Work conditions
As an international student, it’s important to follow the work conditions attached to your visa. These rules set out how many hours you can work and the type of jobs you’re allowed to do while studying. If you work more hours than permitted, or take on work that isn’t allowed, it can affect your current visa and even future applications to return to the UK. For more information on the work conditions please see Working in the UK during your studies. 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 as part of your student visa application, you’ll need to apply for a new one within 28 days if any of the following happen:
- your course content changes
- your research proposal changes
- your course end date (as stated on your CAS) is postponed for more than three months
It’s really important to keep your ATAS up to date. If you don’t, it could affect your registration 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
Please let the University know if your UK contact address, phone number, or emergency contact changes. Keeping your details up to date helps us stay in touch and support you if needed.
You can update your information anytime through the student portal. We recommend checking your details at the start of each term to make sure everything is 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.