Process Manual Processes and Procedures for International (Non-EEA) Tier-4 Sponsored Students Carol Witts Student Support & Records Manager Student & Registry Services June 2013 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Table of Contents Issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) a) b) c) Pre-Sessional Courses Main Degree For an extension / new visa during the course Visa Advice and Assistance Verification of Visa and Student’s identity on arrival at SOAS Supplementary Study at SOAS Monitoring Student’s attendance Re-Registration Changes to Student’s Programme of Study Home Office requests for information Use of the SMS Appendices Appendix A SOAS Tier-4 Officers and their roles Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 1 of 21 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) a. Pre-Sessional Courses The issuing of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Students (CAS) for students attending a PreSessional Course is carried out by the Level 1 User in IFCELS (currently DL). Information to be verified: Before a CAS is issued, the following information must be obtained and verified: Status of offer for Main Degree (if applicable) If the student has an unconditional offer for their main degree at SOAS, which will follow on directly from the Pre-Sessional Course, they can be issued with a CAS to cover both the PreSessional Course and the Main Degree. Such CAS’s should be issued by Admissions only. Status of offer for Pre-Sessional Course The student must have an unconditional offer for the Pre-Sessional Course and unless they also have an unconditional offer for their Main Degree (see above point), they can only be issued with a CAS for the Pre-Sessional Course. Current Passport Before a CAS can be issued a copy of their current Passport must be seen, which must be valid. A copy should be taken of the photo page Current Visa If the student is currently in the UK, they must already have a visa, which must be seen. If they currently hold a Tier-4 visa on sponsorship by another institution, they will be able to commence the programme with us, but only if they have applied for a new visa before their current visa expires. If the student is not currently in the UK, a copy must be seen of any previous visas they have held If they hold a different type of visa, a check must be made as to whether they are permitted to study on that visa – if so, and the visa extends long enough, a CAS may not be necessary. A copy must be taken of their current visa. English Language competency To attend a pre-sessional course, students must have reached an English Language competency of level B1 on the CEFR. They must therefore provide evidence of this by means of an English language test. Expected academic results are not acceptable. Academic Progression Before we issue a CAS a check must be made on what study they have had in the UK previously. In most cases a CAS will only be issued where the student is studying with us on a programme which is at a higher level than their last programme studied in the UK (progression). In exceptional circumstances, a CAS may be issued to a student who is studying at the same level as previous study in the UK (this must be fully explained on the Home Office Sponsor Management System (SMS)). It is very unusual to issue a CAS to a student who will be studying on a level lower to that previously studied in the UK. Length of Study in the UK Students are only permitted to study in the UK for a limited number of years. The maximum number of years is as follows: Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 2 of 21 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Study at below NQF level 6 – maximum of 3 years since the age of 18 Study at NQF level 6 or above – maximum of 5 years – there are exemptions to this and the current Home Office guidance must be checked for the current limitations and exemptions. (see also http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/howlong/) Before a CAS is issued, a check must be made on the number of years the student has previously studied in the UK and add on the length of study they will have with SOAS on their Pre-Sessional and Main Degree programmes. If this exceeds the maximum number of years permitted by the Home Office, a CAS cannot be issued. Information to be entered onto Home Office SMS Full information must be entered onto the SMS and must be carefully checked before submission. Information to be entered onto UNIT-e Once a CAS has been issued, information must be entered onto UNIT-e, ensuring that the CAS number is shown against the Programme of Study Aim (POSA). Documentation to be sent to the student Once the information has been recorded on UNIT-e, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must be provided to the student to enable them to make their visa application. If the CAS has been issued using the Bulk Upload facility, there is a report that can be run to produce this information in a format that can be sent to the student. If the CAS has been issued manually, there is the ability to print off the CAS once it has been issued – by printing to .pdf, the document can be saved and then emailed to the student. It is important that the CAS information sent to the student is NOT re-typed, as it is very easy to make a mistake and the student must have exactly the same information as has been entered onto the SMS, otherwise their visa will be refused. Students should be provided with contact details for the International Student & Welfare Advisor who can provide advice and assistance in their visa application. