Students with family members slides

Studentswithfamily members

Presentedby SueO’Hara

Visasfor dependants

InternationalStudentSupport

Theteamprovidesimmigrationsupporttointernational studentsandtheirimmediatefamilymembers,before, duringandafteryourstudies.

Expertimmigrationadvisers: visaadvice@exeter.ac.ukorviadrop-in

Seewebsiteformoreinformationonvisasfordependants: www.exeter.ac.uk/students/international/applyingforavisa /studentvisas/dependants/

Whocanhavedependants?

Youcanhavedependants withyouintheUKifyouare:

• Studyingafulltimepostgraduatecourseatleast9monthsinlength

• Agovernment-sponsoredstudentstudyingonacourseofmorethan6 monthsinlength

FromJanuary2024,theRulesarechangingandwillbecomemorerestrictive.

Whoaredependants?

Yourpartner

• Husband/wife/civilpartner/unmarriedpartner

Yourchild

Both parents must be coming to live in the UK (not as a visitor). Must not stay longer than you. Must meet financial requirements

Youngerthan18yearsonthedaytheyapplyfortheirfirstDependantvisaandthey mustnotbelivinganindependentlifeOr:childbornintheUK

Other

•Yourparent,siblingoranyotherrelativecannot beyourstudentdependant forvisapurpose.

Preparingforadependantvisa application

Dependantscanapplyatthesametimeasyouorafteryouhave receivedyourvisa.

Theywillneedtohaveaccessto:

• Evidenceofmoney-£680foreachmonthofimmigrationpermission uptoamaximumof9months(£6,120)

• Avalidpassport

• TBcertificate(ifrequired)

• Iftheyareyour:

• Partner:marriage/civilpartnershipcertificate/evidenceofcohabiting

• Child:birthcertificate+consentletter

• YourCASstatement

• Informationonimmigrationhistory

• Accommodationdetails

Yourdependant’svisa

OnceyourdependanthassubmittedtheirbiometricsatavisaapplicationcentretheUKVI caseworkerwillmakeadecisionontheapplication.

Ifsuccessfulthedependantwillreceive:

• A90dayvignette(sticker)intheirpassport

• Asuccessfulvisaletterconfirmingconditionsandlengthofleave

• UsethevignettetotraveltotheUK(withinthe90dayperiod)

• Collectthebiometricresidencepermit(BRP)onceintheUK–leave of6monthsorlesswillbeissuedasavignetteonly

Theconditionsofthevisashouldstate:

• Work–butnotasasportspersonorcoach

Howmuchdoesitcost?

Eachdependantmustpay:

• Visaapplicationfeeof£363(outsideUKfee),and

• Immigrationhealthsurchargeperyearofpermissionis£470perpersonperyear

ImmigrationHealthSurcharge:

• GrantsyouaccesstoNationalHealthService(NHS)

• Youwillstillneedtopayforcertaintypesofservicessuchasprescriptions,dental treatmentandeyetests

Healthcare

Healthcareforyourdependants

Youandyourdependantscan access healthcare

Thisdoesnotincludethedentist

Findalocaldoctorassoonassoonyouarrive intheUK.–donotwaituntilyouneedit UWEstudentscanavailoffreeeyetests

Schools& nurseries

Securingaschoolyouarehappy with

• ChildrenintheUKmustattendstateschoolfromtheSeptemberaftertheir4thbirthdayuntiltheage of16

• TheymustbeintheUKasyourdependant

• Stateschoolsarefree

• Youneedtocheckthataplaceisavailableasmanyschoolsareovercapacity

• ToapplyforaschoolplaceyouneedapermanentaddressintheUK

• Youshouldnotapplyforaplacemorethan6weeksbeforeyourchildarrivesinUK

Admissiontoaschoolisatthediscretionoftheschool,localauthorityoracademy concerned,andcannotbeguaranteed

Theschooldayisgenerally from08:45–15:15

Thisgovernmentwebpagecontainsgeneralinformation aboutschooladmissionsinEngland: https://www.gov.uk/schools-admissions

• Devonbasedschoolapplications

• Cornwallbasedschoolapplication

Childcarebeforeschoolage

Nursery Childminder/Nanny

• Usuallyfrom6months–4years

• Usuallyopen08:00–18:00

• Mustpayforthisuptotheageof3years

• NurserymustbeapprovedbyUK’sregulatory body–Ofsted

• Exetercampusnursery:Owlets

Penryncampusnursery:LittleWonders

• Smallsetting.Usuallywithinsomeone’shome

• Fulltimechildminder=£150perweek/ £12,854peryr

• FindaregisteredChildminder-Childcare.co.uk

• Live-innanny(50hrsweekly)=£400to£650 eachweekplusnationalinsurance contributions

Sample Nursery Costs

Accommodation

Private Accommodation

• RentsvaryacrossthecitybetweenXtoXpermonthfor2 bedroomoptions

• Somepropertiesmaynotbefurnished

• Someareasarelessexpensivethanothers-butnotmuch!!

