Work conditions
You must abide by the conditions of your visa including any work conditions. Breaching your visa conditions by working too many hours or doing work which you are not allowed to do can lead to the cancellation of your current visa, being required to leave the UK, and, in certain circumstances, a ban from the UK. Any future immigration applications also run a higher risk of refusal for failing to comply with visa conditions in the past. For more information on the work conditions please see Working in the UK during your studies.
No recourse to public funds
Your visa conditions prevent you from claiming 'public funds', which refers to certain benefits and council housing. However, using the National Health Service (NHS), enrolling your child in a state school, and being exempt from Council Tax do not count as claiming 'public funds”. For a full list of what's considered public funds, please check the UK GOV information on public funds.
Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)
If you needed an ATAS certificate for your student visa application, you must get a new one within 28 days if:
- your course content changes
- your research proposal changes
- your course end date (as stated on your CAS) is postponed for more than three months
Failure to secure a new ATAS certificate that reflects these changes may affect your registration status at the University.
Please check the gov.uk webpage and the University of Greenwich webpage for more information.
Digital immigration status
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) have moved to a digital system of visas (eVisas), meaning that by 1 January 2025, anyone with a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card should have switched to a digital visa. During 2024, the Home Office should have contacted all visa-holders who needed to take action, asking them to sign up and create their UKVI account to access their eVisa.
All students beginning their course of study from 2025 onwards should have received a digital immigration status, and should not have been issued with a BRP. Your eVisa will be your only proof of immigration status.
eVisa errors
If you notice any mistakes on your eVisa regarding the following details, you can use this form to report them to UKVI:
- name
- sponsor reference
- photo
- National Insurance number
- visa restrictions - these say what you can and cannot do in the UK
- immigration status
- valid until date
If you need more information or advice, please contact International Student Advice Service.
Protect your Passport
Your employer might request to see or make a copy of your passport. They do this to verify your eligibility to work in the UK. It's important that they return your passport to you without delay. Do not allow anyone else to keep hold of your documents.
Personal documents
Make sure you have paper and scanned copies of:
- the whole of your passport, except for the blank pages
- the front and back of your BRP, if you still have one
It is important to keep fresh copies of these documents whenever any changes are made. Having copies will assist you in replacing them if they are lost.
Your contact details
It is important to inform the University of any changes to your UK contact address, telephone number, and emergency contact details. This will ensure that the University maintains accurate records of your information. You can easily update your details through the University's student portal. Remember to keep these details up to date at the beginning of each term to ensure the information remains current.
Overstaying
if you stay in the UK beyond your visa expiry date without applying for a visa extension, you will be classed as an overstayer – which means that you are in the UK without immigration permission. Overstaying is a criminal offence. There is no "grace period" within which you can lawfully overstay your visa.
Overstaying can have serious repercussions for future immigration applications, potentially resulting in a re-entry ban to the UK for at least 12 months if you overstay for more than 30 days. Furthermore, overstaying may affect your visa applications to countries other than the UK.
It is essential to be truthful in your immigration applications and disclose any instances of overstaying when required. Failure to do so may lead to a ten-year ban from the UK if deception is discovered in your application.
If you need advice or have any concerns about your visa, please contact the International Student Advice Service. All advice provided by the International Student Advice Service is free and confidential.
