What students should do when their college Tier 4 Licence is suspended

This post was written by Charles Kelly on February 13, 2010
Posted Under: News

What should an international student do if the college they have applied to has their Tier 4 Sponsors licence suspended or withdrawn by the UK Border Agency?

Immigration Matters receives a large number of enquiries from students who have obtained visas or are already studying at a college which was approved by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) but later had its licence suspended.

It is estimated that thousands of students are studying at colleges which previously appeared on the UKBA Tier 4 Sponsors Register, but were later suspended.

The realisation that your college name no longer appears on the list of approved sponsors can send a wave of panic throughout the campus. But do you need to change college immediately?

Many students bolt and hurriedly join another college, in many cases only to later discover that their new college also receives a suspension.

What are the immigration rules?

The UKBA publishes the following guidance on the ‘Studying in the UK’ section its website:

Tier 4 licence suspended

Licence suspended	What will happen
Before you apply to come	You can still apply for permission to come to the United Kingdom but we will hold your application until the suspension is resolved.
Before you travel to the United Kingdom	If you have a visa letter that you got before your approved education provider’s license was suspended, and have already been granted permission to enter the United Kingdom, but you have not yet travelled, we will try and contact you to tell you not to come until we have resolved the suspension.
If you do travel to the United Kingdom	If you do travel to the United Kingdom, you will be allowed to enter and start studying with your approved education provider.
If you are already in the United Kingdom studying	If you are already in the United Kingdom and studying with your approved education provider, we will not tell you if we suspend their licence. However, if the result of the suspension is that your approved education provider loses their licence, we will tell you and your permission to stay will be limited.
If you are extending your stay	You can still apply to extend your permission to stay if it runs out when your approved education provider’s licence is suspended, as long as you already have your visa letter. However, we will hold your application until the suspension is resolved.

Tier 4 licence is withdrawn

Licence withdrawn	What will happen
Before you apply to come	If your approved education provider’s licence is withdrawn, your visa letter will become invalid and you will not be able to use it to support any application for leave to come to the United Kingdom. Any applications made using an invalid visa letter will be refused.
Before you travel to the United Kingdom	If you have been given permission to come but have not travelled yet, your permission to come is cancelled. If you travel to the United Kingdom, you will not be allowed to enter.
If you are already in the United Kingdom studying	We will limit your permission to stay:to 60 days if you were not involved in the reasons why your approved education provider had their licence withdrawn (we will not limit your permission to stay if you have less than six months left. You may want to apply for permission to stay with another approved education provider during this time);immediately if we think you were involved in the reasons why your sponsor’s licence was withdrawn.

For further information check the UKBA website or seek advice from a registered immigration adviser or immigration lawyer.

Reader Comments

i am presently studing at ***** college, london but there lience has been suspended, pls. can my dependent still apply for visa to enter the uk.
thanks

Written By mike on February 15th, 2010 @ 7:03 pm

My son student visa was not renewed for reasons that his bank statement of account for the month of June was not submitted. In no case his bank statement for April and May 2009 was submitted, however, his bank statement for June 2009 was not, because this was the time he filed his papers for the renewal of his Student Visa? What is his chance to appeal this case? Also his wife was likewise denied for reason that they are not convinced that she was really the wife of my son… What will they do?

Written By darie on February 16th, 2010 @ 10:59 pm

Hi.
Can I study a buissnes english, if I will extend my visa 3rd year,and about the work hours, should I work just 10 hours per week?
Beforehand thanks

Zuleyha

Written By Zuleyha Javliyeva on February 18th, 2010 @ 8:10 am

If a foreign students are taking NVQ 3 and 4, is it the school’s (sponsor) responsibility to find them a paid work placement..

Written By dennis on March 3rd, 2010 @ 1:12 am

how can some college not tell there student that there school is suspended.. they should at least have the decency to email there student about it.

Written By sarah on March 3rd, 2010 @ 6:38 pm

my school’s tier 4 license has been suspended, will i be able to travel out of the u.k. without being sent back to my country of origin? i’ve been here since last year.

Written By katol on March 6th, 2010 @ 4:09 pm

sir when i apply for study in PGDBM course in a college of UK the college is in Tier4 category but after 2 month the college is removed from tier4 category.the college gave me visa later and i apply for my visa application when the college was in tier4 category,but now i get the refusal in my visa.the visa refusal reason is that i don’t have sufficient fund but i already have shown my bank balance in my account.i have submitted all the appropriate proofs for that in my visa application. my intake was January.now i appeal with sufficient proofs ,on the bases of my refusal notice to give me visa now what will be the intake may be if i get the visa???and if i get the visa and my college is not in tier4 category so can UK government allow me to enter in UK????what may be happen in my case????? kindly suggest on my case sir..

thanking you..