WestronglyrecommendthatyouarriveinadvanceofyourfamilycomingtoExeterto securesuitableaccommodationforyouallbesidesalltheamenitiesyouwillneedcloseto campus,work,nursery,schools,etc

Private Accommodation

Before you

there are some questions to ask yourself…:

Cost of Living in Exeter

PleasereadtheInternational Students'Guide:Budgetingsection

• Recommend asinglestudentlivinginExeterorCornwallwillneed£900-£1300amonthtomeet basiclivingexpenses (accommodation, food,books,equipment)

• However,largeraccommodation tomeetfamilyneeds, childcare costsetcmayincreasethisa lot.

• Costoflivingincreasing muchfasterduetoinflation

Indicativecosts:

Loafofwhitebread:£1

1ltrmilk£1.30

6mediumeggs:£1.50

Rice(1kg):£1.80

Noodles(300g):£1.20

Location,location,location

Academiccommitments

• Youwillbeexpectedtoattendin person(notonline)

• Yourtimetablecannotbe individualised–wehaveoverX students

Doyouwanttobecloseto

• Parks

• Recreationalspaces

• Thecitycentre

• Employmentopportunities(part-timefor yourself,orforyourpartner)

Werecommendrentingascloseas youcanaffordtoyourcampus,so youcan:

• Avoidlongcommutetimes

• Reducetravelcostsideallyifyouare withinwalking/cyclingdistanceofyour campus

Ifyouhavedependantsunder18 yearsold:

• Whereisthenearestsuitable nursery/Government/private school?

• Arethereplacesavailableinthe nursery/schoolyouwant?

• Costofnursery/publicschoolfees?

Key Terms

En suite

Joint tenancy

Roomwithabathroom

Onetenancythatalltenantssign;alltenantsarejointlyresponsiblefortherentandtheproperty

Individual tenancy Atenancythatonlyyouwillsign

Inventory Alistwhichdetailsalloftheitemsinthehouse

Deposit

Asumofmoneypaidtocoverunpaidrentanddamagetotheproperty,thisisrefundable,unless thereareanydeductionsattheendofthetenancy

Deposit protection scheme

AllstudentswhosignanAssuredShortholdTenancy(AST)musthavetheirdepositprotectedin oneofthreegovernment-backedtenancydepositschemes.Thismeansthatifthereareany disputesaboutthedepositattheendofthetenancy,theschemeholdingthedepositcanhelp youresolveanyissues

Fixed term

Thelengthoftimethetenancyisfor,i.e.SeptemberuntilJune–youarecommittedtothe tenancyforthefixedterm

Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)

Thetypeoftenancyyouwillprobablysign,thisisthemostcommontenancy

Guarantor Apersonwhosignstosaythattheywillpayyourrentifyoudon’t

How to avoid a scam

Rentalfraudhappenswhenwould-betenantsaretrickedintopayingan upfrontfeetorentaproperty.

Protectyourselffromrentalfraud:

1. Donotsendmoneytoanyoneadvertisingrentalpropertiesonlineuntilyouarecertain theadvertiserisgenuine

2. IfyouneedtosecureaccommodationintheUKfromoverseas,seekthehelpofThe Students’UnionAdviceCentre,orgetafriend,contactorrelativetochecktheproperty existsandisavailable

3. Donotpayanymoneyuntilyouorareliablecontacthasvisitedthepropertywithan agentorthelandlord

4. AskforcopiesoftenancyagreementsandanysafetycertificatessuchasGasElectricity orHMOLicence

5. Donotbepressurisedintotransferringlargesumsofmoney

6. Transferfundstoabankaccounthavingobtainedthedetailsbycontactingthelandlord oragentdirectlyaftertheabovestepshavebeenfollowed.Bescepticalifyou’reasked totransferanymoneyviaamoneytransferservicelikeWesternUnion

IffraudhasbeencommittedreportittoActionFraud.

Cultural Norms at a UK University

KeypointsforyoutobeawareofandconsiderwhenstudyingataUKuniversity

• Attend full lectures in person with high attendance – low attendance can effect your quality of studies

• Arrive on time to lectures – punctuality is considered respectful to your lecturers and fellow students

• Consider the pressure and impact of a part time job on your studies and your family commitments

• You are studying full time course – you are expected to do selfdirected study above the core sessions

• Students are not permitted to bring babies and infants into lectures due to:

• Health and safety

• Potential disturbance to teaching and your fellow students

Students with Babies & Infants:

• Organise suitable child care prior for when you are in lectures and for self-directed study

• Plan your day carefully, making sure you have enough time to drop off your children and get to class on time.

Furtherinformation

• InternationalStudentsGuide

• Ourwebsite

• FreeEnglishlanguageclassesforspouses:Exeter,Penryn

• ParentsandCarersnetwork:ExeterandPenryn

Thepresentationwillbepostedhereshortly.

Contactus:

Visaadvice:visaadvice@exeter.ac.uk

Accommodation:Exeter,Penryn

Thankyou!

Anyquestions?