points-based system
DESCRIPTION
Points-based system. Catherine Marston. What do we know? What don’t we know? Key concerns Some questions Key dates Looking ahead……. What do we know?. Overview of system T1, T2, T4 and T5 Statements of Intent Sponsorship guidance – broad overview of roles and responsibilities - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Universities UK
Points-based system
Catherine Marston
What do we know? What don’t we know?
Key concerns
Some questions
Key dates
Looking ahead…….
What do we know?
• Overview of system• T1, T2, T4 and T5 Statements of Intent• Sponsorship guidance – broad
overview of roles and responsibilities• Sponsor registration process• Dates
Points-based immigration system
Key aims:
• Better identification and attraction of migrants who have most to contribute to the UK
• A more efficient, transparent and objective application process
• Improved compliance and reduced scope for abuse
Points-based immigration system
5 Tier Framework
Tier 1 – highly skilled (HSMP)Tier 2 – skilled workers with job offer (work
permit)Tier 3 – limited numbers of low skilled workersTier 4 – studentsTier 5 – youth mobility and temporary workers
Points
• For each tier applicants will need sufficient points to obtain a visa/entry clearance.
‘Points will be awarded according to objective and transparent criteria to produce a structured decision-making process.’
• Applicants will be able to self-assess before making an application
Student points
General Student category:
Pass mark – 40 points
Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) – 30 points
Maintenance and Funds test – 10 points
International students
Tier 4 - students
• Visa for specific institution• General student category – same work
provisions, dependents, will cover ‘sandwich’ provisions
International graduates
Tier 1 Post-Study
• Transitional route for ‘skilled overseas students who have studied in the UK’ to work in the UK for a period after ‘completion of studies’
• Has ‘subsumed’ International Graduates Scheme and Fresh Talent Scheme
• Two years• Positive recognition of international graduates
but are employers signed up?
Sponsorship
• ‘Sponsorship’ aims to try to ensure the migrant is able to do a particular job or course of study
• New ‘sponsor register’ run by Home Office• ‘CAS’ – assurance from sponsor • Will be a reference number generated from a
central database – new Sponsor Management System (SMS)
• Replaces subjective tests of ability and intention in current system
Sponsor register
• ‘Sponsor licence fee’ plus fees per ‘CAS’• Organisations will have to provide information
on how many certificates they expect to issue per tier
• Organisations will have to report on migrants• Support and performance assessment by
network of immigration officers• Compliance officers
What don’t we know?
• Sponsorship arrangements across multiple tiers
• Detailed process for the issue of CAS• Movement within system• Detail on reporting• IT
Sponsorship across tiers
• HEIs in multiple roles – employer, recruiter and host
• Single registration or multiple registrations
• UKBA views on different activities
CAS process
• Current proposals for 1 CAS problematic• No clarity about when and on what basis a
certificate should be issued• Students ‘locked in’• HEIs blocked• Payment• Pressure on entry standards and deposits• Pressure on UKBA system
Movement within system
• How will students move quickly (and cheaply)?
• Sponsorship obligations
Reporting process
• Acceptance of ‘progression’ rather than attendance
• ‘Enrolment periods’• ‘Progression points’• Different types of students
IT
• HEIs largest volume users• No input to design, development or testing• Basics not finalised• Basic system• Need for data transfer• Opportunities for improved MIS• Robust?
Key concerns
• Impact on HEIs• Support from UKBA• Performance assessment• Maintenance levels
Impact on HEIs
• Multiple roles – internal co-ordination• More information but already into
2008/09 activities and 2009/10 plans• Need to review policies and processes
for recruitment, admissions, finance, registry, academic….
• Resources – additional staff or added to existing staff responsibilities
Support from UKBA
• c.50,000 potential sponsor organisations
• c.150 sponsorship/visiting staff• Regional difficulties• Employment perspective• Pre-registration visits
Performance assessment
• How will UKBA assess performance?• Sector norms? Regional? Size?• Connections between employment
activities and student activities• ‘Best practice’ on international student
recruitment
Maintenance levels
• Students expected to have access to £800 per month/ £9,600 a year
• Dependents expected to have two-thirds of those amounts
• 67 HEIs provided information to BUILA and UUK
• Only 5 advised this level or above
Some questions…..
• Who will be responsible for PBS?• Who will be responsible for which aspects?• How can we use existing systems?• How to involve others?• What do students need to know?• What about collaborative partners?• Extra staff? Extra money?• Data protection issues• Culture change?
Who will be responsible for PBS?
• PBS places HEIs in new relationship with UKBA
• Issue of corporate risk – severe penalties and impact on business
• Senior level ownership• Authorising Officer role
Who will be responsible for PBS?
HEI perspective:
• Who?• What?• When?
Who will be responsible for which aspects?
• HR/ Student activities
• Single entity or multiple entities
• Some communication required
How can we use existing systems?
• Last enrolment points
• Progression points
• Links to retention strategies
How to involve others?
• Whole institution issue?• Finance, registry, international,
research, HR, admissions, student advice, accommodation, library
• Student Union dimension
What do students need to know?
• What do they need to know?
• When do they need to know it?
What about collaborative partners?
• Where do responsibilities lie?
• What happens if the partner has difficulties?
Extra staff? Extra money?
• What might increase?
• Human Resources
• Financial
Data protection issues
• Getting it right
• Seek advice from DPA/FOI officer
Culture change?
• Could it change things positively?• Focus on international student support
and retention• Co-ordinated effort to support students• Greater certainty and better information• Students receiving fairer treatment and
a clear visa deal
Key dates
• Statements of intent on T2 and T5 - May 2008
• Statement of intent T4 – 30 July 2008• Post Study Work – 30 June 2008• Registration open for T4 sponsors – 30
July 2008• T4 begins operation – ‘Spring 2009’ but
phased implementation?
Key activities
• Sector group advising UKBA on implementation of Tier 4
• Lobbying to change maintenance levels• Focus on clarifying CAS process,
reporting process and IT development• Communications
Phased implementation
• Sponsor licence and accreditation by ‘Spring 2009’
• Use of licence number on documents• Testing CAS process• Visa extensions first?• Full system later?• Avoid 2009 entry?
Other student issues
• Relationship of PBS to ATAS• ID cards• Police registration
Related issues
• International employees• International visitors – academic visitor
route likely to be retained• Sponsored researchers – problematic
