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Visa Compliance

In order to comply with the Highly Trusted Sponsor licence issued by the UK Border Agency, the University of Southampton has to:

• Keep copies of all non-EU students’ passports, visa documents and biometric ID cards
• Keep up to date contact details for students (UK address/phone number)
• Inform UKBA promptly if a student fails to attend regularly (including submitting coursework and sitting exams), suspends or withdraws
• In addition, the University must tell the UK Border Agency if students holding a Tier 4 visa to study at the University of Southampton do not arrive within 10 days of the start of the programme.

Visa, Passport and Identity Check-In

1. What is Check-in?

A series of events are organised every year to enable us to take copies of the necessary documents from new students. These events are known as Check-In. You will therefore need to attend a Visa, Passport and Identity Check- In as soon as possible after you arrive in Southampton. This is in addition to the identity check your faculty will carry out. Check-In events also provide support for the online enrolment process. You will be given support to enrol as part of the Check-in process.

Female students who choose to wear a niqab will be asked to remove the veil to have their identity confirmed. A female-only environment will be provided to ensure privacy.

If you do not attend a Check-In Event the University may report you to the UKBA as a non-showing entrant. This will mean that you lose your entitlement to be in the UK. Anyone who is genuinely unable (due to illness for example) to attend Check-in MUST email saavisa@soton.ac.uk to ask permission to attend at a later date. Permission will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

2. Documents to Bring to Check-In

Please ensure that you bring the following ORIGINAL documents with you to the Check In. You will not be able to Check-In or enrol online without them:

• Your current, valid passport
• Your visa/biometric identity card, leave stamps or immigration status document showing your permission to stay in the UK
• Your University of Southampton Student ID Number (this should appear on your offer letter or on your University Student ID Card)

3. Enrolment

You will not be able to enrol online until you have completed the Check-In with the Student Records team. Supported help with enrolment is provided as part of the Check-In process when your documents have been copied.

The University must tell the UK Border Agency if any students holding a Tier 4 visa do not enrol before the end of the specified enrolment period.
It is therefore important that you complete the Check In with Registry Services as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to enrol before the end of the enrolment period.

When you enrol you must provide the University with your term time contact details which should include:
1. Your address in the United Kingdom (you can change it later if you are staying in temporary accommodation)
2. Your home telephone number in the United Kingdom
3. Your mobile telephone number (if you have one)

Check In Dates for 2011

1. Students Attending Pre-Sessional English and Intensive English Courses:

Check In events with the Student Records Team will be held as part of the Pre-Sessional English and English for Academic Studies induction programme. You will need to bring your documents (see above) on the first day of the induction (Thursday 7th July for Course A and Thursday 4th August for Course B). Students who do not attend will be reported to UKBA as a non-showing entrant unless they make prior arrangement by emailing saavisa@soton.ac.uk.

2. Students Joining the University in the Autumn Term:

All Check-In events will be held in building 58 workstation rooms 1043, 1045, 1047 and 1049. There is plenty of seating in the area with snack vending machines nearby.

During International Welcome Week:

• Monday 19th September: 14.00 - 16.00
• Tuesday 20th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 - 16.00
• Wednesday 21st September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 - 16.00
• Friday 23rd September: 09.30 – 12.30

There is no Check-in on the afternoon of Friday 23rd as all students will be attending faculty based induction events.

Check-in will also be available during Freshers’ Week:

• Monday 26th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00
• Tuesday 27th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00
• Wednesday 28th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00
• Thursday 29th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00
• Friday 30th September: 09.30 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 16.00

Any students with disabilities should contact us beforehand at saavisa@soton.ac.uk to ensure that suitable arrangements are made.

3. Students Joining the University at other times:

Students who join the university at other times of year (e.g PhD students) must contact the Student Records Team to make an appointment for Check-In.

UKBA Requirements

It is your responsibility to comply with the terms and conditions of your visa. Failure to do so could result in you losing your right to stay in the UK. If you change your UK address or phone number, you must ensure that you amend your online record through the SUSSED portal. If you have any queries or require any further information relating to immigration and/or your visa please look at www.soton.ac.uk/visa for further information and for details of how to contact the University Visa Guidance Team.

This is particularly important if you need to return to your own country during term time or if you need to suspend your studies. Unauthorised absences will result in the termination of your sponsorship which will mean you are unable to return to the UK.