Written By mitul sikligar on March 8th, 2010 @ 7:26 am

can u tell me pls.. r************** international college is black listed ?

Written By gurpreet kaur on March 9th, 2010 @ 12:31 pm

tier 4 rule changes

Written By amandeep on March 9th, 2010 @ 4:45 pm

dear sir,
ihave apply for jan session at 6jan but after 18 days my college was in suspend. in that case can i get uk visa or not?

#10

Written By jagat gurung on March 16th, 2010 @ 5:45 am

Hi! My cousin is a student visa holder under the old system rules enrolled in a sandwich course NVQ 3 & 4 healthcare. She recently applied for a post in healthcare assistant in NHS website, got shortlisted and passed the interview. She already processed her application and CRB. Attended the 2 days induction programme. When she went back to the HR department to get her uniform, she was told that she can’t work because her student visa sticker or stamp says ‘work or any changes must be authorised’. But based on my knowledge she’s under the old system rules. And doing a sandwich course means a student can work full time even in term time because the course she is doing is related to her work and its guided learning process which leads to a qualification. Can you give me an advice on this because i think it’s unfair on my cousin’s part. Thanks

#11

Written By Mae Santos on March 19th, 2010 @ 7:00 pm

i applied to extend my student visa, last year, march 2009…my college’s license was withdrawn around end of sept…from then to recently i have not attended any college, since no colleges were accepting me, since i did not hold a valid visa and passport….justa few weeks ago i got my passport back from the home office, refused on the basis of non bona fide college…..currently i am enrolled to another college, which i started last week…..i already sent my appeal….my question is-
were i supposed to inform the home office when i knew my college was closed??
Were i supposed to enrol myself in another college, which i tried??
Wat were expected of me??

#12

Written By aaron on April 1st, 2010 @ 2:06 am

Hi, can anyone please advise me of my rights when the college withdraws sponsorship without notifing me? my visa has been refused because the college withdrew my sponsorship. The college is still open but for some reason they decided to withdraw my sponsorship without telling me. I only found out when I went to collect my passport from embassy. The college owners are getting away with murder something needs to be done. please advise me.

#13

Written By mohammed on April 6th, 2010 @ 4:22 pm

hello ,
i travelled uk on 25th of feb 2010.as i enetered on the very second day my colleg,s sponcer lisence was cancelled ..i,m on student visa under Tier4 . i searched many colleges and i found some leagle and true study enviroment institutions … i have 2 years visa .. kindly let me know can i get admission in any other institution ? if yes then what steps i would have to take ?

#14

Written By Fahim on April 13th, 2010 @ 11:46 pm

I Applied for an extension for my visa in April 2009. My college went suspended in sep 2009. I still dint hear anything from home office. The asked me to attend biometrics for second time novr-dec. My college is now off the list. No college is ready to give me admission as i dont have my passport on hand and no visa.. What do i do now? They r not ready to accept the documents i have in hand even though they prove that my documents are in the home office..!!! WHats am i supposed to do?

#15

Written By chimpu on May 6th, 2010 @ 11:42 pm

#16

Written By pauline on June 3rd, 2010 @ 9:12 am

Hello sir, I want to know that i came in UK on May 2010,i start my studies here , after couple of weeks, my college was suspended and after suspension my college is withdrawn. now i want to know that my college is not giving my fee back, i want to take my admission to another college, also i have a limited period of time for taking admission, so kindly tell me now what i need to do, i will take admission in other college then i need to send my passport to Home office ? or what are the procedures and fees of home office. thanks

#17

Written By Shah on July 25th, 2010 @ 2:31 am

I have a problem please help me. i applied for student visa for uk along with my dependents. i was given visa but my dependents were refused. i have got two kids one is six months. Obviously i could not go without my dependents. i appealed against the decision. meanwhile my College refused to give me extension and my admission was cancelled. Now Embassy contacted me and they allowed the appeal. They asked me to send my dependents passport for visa. Please guide me what should i do in this situation. I am very tense and confused.
Thanks

#18

Written By mussarat qaisar on August 5th, 2010 @ 9:23 am

hi,i applied for student extension in oct 2010.my present college is a rating college.but my back up from jul 2009 to july2010 was not tier 4 back up.there will be any problem for me?