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 3 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) b. Main Degree The issuing of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Students (CAS) for students who will be attending an Undergraduate or Postgraduate Taught programme is carried out by the Admissions Team. For students who will be attending a Postgraduate Research programme, the CAS is issued by the Research Admissions Team (in Registry). Information to be verified: Before a CAS is issued, the following information must be obtained and verified: Status of offer The student must have an unconditional offer for their Degree programme. Current Passport Before a CAS can be issued a copy of their current Passport must be seen, which must be valid. A copy should be taken of the photo page Current Visa If the student is currently in the UK, they must already have a visa, which must be seen. If they currently hold a Tier-4 visa on sponsorship by another institution, they will be able to commence the programme with us, but only if they have applied for a new visa before their current visa expires. If the student is not currently in the UK, a copy must be seen of any previous visas they have held If they hold a different type of visa, a check must be made as to whether they are permitted to study on that visa – if so, and the visa extends long enough, a CAS may not be necessary. A copy must be taken of their current visa. English Language competency To attend a Degree course with us, students must have reached an English Language competency of B2 on the CEFR. They must therefore provide evidence of this by means of an English language test, unless we have assessed this in another way. Evidence must be kept on how we have assessed the language competency. Academic Progression Before we issue a CAS a check must be made on what study they have had in the UK previously. In most cases we can only issue a CAS where the student is studying with us on a programme which is at a higher level than their last programme studied in the UK (progression). In exceptional circumstances, we may issue a CAS to a student who is studying at the same level as previous study in the UK (this must be fully explained on the Home Office SMS). It is very unusual to issue a CAS to a student who will be studying on a level lower to that previously studied in the UK. Length of Study in the UK Students are only permitted to study in the UK for a limited number of years. The maximum number of years is as follows: Study at below NQF level 6 – maximum of 3 years since the age of 18 Study at NQF level 6 or above – maximum of 5 years – there are exemptions to this and the current Home Office guidance must be checked for the current limitations and exemptions. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 4 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures (see also http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/howlong/) Before a CAS is issued, a check must be made on the number of years the student has previously studied in the UK and add on the length of study they will have with SOAS on their Pre-Sessional and Main Degree programmes. If this exceeds the maximum number of years permitted by the Home Office, a CAS cannot be issued. Information to be entered onto Home Office SMS Full information must be entered onto the SMS and must be carefully checked before submission. Information to be entered onto UNIT-e Once a CAS has been issued, information must be entered onto UNIT-e, ensuring that the CAS number is shown against the Programme of Study Aim (POSA). Documentation to be sent to the student Once the information has been recorded on UNIT-e, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must be provided to the student to enable them to make their visa application. If the CAS has been issued using the Bulk Upload facility, there is a report that can be run to produce this information in a format that can be sent to the student. If the CAS has been issued manually, there is the ability to print off the CAS once it has been issued – by printing to .pdf, the document can be saved and then emailed to the student. It is important that the CAS information sent to the student is NOT re-typed, as it is very easy to make a mistake and the student must have exactly the same information as has been entered onto the SMS, otherwise their visa will be refused. Students should be provided with contact details for the International Student & Welfare Advisor who can provide advice and assistance in their visa application. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 5 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Issuing a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) c. For an extension / new visa during the course The issuing of a Confirmation of Acceptance for Students (CAS) for current students whose visa has expired during their studies is carried out by the Student Support & Records Team in the Registry. Information to be verified: Before a CAS is issued, the following information must be verified (should be held in the student’s file and copies of ID taken from enrolment of that year): Current Passport Before a CAS can be issued a copy of their current Passport must be seen, which must be valid. A copy should be held already with the ID copies taken at enrolment, but must be verified. Current Visa As the student is currently studying with us; they must already have a visa, which must be seen. They must apply for a new visa before their current visa expires; otherwise they risk being classed as an Overstayer by the Home Office. Once a student is an overstayer, it is probable that future visa applications will be