Conditions of Service
Section 1: Purpose and Contents of this page:
This webpage sets out the conditions which apply to all advice and work carried out by the Student Immigration Team on behalf of students. By using our services, you accept these conditions.
The Student Immigration Team provides advice in good faith, based on the information you give us about your current situation.
We endeavour to ensure our advice is accurate, however, it is subject to change, often at short notice.
We cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions, consequences arising from the use of our advice or decisions made by the Home Office or other agencies regarding immigration applications.
Our services are provided free of charge, however, if we direct you to an external organisation because your query is beyond our service scope, this external organisation may charge you for their services.
The University has an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance, provided by AIG Insurance.
- University of Warwick offer holders, and, if applicable, their dependents
- Current University of Warwick students, and, if applicable, their dependents
- University of Warwick graduates, and, if applicable, their dependents, for 6 months following completion of studies
- Applications, requirements, and conditions of Warwick-sponsored Student Visas. We can also provide advice following refusals and regarding administrative reviews in relation to this route, where applicable
- Applications, requirements and conditions of the Standard Visitor Visa Route as it relates to study at Warwick.
- Straightforward applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, as it relates to study at Warwick.
- Applications, requirements. and conditions of Graduate Route Visas, in relation to current Warwick students
- Your Right to Study on Warwick courses when holding other types of immigration permission.
- Application requirements and conditions of any other UK Visa Routes not listed above
- Settlement in the UK
- Applications for non-UK visas (e.g. Schengen visas)
The OISC may carry out inspections of the service and examine client files.
The University is a member of the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) and Subscribes to the Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA).
Advisers are required to explain fully and clearly to you any circumstances in which they might have personal interest or advantage in acting for you, and it may be necessary in these cases to refer your case elsewhere.
All information provided to the University will be treated as confidential.
We may need to contact your academic department, or other non-academic departments such as Student Records or Student Finance, to assist you with your enquiry. In this circumstance, any information regarding your immigration query will be limited to a need-to-know basis.
The University cannot and will not discuss the circumstances of your case with anyone else, including parents, friends and agents, unless it has your explicit permission in writing to do so. If you have submitted a request to give the University permission to share information about your study with an agent or a financial sponsor, this will be limited to University processes and procedures such as issuing an offer or arranging a CAS number.
The only exceptions to the above are:
- Where you have given your explicit consent to disclose information or data to an individual or organisation
- If you or others are in immediate physical danger
- If the provision of such information is required by law
- If the provision of such information is required in order to meet the University's compliance obligations to Immigration Authorities or the Police in relation to the UK immigration system, the University's obligations as a licensed Student Sponsor, or as part of an Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner inspection
In some of the above circumstances we would encourage you to pass on the information yourself and would obtain your consent if possible.
The Student Immigration Team may decide it is in your best interests to contact an organisation, such as the Home Office or the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA), for further advice or guidance about your case - wherever possible we will advise you if we intend to do this. However, on occasion, this may not be practical and we would generally assume that by contacting us, you are giving your consent for us to resolve your queries in the best way we can.
We are committed to providing an equal service to all clients without prejudice or bias.
Student Immigration Advisers will not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, nationality, faith, sexual orientation, physical ability or any other irrelevant consideration.
We also expect respect from out clients and will not tolerate an inappropriate behaviour. If this occurs, we reserve the right to withdraw from a case.
An Adviser must not advise a client if this requires them to act beyond their authorisation.
If we find ourselves in this position then we will inform you of this immediately in writing, giving the reasons why we are unable to continue.
Where possible, we will refer you to appropriately qualified legal professionals.
We welcome your feedback on the service you receive from us and suggestions for how we might improve and develop the service we provide.
You can provide your feedback by completing the online questionnaire.
Stage 1:
If you are not happy with our service, please contact us, and we will do our best to resolve the matter swiftly and informally.
However, if you are not happy with the responses you have received following the form submission, please raise a Stage 1 complaint.
Stage 2:
If you are still unhappy, the University has a Complaints and Feedback Procedure and you should raise a Stage 2 complaint.
This stage allows you to seek support and advice, download and complete a formal complaints form and submit it online.
Stage 3:
Similar to Stage 2, but involving a Formal Institutional Review and Final Resolution.
If, after the University has investigated the matter, it has still not been resolved to your satisfaction, there are independent bodies which you can contact.
You are entitled to contact The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education - link below, who will only consider cases when the University’s own internal complaints and appeals procedures have been exhausted.
If your complaint is specific to a piece of immigration advice you have been given, you can make a complaint to the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) whether or not you have made a complaint to the University.
UK Council for International Student Affairs
Tel: +442077889214 (Mon - Fri 1:00pm - 4:00pm)
The UK Council for International Student Affairs is a national organisation, which gives advice to international students studying in the UK. They offer a free student advice line.
Central England Law Centre (CELC)
Tel: +442476223053 (Mon 11:00am - 5:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm, Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm)
Central England Law Centre undertake work at all stages of the Immigration and Asylum process, including representing individuals and families in appeals and applications for judicial review.
Immigration Law Practitioners' Association (ILPA)
Legal professionals who specialise in immigration law are often members of this association. You can search their database for a local solicitor who specialises in the area for which you require assistance. Remember to check the fee a solicitor will charge you before you book a consultation.
The Law Society
This is the professional association which regulates the legal profession and all reputable solicitors are members. You can search their database for an immigration law solicitor in your area. Remember to check the fee a solicitor will charge you before you book a consultation.
Rainbow Migration supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people through the asylum and immigration system.