#19

Written By aamir on October 28th, 2010 @ 12:06 am

i got visa valid from 22 october 2010 bt my college had been suspended on 10 october i got my uk visa under old policy of 2008.now plz let me inform that can i travel on that college letter or not?i m so worried about my case plz tell me as soon as possible thnks
ragards imran zafar

#20

Written By imran zafar on December 5th, 2010 @ 8:03 am

I Applied for an extension for my visa in july 2010 and I had given my biometrics to home office, after passing of three months my college went suspended on 16 oct 2010. I still didn’t hear anything from home office. My college is still now off the list. No college is ready to give me admission as I don’t have my passport on hand and no visa.. What do I do now? They r not ready to accept the documents I have in hand even though they prove that my documents are in the home office..!!! Whats am i supposed to do?

#21

Written By Aric Mash on December 23rd, 2010 @ 6:25 am

i am presently studing at ***** college, london but there lience has been suspended, pls. can my dependent still apply for visa to enter the uk.
thanks

#22

Written By nehal on June 16th, 2011 @ 4:31 pm

iam a student of london thames college,college is suspended.my dependant is also with me.what wil be future proceedings please..

#23

Written By sanuja on July 1st, 2011 @ 11:01 pm

Hi,
My college is London Academy of Management Sciences.My college is suspend . i contact with LAMS to refund my fee they ask me for wait 5 weeks .within 5 weeks they will retain. can any body tell me how many days colleges take to retain? or in this situation what to do?

#24

Written By Azhar Naseer on July 14th, 2011 @ 11:15 am

Hi. I have already got my CAS letter from my college but after a week my college was suspended. I would appreciate if you could clarify me with the fact of whether I can still apply for my visa or not despite my college was suspended.

#25

Written By sanassee on July 14th, 2011 @ 5:01 pm

My problem is I got a holiday letter from my college(before suspension) but after few days my college has suspended.That’s situation can I travel from Uk to my country. My progress is good even last month I have attend Othm Diploma xam at South Bank University.

#26

Written By Md Niaz Morshed on July 16th, 2011 @ 4:44 pm

Suspension means they are suspended from recruiting new students. Existing students are ok as long as the licence is not revoked.
However, if you leave the UK and their licence is revoked you might have a hard time upon your return. You have to decide whether or not it is worth the risk.
If you want to change college, UKUS has links with hundreds of courses, colleges and universities. They can help you find another college and their service is free.
See website:
http://www.uk-universityservices.co.uk/

#27

Written By Charles Kelly on July 18th, 2011 @ 12:11 pm

Suspension means they are suspended from recruiting new students. Existing students are ok as long as the licence is not revoked. However, the embassy will probably hold your visa until if and when the suspension is lifted.
If you want to change college, UKUS has links with hundreds of courses, colleges and universities. They can help you find another college and their service is free.
See website:
http://www.uk-universityservices.co.uk/

#28

Written By Charles Kelly on July 18th, 2011 @ 12:24 pm

Date : 22/07/2011

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation

#29

Written By Ali Haider on July 22nd, 2011 @ 6:07 pm

hello iam doing my mba and iam left with my dissertation which i need to submit on august 12 2011 however my college is in suspension and my visa is going to get expire on 31july 2011, what do i do, do i have extend my visa from some other college or can apply from the same college which is suspension. since i had spoken in my college with regards to my extention they says, they wont be able to provide cas letter untill college return to tier4 sponsor list, so kindly advice me what should i do

#30

Written By mohammed hannan on July 24th, 2011 @ 11:41 pm

#31

Written By mohammed hannan on July 24th, 2011 @ 11:44 pm

hello iam doing my mba unfortunately my college got suspended few weeks ago, and my visa is going to expire on 31july 2011, wt do u suggest

#32

Written By hannan on July 24th, 2011 @ 11:45 pm

If the suspended college cannot issue a new CAS (to enable you to renew your visa/LTR) you have to find another college!

#33

Written By Charles Kelly on July 25th, 2011 @ 1:22 pm

Who’s doing what about fees i have paid for my college?I didn’t see anybody talking about fees that i have paid.If a college looses their licence does that means i loose my money.??

#34

Written By Chanuka on August 19th, 2011 @ 11:26 am

If you have paid your fees you have nothing to worry about.

#35

Written By Charles Kelly on August 19th, 2011 @ 6:28 pm

Hi, i am looking for some guidance and suggestion in case where i had taken admission in a college and had paid the fees, now the college licence is cancelled and so stands my visa too. i have to take admission in another college and re apply for the visa. Being a student i cant afford such a huge amount and have approached colleges to
refund the fees paid and they deny. i want to take legal action in this regard and not sure where to start and seek some help and guidance. please throw some light immediately as i have not much time.