refused. If they currently hold a Tier-4 visa on sponsorship by another institution, the case should be referred to the Student Support & Records Manager before any further action is taken A copy of the visa should be held already with the ID copies taken at enrolment, but must be verified. English Language competency To attend a Degree course with us, students must have reached an English Language competency of B2 on the CEFR. They must therefore provide evidence of this by means of an English language test, unless we have assessed this in another way. Evidence must be kept on how we have assessed the language competency. Academic Progression The Academic Progression verification will have been made before any original CAS was made and details will be in the Student’s file. However, if they commenced their course on a different type of visa and this is the first CAS we are being asked to issue, a check must be made on what study they have had in the UK previously. In most cases we can only issue a CAS where the student is studying with us on a programme which is at a higher level than their last programme studied in the UK (progression). In exceptional circumstances, we may issue a CAS to a student who is studying at the same level as previous study in the UK (this must be fully explained on the Home Office SMS). It is very unusual to issue a CAS to a student who will be studying on a level lower to that previously studied in the UK. Length of Study in the UK Students are only permitted to study in the UK for a limited number of years. The maximum number of years is as follows: Study at below NQF level 6 – maximum of 3 years since the age of 18 Study at NQF level 6 or above – maximum of 5 years – there are exemptions to this and the current Home Office guidance must be checked for the current limitations and exemptions. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 6 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures (see also http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/howlong/) Again, this check will have been made before any original CAS was issued and the details will be in the Student’s file. If the student commenced their course on a different type of visa and this is the first CAS we are being asked to issue, a check must be made on the number of years the student has previously studied in the UK and add on the length of study they will have with SOAS on their PreSessional and Main Degree programmes. If this exceeds the maximum number of years permitted by the Home Office, a CAS cannot be issued. Information to be entered onto Home Office SMS Full information must be entered onto the SMS and must be carefully checked before submission. Information to be entered onto UNIT-e Once a CAS has been issued, information must be entered onto UNIT-e, ensuring that the CAS number is shown against the Programme of Study Aim (POSA). Documentation to be sent to the student Once the information has been recorded on UNIT-e, the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies must be provided to the student to enable them to make their visa application. The CAS should be printed off (print to .pdf) from the Home Office SMS and email to the student. It is important that the CAS information sent to the student is NOT re-typed, as it is very easy to make a mistake and the student must have exactly the same information as has been entered onto the SMS, otherwise their visa will be refused. Students should be provided with contact details for the International Student & Welfare Advisor who can provide advice and assistance in their visa application. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 7 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Visa Advice and Assistance The only member of SOAS staff who is permitted to give Visa and Immigration advice is John Hitchman (International Student & Welfare Advisor). Students, who are uncertain of their visa requirements, need advice on any part of making their visa application, or who want their application checked prior to submission must be referred to John, who will make an appointment to meet with the student. Any staff who have queries can also raise these with John, but his priority is to provide advice and assistance to the students. If there is any uncertainty on whether it is permitted to issue a CAS, or there is a need for someone else to verify documentation provided in advance of the CAS being issued can contact Carol Witts in the Registry who is the Key Contact for the Home Office and has Tier-4 compliance responsibilities for the School. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 8 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Verification of Visa and Student’s identity on arrival at SOAS New Students When students arrive at SOAS for their formal enrolment, they are required to provide their passport and visa for verification purposes. The enrolment staff will take a copy of the appropriate pages of these documents and will date and sign them to show when verified. These copies are kept by the Registry for use as required. Students who do not show these documents will not be enrolled onto their programme. In some instances, students may be in the process of applying for their visa – full information is provided to them on the Welcome Week webpages on what they should keep in the way of evidence to bring with them to enrolment. They are required to provide a photocopy of their passport and evidence that they have made a visa application (showing what type of visa and the sponsor of SOAS). If this is seen the student is enrolled as a Time-limited enrolment and will be contacted by the