Update for non-EU (Tier-4 VISA) students

Update for non-EU (VISA) students: 23 February 2010

From Monday 22 February 2010 visa letters have become obsolete. All potential Tier 4 students applying to us from inside or outside the UK must use a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) in their application. All applications that do not contain a CAS will fall for refusal.

Alchemea are a grade A rated sponsor and can therefore provide applicants from outside the EU with a CAS reference number. We will also provide you with our sponsor reference number and a 'CAS statement', which contains: your name; date of birth; CAS number; course title; course start and end date; details of any financial sponsorship/deposits taken; and documents that should be included as part of an application to prove qualifications.

The information we provide will assist UKBA caseworkers and entry clearance officers when making decisions on migrant applications under Tier 4.

If we have issued you with a visa letter before 22 February 2010, you can no longer use it to apply for a Tier 4 student visa. If we have issued you with a visa letter and you are intending to apply we must replace this with a CAS.

For out-of-country students, the date of application is the date when the application fee is paid - so you must be in possession of a CAS if you plan to pay your application fee after 22 February.

Click here for more information from the UKBA wesbite.

Update for non-EU (VISA) students: 1 September 2009

Good news - Alchemea are now a licenced sponsor under Tier 4 of the Points Based System. We have been awarded an A rating by the UK Border Agency and any student wishing to apply for a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies) can email to receive our SLN (Sponsor Licence Number).

Click here to visit our student visa guidance page.

Update for non-EU (VISA) students: 17 July 2009

On 31 March 2009 The UK Border Agency (UKBA) made sweeping changes to the UK immigration laws. The UK immigration system has been rationalised into a 5 Tier system, education falling into Tier 4.

Prior to 31 March 2009 Alchemea were listed on the “register of education and training providers” published by the Department for Innovation, Universities & Skills. Following the recent changes, this list was replaced by the “register of sponsors”.

Like many other UK Colleges and Universities, Alchemea are in the process of gaining inclusion onto this new register. The UKBA has been overwhelmed by the volume of applications and are currently working through a backlog. The registration process is therefore proving lengthy. We are anticipating an on-site inspection by the end of August. Once this is complete we hope to be listed on the register by mid-August.

How this will affect you?
The bottom line is that until we are listed on the “register of sponsors” you will not be able to gain a student visa to study in the UK.

My course is due to start at the end of September - What should I do now?
If you are enrolled on either our Studio Sound or Live Sound Diploma courses starting on 28 September then you have 2 choices:

1) Contact your local visa issuing post (also known as entry clearance post) to ascertain how long it will take them to process your application for a student visa. This will give you an idea of how long you can wait to see if Alchemea gains their listing. For example, if your local visa issuing post advises that they can rush through an application in 4-weeks then it is safe to assume that as long as Alchemea gain their listing by the end of August then you will be OK to enter the UK as a student in time for the start of the course.

2) Defer your application to the following course. The next Studio Sound Diploma Starts on 4 January 2010 and the next Live Sound Diploma starts on February.

If we do not gain our listing by 1 September, we will give students the option to defer to the following course or refund their registration fee. The following Studio Diploma Course starts on 4 2010 January and the Live Sound Diploma course starts on 8 February 2010.

We will also be contacting you individually over the next week to talk through these options.

This will not affect students planning to enrol for courses starting in 2010.

What if I only require a VISA extension?
A bit of good news! If you are in the United Kingdom as a student under the immigration rules in place before 31 March 2009, the old rules still apply to you until your permission to stay runs out.

Thank you for your patience and please be assured that we are doing everything we can to put pressure on our government to resolve this issue quickly.

If you have any more questions on this issue, please contact Mike Sinnott on +44(0) 20 7359 or email mike@alchemea.com

Please refer to the UKBA’s website for more detailed information. www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk