updated by CG April 2015