Any international students in the UK on a course that is for less than 12 months? Are you allowed to work? I have looked at the UKCOSA, workingintheuk, UKVisas, British Consulate and a few others and found information stating that for courses over 6 months I should automatically be granted the right to part-time employment during term time etc. For courses under 6 months I have to make a special request at the time of applying for Entry Clearance.
However, advisers with UK Immigration and the Relocation Advisory Service for Scotland, have told me the opposite: that there is NO chance of being allowed to work if my course of study is for under 12 months. The next step is to contact my nearest Consulate and speak to an Entry Clearance Officer, but of course that is impossible - no contact details published and no way of actually speaking to the person I want to even if I turn up on the doorstep. So I am wondering if anyone is in a similar boat and whether or not you have been granted rights to work on Student Visa under 12 months? Thanks.
Students (INF 5) UKVisas
It's courses less than 6 months unless you get permission
My GF deals with international students all of the time and they CAN work even though their courses are typically 40 weeks
Thanks alanR I think you've given me some sound UK Immigration advice once before!! I found the initial info on work/study on that very form (INF5), however emails to advisers at the Home Office and the Relocation Service in Scotland both gave me a resounding NO - contradicting all the advice online/on info sheets.
I am beginning to think it is one of those situations whereby they give people a flat out no, but there is a chance if I put a case to my Entry Clearance Officer when applying for the Student Visa. My course will likely go for 9 months so maybe that will also go in my favour.
Is it worth contacting the International student adviser at my prospective institutions (I have not yet enrolled) for advice?
trusted partner