#36

Written By Kinjal on August 20th, 2011 @ 9:19 pm

hi there,
i have applied for my visa extention under tier 4 base,two months ago, and i have found out my college has been suspended and still i was waiting , but when i went to the college, the college is shut , nobody was there.
now i can understand what am i supposed to do? as my visa has been expired last week.
now may i need to go with another good college? if yes what is the procedure for that? how can i go with them?
and is there any legal chances to get back my tution fees from that college?
please advice me ,, i will be gracefull by your help.
thanks a lot..

#37

Written By Vipal dave on August 26th, 2011 @ 1:43 pm

my collge is suspended, what will be happen next? do i need to change collge?? if i change college do i need to re-apply my visa??

#38

Written By sabina on August 26th, 2011 @ 2:14 pm

i just extend my visa and now my collge is suspended so what should i do next?is it necessary to change college and extend my visa or not? thanks

#39

Written By suri on August 26th, 2011 @ 2:20 pm

You do not have to leave if the college is suspended. It may be a minor issue. We are getting more and more reports of colleges closing down ater being suspended perhaps because they see no hope of being able to gain HTS status or recruiting sufficient student numbers in the future following 4 July tier 4 changes.

#40

Written By Charles Kelly on September 8th, 2011 @ 7:21 pm

hi i a am student of highgate academy college in newhaven east susex this college was close.
1. please can you tell me whats the reason to close?
2. i have still 5 month visa what can i do?
3. is it possible to change college?
4.please can you tell me what can i do to study in next college?
i hope i will get my answer.

#41

Written By tej on September 11th, 2011 @ 1:55 am

sir my colleg is not in liste ukba my study is possibal in this colleg wiche way in use becuse my study is countnew i am depress

#42

Written By azmat on September 12th, 2011 @ 11:32 pm

Hello sir, I want to know that i came in UK on sep 2010,i start my studies and finish in June 2011 and i got certificate from awarding body but after couple of days , my college was suspended and after suspension my college is withdrawn. and i have visa till May 2012 . could youx please guide me whats should be next step from my side ..

pleases reply sir .. its quite critical for my carrier

Thanks and awauting for your valuable response

#43

Written By AMIT on September 14th, 2011 @ 12:44 am

Dear
I am student of graduate diploma in business & Markeitting as a tire 4 sponser Royal LOndon College, 2 Abbey Road Barking. now the sitution is the college licenced has been declera revoced by the ukba , what can we do in this sitution, while our sesion stsart from 23 march 2011 but the course not start properly , we attend classes with Mix Courses exampel with esol student or a introduction classes.
please advice me what can i do in this sitution:

if their posibility the college return our fee?
if there any chance to appeal?
i have valid visa till april 2013 , what willbe status of this visa.

please reply urgently and breifly

thanks
Jaffri

#44

Written By MUSTAJAB on September 18th, 2011 @ 1:43 am

Not sure what the situation is with your college. If the college has closed you have little chance of getting your money back especially if the company/college has gone bust.
You will have to find another college and should have had a letter from the UKBA giving you 60 days? OISC registered Immigration Advisers Bison UK are offering students free consultations. Call them on 0208 905 1822 or drop in for a free consultation.

#45

Written By Charles Kelly on September 21st, 2011 @ 3:43 pm

i studied in royal london college but it was suspended last month what should i do now give advices thanx alot

#46

Written By zeshan on September 29th, 2011 @ 10:29 pm

Hi there,
I am a student of The central college of london.My problem is that I came to know that the licence of the college is revoked by the ukba.so please guide me what step should I take further??As Its been just 5 months that I have come here and my visa is still for 2014,how could i change the college??Do I have to reapply for the visa again??I have paid my full fees also so do I get any refund?How do I receive 60 days notice from ukba??If i reapplied for the visa will I get the working hour??Please reply me to guide as soon as possible.Its urgent because I need to take the step as soon as possible.please please do reply me soon.Thank you

#47

Written By tamanna on October 12th, 2011 @ 10:36 pm

i am student of West Eand college. uk. now it is rebook. i have paid all fees. comming december will exam. now what we will do. please give me advice for getting back my tution fees.

#48

Written By KALPONA on October 13th, 2011 @ 11:54 am

i am student of West End college. uk. now it is rebook. i have paid all fees. comming december will exam. now what we will do. please give me advice for getting back my tution fees.
my college still didn’t give any update at their website.what we do now.

