Student Services
Immigration and Welfare Officers Confidentiality Statement
The Immigration and Welfare Officers (IWOs) at the University of Bolton are committed
to offering you a free and confidential service. As part of this service you have the right
to confidentiality to protect your rights and interests, as is the legal requirement.
In order to achieve this the University ensures that there are private rooms where you
may discuss immigration and welfare issues.
All individual case records are securely locked away at the end of each working day in
accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and University policy. Computer records
are secure and appropriately protected to ensure all information disclosed to IWO’s
cannot be accessed and is kept confidential.
It may be necessary for an IWO to discuss your circumstances with other professional
staff within the University to enable them to advise you appropriately and ensure the
best possible support is offered. For example, contacting academic staff for advice on
your academic progress or financial services staff to confirm your fee payments are upto-date. The Immigration and Welfare Service may itself seek advice from a senior
member of University staff on how to deal with your particular circumstances.
If we need to contact you via a third party we will not make any reference to the purpose
of our communication.
Exceptions
We will not disclose information to an external party without your prior consent, unless
the provision is required by law, in the following circumstances:
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When obliged to so by the United Kingdom Border Agency so that the University can
fulfil its institutional sponsorship duties under Tier 4 of the Points Based Immigration
System.
When the information is required by the Police in relation to the prevention, detection
and investigation of a crime.
In the rare event of that a senior member of University staff considers that you
present a risk to yourself or the wider community
Student Obligation
All students must be aware that it is an offence under the Immigration and Asylum Act
1999 and the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, to make, to a person acting
in execution of any of these Acts, a statement or representation which he or she knows
to be false or does not believe to be true, or to obtain or seek to obtain leave to remain
in the United Kingdom by means which include deception.
If you are concerned about our practices in relation to confidentiality, please contact us.
Contact Details:
Student Services
Immigration and Welfare Support Services
Tel: 01204 903496/903437
Email: studentimmigration@bolton.ac.uk
Updated: August 2011
Sara Burgess August 2011 v1