Seek clarification on Post Study Work visa announcement

The request was successful.

Dear Home Office,

I refer to the announcement - UK announces 2-year post-study work visa for international students on 11th Sept 2019 (1). And subsequently the Fact Sheet released on 14th Oct (2).
Source:
1) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-an...
2) https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2019...

I think the announcement has left a lot of prospective students in doubt about their eligibility for the visa.

It is stated "The new route will be launched in the summer of 2021, meaning that any eligible student who graduates in the summer of 2021 or after will be able to apply for the route. This includes students who have already started their courses. Universities will also be able attract students starting in the 2020/21 academic year on the basis that they will benefit."

So it is clear that students doing qualifying studies will be eligible if they start in the academic year 2020-21 and this is the Sept in-take.

However, there are a few questions which will be great if HO can clarify at the earliest as it affects students coming to the UK in Jan intake as the announcements so far have been vague about this. As it has been mentioned academic year 2020/21 but doesnt specify Jan 2020 intake as those students could also be studying here for their masters and undergraduate courses.

My questions are:
1) The month and date in 2021 when this scheme come into force? it would help to have a month and a date so that students are clear
2) Will students starting a one year masters program in Jan 2020 intake be eligible to apply for this visa?
3) Will students who have started a 2 year integrated masters course be eligible to apply even if they don't secure the placement?

Time is of essence and would appreciate if HO could respond to this request as an Urgent Request as it affects careers of thousands of students who are coming to the UK.

Yours faithfully,

Sohel

FOI Requests, Home Office

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please be aware that we have decided to handle your correspondence of 18 October 2019 outside the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. This is because it does not meet the criteria for a Freedom of Information request, as it does not ask for recorded information.

Below is a link to the ICO guidance for the criteria for valid requests under the Act:
https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

We will provide an answer to your query, but it will be answered outside of the provisions of the Act.  You should expect to receive a response in due course.

N McKenzie
Home Office

-----Original Message-----
From: Sohel [mailto:[FOI #613461 email]]
Sent: 18 October 2019 15:02
To: FOI Requests
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Seek clarification on Post Study Work visa announcement

Dear Home Office,

I refer to the announcement - UK announces 2-year post-study work visa for international students on 11th Sept 2019 (1). And subsequently the Fact Sheet released on 14th Oct (2).
Source:
1) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-an...
2) https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2019...

I think the announcement has left a lot of prospective students in doubt about their eligibility for the visa.

It is stated "The new route will be launched in the summer of 2021, meaning that any eligible student who graduates in the summer of 2021 or after will be able to apply for the route. This includes students who have already started their courses. Universities will also be able attract students starting in the 2020/21 academic year on the basis that they will benefit."

So it is clear that students doing qualifying studies will be eligible if they start in the academic year 2020-21 and this is the Sept in-take.

However, there are a few questions which will be great if HO can clarify at the earliest as it affects students coming to the UK in Jan intake as the announcements so far have been vague about this. As it has been mentioned academic year 2020/21 but doesnt specify Jan 2020 intake as those students could also be studying here for their masters and undergraduate courses.

My questions are:
1) The month and date in 2021 when this scheme come into force? it would help to have a month and a date so that students are clear
2) Will students starting a one year masters program in Jan 2020 intake be eligible to apply for this visa?
3) Will students who have started a 2 year integrated masters course be eligible to apply even if they don't secure the placement?

Time is of essence and would appreciate if HO could respond to this request as an Urgent Request as it affects careers of thousands of students who are coming to the UK.

Yours faithfully,

Sohel

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Dear FOI Requests,

Would appreciate if you can let me know by when you'd be responding to the questions.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

FOI Requests, Home Office

Dear Sir/Madam,

We will provide an answer to your query, but it will be answered outside of the provisions of the Act. You should expect to receive a response in due course.

We cannot give you a specific date .

N McKenzie
Home Office

-----Original Message-----
From: Sohel [mailto:[FOI #613461 email]]
Sent: 18 October 2019 15:33
To: FOI Requests
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information request - Seek clarification on Post Study Work visa announcement

Dear FOI Requests,

Would appreciate if you can let me know by when you'd be responding to the questions.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

-----Original Message-----

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please be aware that we have decided to handle your correspondence of 18 October 2019 outside the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. This is because it does not meet the criteria for a Freedom of Information request, as it does not ask for recorded information.

Below is a link to the ICO guidance for the criteria for valid requests under the Act:
https://ico.org.uk/media/for-organisatio...

We will provide an answer to your query, but it will be answered outside of the provisions of the Act.  You should expect to receive a response in due course.

N McKenzie
Home Office

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Dear FOI Requests,

Thanks for your email and understand that you cannot give me a specific date but I am hoping the questions arr straightforward and wont take too long.

As per my initial request time is of essence and this response will benefit a lot of prospective students.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

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Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

To the attention of L Brammer

Thanks for the reply but could you please specify which months are you referring to when you say Summer as students are graduating throughout the year based on the duration of their course and this still seems vague.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

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Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

Would appreciate a swift reply as student many are enrolling for jan in take as I type.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

Thank you for contacting the Home Office.

 

Your message has been logged.

 

We aim to provide a response within 20 working days.

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Digital Correspondence Allocation Team, Home Office

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail of 7 November.

Our response to your enquiry will involve asking for or disclosing your personal data. We cannot do this via ‘WhatDoTheyKnow.com’, which is a public website. I would therefore be grateful if you would let us have your personal e-mail to which we can reply.

Please also refer to our website for guidance by using this link:

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In accordance with the new data regulations we have updated our Privacy Information Notice and you can find out more by going to:
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Yours faithfully,

UK Visas and Immigration

-----Original Message-----
From: Sohel <[FOI #613461 email]>
Sent: 07 November 2019 16:29
To: Public Enquiries (CD) <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Home Office Automated Response-tr

Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

Would appreciate a swift reply as student many are enrolling for jan in take as I type.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

-----Original Message-----

Thank you for contacting the Home Office.

Your message has been logged.

We aim to provide a response within 20 working days.

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Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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Digital Correspondence Allocation Team, Home Office

Dear Sir / Madam,

Thank you for your email of 7 November.

Please be informed that from the information contained in your e-mail below, we are unable to ascertain the exact nature of your initial enquiry as you have not included it with this subsequent email.

Please note also that our response to your enquiry may involve asking for or disclosing your personal data. We cannot do this via ‘WhatDoTheyKnow.com’, which is a public website. I would therefore be grateful if you would let us have your personal e-mail to which we can reply.

Alternatively, if you would like to contact us directly, you can at the following address:

[email address]

Please also refer to our website for guidance by using this link:

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Yours faithfully,

UK Visas and Immigration

-----Original Message-----
From: Sohel <[FOI #613461 email]>
Sent: 07 November 2019 16:29
To: Public Enquiries (CD) <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Home Office Automated Response

Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

Would appreciate a swift reply as student many are enrolling for jan in take as I type.

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

-----Original Message-----

Thank you for contacting the Home Office.

Your message has been logged.

We aim to provide a response within 20 working days.

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Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

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Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

I am raising this again as it was a part of my original request and would be great to get a response.

I was told in the reply that the PSW dates will be communicated in due course. It has been 3 months since and no information on the dates and the working of the PSW has been shared yet.

Can you please let me know the date and specifics on how PSW visa will work when it is launched in Summer of 2021?

Yours sincerely,

Sohel Modi

Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

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Dear Public Enquiries (CD),

Will you reply to my request or should i be raising request?

Yours sincerely,

Sohel

Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

Thank you for contacting the Home Office.

 

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Public Enquiries (CD), Home Office

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