Student Support & Records Manager on a regular basis to ascertain the progress with their visa application. Once the visa has been granted the students present the visa to the Registry staff. Students whose visa expires before the end of the course will be contacted at least 3 months before the expiry date to remind them that they need to make a visa application. Details of the visa are recorded on UNIT-e. Students are not permitted to enrol in the following circumstances: They have a Tier-4 visa, but for a different sponsor (Sponsor number should be TCQ09G6P6). They have a visa for the pre-sessional course, but we have not issued them with a CAS for the main degree. They have a visa, but have forgotten to bring it with them. Returning Students Returning students are not normally required to enrol in person at the start of each year, but students on a Tier-4 visa are required to re-register at the Registry Office at Vernon Square in the first few weeks of each session. They are required to present their passport and visa and to verify their contact details. Recording and storage of Visa documents is kept in the same way as it is for new students. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 9 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Supplementary Study at SOAS SOAS is able to permit students sponsored by other institutions to attend for supplementary study. SOAS will ensure that the sponsoring institution is aware and has no objections to the student attending SOAS during their current sponsorship term. It is not normal to permit this if the supplementary study is at the end of the previous study. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 10 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Monitoring Student’s attendance Attendance registers are taken by academic staff through the programme for all students. Any concerns on a student’s attendance from the academic are reported to the Faculty Office and to the Registry for further consideration. Students on a Tier-4 visa, whose attendance has been raised as a concern, are contacted by the Registry to arrange for a meeting to discuss the situation. The Registry also carries out an audit of attendance during the 2nd term of each session and where attendance is not as it should be, will invite students in for an interview to discuss the situation. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 11 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Re-Registration There is an annual re-registration audit of all Tier-4 students each year in term 2. This audit reviews attendance and verifies contact details and is carried out by the Registry under the authority of the Director of Student & Registry Services. Attendance (UG/PGT) Faculties ensure that all registers have been entered onto the online system and a report is run by Registry to provide details of students with unauthorized absences. Where the data returned is not clear, the Faculty will be provided with details of the student and their courses whereupon the Faculties will investigate and report back to Registry. Students on a compulsory Year Abroad will be expected to make contact during the re-registration period to confirm that they are still undertaking their Year Abroad. Registry will be responsible for reporting (via the SMS) any students who are being withdrawn due to non-attendance (10 consecutive unauthorised absences). Attendance (Language Centre and IFCELS) Programme Administrators will ensure that their attendance information is recorded on spreadsheets and will provide the appropriate spreadsheet to the Registry on the re-registration date. Registry will then liaise with the Programme Administrators on any action that needs to be taken regarding reporting to the Home Office. Contact Verification – Non Halls A letter will be sent through the post to every Tier-4 sponsored student, who is NOT resident in a Halls of Residence, with a form to be completed showing the current UK address information currently held on UNIT-e. Next of Kin information will also be provided to ensure we have the most up to date information (although this is for the benefit of SOAS and not a requirement of the Home Office). Students are required to update and sign the form and return it to the Registry (either at Admissions, Russell Square; or Student Support & Records, Vernon Square) together with a copy of any official letter showing their name and address. Language Centre students will return their documentation to the Language Centre and IFCELS students will return to the IFCELS office. Students who do not return the form and provide proof of their address will have their attendance checked and if attending, the Faculty will be asked to obtain the documents from them in person. Students who are unable to provide proof of their address will be contacted by the Registry to see how this can be facilitated. Contact Verification – Halls (UG, PGT) Registry will contact Sanctuary Housing with a list of sponsored students who are registered as living in Halls to ask for formal confirmation that they are still living at the address given. Any student who is no longer living in Halls will be contacted as above. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 12 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Changes to Student’s Programme of Study During their registration, students are able to make changes to their study arrangements, within the current regulations. The requests are authorised by an appropriate academic (for Degree Transfers and Repeat Years) and passed to the Student Support & Records Manager for actioning on UNIT-e. If the student is sponsored by SOAS for their Tier-4 visa, a sponsor note is entered onto the SMS to provide confirmation to the Home Office on the status of the student as detailed below: Degree Transfer: Notification of the change of programme and confirmation of any other details that have been changed due to this change. Repeat Year: No notification is required, but the student is informed that they will need to apply for a new CAS before their current visa expires to apply for an extended visa. Leave of Absence: Sponsorship is withdrawn with note on when they are expected to return. Student is informed that they need to apply for a new CAS before they return the following year. Repeat Courses: If the student is attending throughout the year, sponsorship continues and no report is required. If the student is attending for part of the year commencing from term 1, no action is required until the end of the term when a report is made that sponsorship is withdrawn. Student is informed that they need to apply for a new CAS before they return the following year. If the student is attending for part of the year, but NOT in term 1, sponsorship is withdrawn and the student must have an alternative means to resume studies as a part time student in term 2 or 3. Change to Mode of Study: If a Tier-4 sponsored student transfers from Full Time to Part Time, their sponsorship is withdrawn and they must have an alternative visa to enable them to continue with their studies. Withdrawal: Sponsorship is withdrawn A shared spreadsheet of all sponsor notes and CAS amendments is kept and updated by all SOAS staff who have responsibility for such reporting, to ensure that the School can clearly see what has been reported to the Home Office, by whom and when. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 13 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Home Office requests for information The Home Office sends request for information to the Student Support & Records Manager. Where these requests are for Undergraduate or Postgraduate Taught students, the information is provided back to the Home Office by the Student Support & Records Manager. Where the requests are for students on other programmes of studies (see below), the email is forwarded to the department administrator and they are required to provide the information to the Home Office within the time-scales indicated in the email: Postgraduate Research IFCELS Language Centre Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 14 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Use of the SMS What is the sponsorship management system? • The sponsorship management system is a secure IT system (operated by the UK Border Agency) which enables licensed sponsors to bring migrants to the UK and manage them. • As SOAS wants to recruit international i.e. (Non-EEA students) into the UK for the purposes of study, we have to use the system to assign a Certificate of Acceptance of Studies (CAS) to all students we intend to sponsor for a Tier 4 (General) visa. Tier 4 Sponsorship License • UK institutions have to be licensed sponsors in order to get access to the system. SOAS has held a Tier 4 Sponsor license since February 2009 and has Highly Trusted Sponsor status. • The Home Office can access and view all the information SOAS staff enter onto the system. Who can use the sponsorship management system? • Only licensed sponsors have access to the sponsorship management system. • Within SOAS we have designated and authorised users of the SMS, operating at different levels. • All users need access to the internet and an email address. • Adobe Acrobat Reader is also required to view payment notes. Using the system Only Authorised Level 1 and Level 2 Users have access to the Home Office SMS The Tier 4 User Manual can be accessed be online, using the following URL (users should always refer to the manual on the Home Office site when identifying the current guidance and procedures): http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance/ Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 15 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Appendix A - SOAS Tier-4 Officers and their roles The Authorising Officer (David Christmas - Director of Student & Registry Services) All sponsors holding or applying for a license must appoint an Authorising Officer. An institution can only have ONE Authorising Officer. Institutions are fully responsible for the actions of their Authorising Officer; it is therefore imperative that this position is given to a senior and competent person within SOAS. The Authorising Officer must be a paid member of staff or must be engaged by SOAS as an 'office holder'. This includes people who hold: o a statutory appointment (for example, a registered company director or secretary, a board member of a statutory body, a judge or a tribunal member) o an appointment under the internal constitution of the organisation (for example, a club treasurer or a trade union secretary) o an appointment under a trust deed (for example, a trustee) o an ecclesiastical appointment (for example, a member of the clergy) The Authorising Officer does not have automatic access to the SMS. If they need access, they must be set up as a User. This will mean that they have two roles, as Authorising Officer and User. The Key Contact (Carol Witts - Student Support & Records Manager) The Key Contact is the person who acts as the main point of contact between The School and the Home Office. Each institution can only have one Key Contact. The Key Contact will be the person the Home Office will contact if they have any queries about any of the student applications, the documents sent or the payments. The Authorising Officer can also act as the Key Contact It is good practice to appoint a different person as the Key Contact. The Key Contact does not have automatic access to the sponsorship management system. If the Key Contact needs access to the system, they can be set up as a User. The Key Contact must be based in the United Kingdom. Institutions that have overseas branches, can only appoint a Key Contact who is based in a United Kingdom branch of the organisation. The Key Contact cannot be: o a contractor; o a consultant who is contracted for a specific project; o an employee of a third party organisation used to deliver all or part of the human resource function; o a temporary member of staff supplied by an agency. Level 1 User Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 16 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures All Level 1 Users must be selected and authorised by SOAS’s Authorising Officer. Once logged on, a Level 1 User can set up a structure of Users within the institution, to manage the allocation of Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) and their administrative role. It is good practice to ensure all Level 2 Users designated by any Level 1 User are approved by either the Authorising Officer or the Key Contact. A Level 1 User can: Add Level 1 and Level 2 Users or remove them Assign Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) Ask for an increase in SOAS’s annual allocation of CAS Tell the Home Office about minor changes to SOAS’s details Use the 'change of circumstances' section to ask the Home Office to record bigger changes in SOAS’s circumstances Report student activity to the Home Office (such as telling the Home Office if a student goes missing or does not attend their course) Withdraw Confirmation of Acceptance for Study Manage study addresses Amend User details. At SOAS, the following tasks should NOT be carried out by a Level 1 User, unless instructed by the Authorising Officer or Key Contact: Add Level 1 and Level 2 Users or remove them Ask for an increase in SOAS’s annual allocation of CAS Tell the Home Office about changes to SOAS’s details Use the 'change of circumstances' section to ask the Home Office to record bigger changes in SOAS’s circumstances Manage study addresses A Level 1 User can search for a CAS, and can view all assigned, used, expired, withdrawn and partially finished CAS entered by any User. When a new Level 1 User is added to the system, the request is sent to the Home Office. If the Home Office approves the request, confirmation is sent to the Authorising Officer. The Authorising Officer will provide the User ID to the new Level 1 User and the password will be sent directly to the Level 1 User by the Home Office. A Level 1 User must never disclose their password to anyone else. If they do, the Home Office may downgrade the sponsor’s rating or withdraw the sponsor's license altogether. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 17 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures Level 2 Users An institution can appoint as many Level 2 Users as they need; Level 2 Users have a more restricted range of permissions than Level 1 Users. As the Authorising Officer is responsible for the actions of the Users, it is advisable to keep the number of Level 2 Users to the minimum necessary for effective business operation. If an institution has overseas branches, the Authorising Officer can only appoint Level 2 Users who are based in a UK branch of the institution. A representative in the UK may also act as a Level 2 User. A Level 2 User can: Assign CASs Report student activity (for example, if they fail to enrol). A Level 2 User can only search for a CAS that they have entered. When a new Level 2 User is added, the new User ID can be found in the system immediately and should be passed on. The password will be sent directly to the User by email. A Level 2 User must never disclose their password to anyone else. If they do, the Home Office can downgrade the sponsor rating or withdraw an institution’s sponsor's license altogether. Level 2 Users can be: a paid staff member or office holder (someone who holds an unpaid job); an employee of a third-party organisation used to deliver all or part of your human resource system; or a member of staff supplied to you by an employment agency. They must not be: a contractor, or a consultant who is contracted for a specific project; or an undischarged bankrupt. Appointment of SMS Level 1 and Level 2 Users When a new user is added to the system, the request is sent to the Home Office. If the Home Office approves the request, confirmation is sent to the Authorising Officer. The Authorising Officer will provide the User ID to the new user and the password will be sent directly to the user by the Home Office. A user must never disclose their password to anyone else. If they do, the Home Office may downgrade the sponsor’s rating or withdraw the sponsor's license altogether. Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 18 of 20 Tier-4 Processes & Procedures SOAS must be prepared for any spot-checks that may be carried out on any or all staff registered as Level 1 Users and even on the Key Contact or Authorising Officer, to verify their identity and credentials and check for criminal records or unpaid civil penalties. SOAS should therefore obtain the following information from ALL its appointed Level 1 (and Level 2) Users: a. Copy of passport or ID card b. Copy of academic qualifications c. Evidence of eligibility to work in the UK (this will be covered by the passport in most cases) Last updated cw16 / June 2013 Page 19 of 20