#49

Written By KALPONA on October 13th, 2011 @ 11:58 am

hi im worried coz my college is suspended frm ukba list,wht do i do now?plz help me

#50

Written By susheel kumar gaddam masireddy on October 21st, 2011 @ 9:36 am

Hello sir, I want to know that i came in UK on jan 2011,i start my studies here , after couple of weeks, my college was suspended and after suspension my college is withdrawn. now i want to know that my college is not giving my fee back, i want to take my admission to another college, also i have a limited period of time for taking admission, so kindly tell me now what i need to do, i will take admission in other college then i need to send my passport to Home office ? or what are the procedures and fees of home office. thanks

#51

Written By kasif on October 21st, 2011 @ 2:38 pm

Hi,
I entered UK on 3rd may 2011 as a tier 4 student.
Unfortunately my college’s( Victoria College Nottingham) licence has been suspended by UKBA before my entery.I joined my college and started my classes(English Language Leading to ACCA).I paid 2000 GBP to my college in advance.Now on 6/10/11 my College Licence has been withdrawn by UKBA.
I did not receive any letter from UKBA yet.plz tell me that 60 days startsfrom the cancellation ofthe collge’s licence or when I receive UKBA’s letter and
When I get admision in new college.

1# Will new rules apply on my case

2# can I refund my tution fee(2000 GBP)

3# Can I get CAS before recevng UKBA’s letter and apply

4# Will I have to show bankstatment if yes then How much

5# 60 days will start from the date when college’s. Licence withdrawn or when I receive UKBA’s letter

Your sincerely,
Nadeem Akhtar

#52

Written By Nadeem Akhtar on October 21st, 2011 @ 7:55 pm

hi
my college has been revoked by home office two weeks ago,after that the college went for a legal action against home office decision.in this case do I need to change the college immediately or I can wait until the court decision. please let me know as soon as possible.

thanks

#53

Written By mohamed rizwan on October 26th, 2011 @ 12:22 am

Call Cynthia Barker at Bison UK 0208 905 1822 for free advice

#54

Written By Charles Kelly on October 26th, 2011 @ 3:08 pm

Call Immigration Adviser Cynthia Barker at Bison UK 0208 905 1822 for free advice

#55

Written By Charles Kelly on October 26th, 2011 @ 3:09 pm

Call Immigration Adviser Cynthia Barker at Bison UK 0208 905 1822 for free advice.

#56

Written By Charles Kelly on October 26th, 2011 @ 5:05 pm

i was studying in my college since 5 months. suddenly it’s suspended …..i want to take addmission in another college or uni. so can i get?….and which step i have to take plz…..suggest me…..

#57

Written By birju raval on November 6th, 2011 @ 5:15 pm

My cousin applied online visa and paid the fee aswell from Greece to come Uk but he’s in other nationality the passport expired he need to extented his passport if want to cancel the visa can he get the fee or not? Thank you for your time.

#58

Written By Keles on November 20th, 2011 @ 12:49 pm

hi i want to know what is time period for students of blacklisted colleges? Now Is it 60 days 0r 120 days? please clear it to me immediately.
thanks

#59

Written By Sharanjit kaur on January 17th, 2012 @ 2:04 pm

My college has been suspend(closed)now i want to apply another college ….i just want to ask you how much bank statment will be required for new visa ?i do not have my previous college attendes report…..i just have just my previous college CAS LETTER

#60

Written By Hussain on January 21st, 2012 @ 11:18 pm

Students that have had their visas refused, because their tier 4 sponsor was revoked whilst their applications are pending are doomed.
I appealed my refusal only for UKBA to withdraw the case. They did not even turn up in court.
The Judge in court said I should have been given 60 days to find another sponsor before my application was returned as refused.
I did not receive any documented communication from UKBA after the Tribunal. My solicitor has written to UKBA thrice regarding this issue, but no reply.
Without permission from UKBA or a valid Visa I cannot get a place at any college.
I have tried to get another school, but no school will take me because I have no valid visa…and my immigration status is in doubt.
I have lost a year’s tuition fees and my legal fees are piling up.
There isnt enough information outthere for those of us that have been affected by school suspensions and closures.

#61

Written By Mau on January 25th, 2012 @ 3:11 pm

Trackbacks

Weekly Immigration News Round up 14 Feb 2010 | Immigration Matters on February 14th, 2010 @ 1:09 am
UK Border Agency launch final phase of Tier 4 replacing Visa Letters with CAS | Immigration Matters on February 22nd, 2010 @ 1:11 pm
Tier 4 student visa rules change starts today | Immigration Matters on March 3rd, 2010 @ 11:33 am
Government’s new international strategy to protect UK Border | Immigration Matters on March 5th, 2010 @ 7:38 pm
Tier 4 college suspensions – which students are affected? | Immigration Matters on April 15th, 2010 @ 6:23 pm

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