IMMIGRATION

Immigration - arriving in the UK

 Digital Immigration Permission

• Do not travel to the UK before the start date of your eVisa.
• Student Records will send you an email on how to verify your eVisa before enrolment once you have made your visa application.

 Entering the UK

•  If you’re a national of an EU country, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the US you can use eGates to enter the UK. This means your passport won’t get stamped at the border.
• If you enter the Republic of Ireland before entering the UK your passport won’t get stamped at the border.
• In all other cases, if you have an entry clearance vignette, it should be stamped at the border to prove your entry to the UK.
• Please retain your boarding card, ticket or booking confirmation to prove the date you travelled into the UK; and bring it with you to on-site enrolment.

Attendance Monitoring

• The RVC as the student sponsor, is required to monitor the attendance and engagement of students in receipt of a Student Route VISA and/or Direct Loans from the U.S. Department of Education.
• Non-compliance with the UK Immigration Rules and US Department of Education may result in serious consequences, including the potential revocation of the RVC’s Student Sponsor Licence. This would impact the RVC’s ability to sponsor international students and could have significant institutional and reputational implications. It is therefore essential that all staff and students adhere strictly to UKVI reporting and compliance requirements.
• For more information, please see the RVC's UKVI and US Federal Loans Student Attendance Policy or information for US Federal Loan recipients

 Working In The UK

If you want to work whilst at the RVC, you should be aware of the regulations and limitations around this when you have a Student Visa.

• All work, paid or unpaid (including volunteering) is restricted. You must not work more than 20 hours per week during term-time.
• Outside term-time you can work full time. You’ll be able to find the term dates on the RVC intranet once you are enrolled.

Information, Advice and Guidance

• The UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) provides advice and support to international students in the UK. The website can be accessed here: www.ukcisa.org.uk, or they can be contacted via phone: 020 7288 4330 or the student advice line: 020 7788 9214.
• They have the most up-to-date information regarding visas and immigration, fees and other practical matters.
• You can also contact our student support team in the Advice Centre with visa related questions.
• The Student Participation Team (studentparticipation@rvc.ac.uk) manages and facilitates compliance with UKVI and US Federal Loan attendance monitoring. 
• The Student Records Team (studentrecords@rvc.ac.uk) manages student records, timetabling, and institutional data, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and a seamless experience for students and staff.
• The Financial Aid Office (financialaidoffice@rvc.ac.uk) are responsible for dealing with US student loan administration, UK student loan administration, and Student loan company liaison.