Lobbying and liaison

A key part of our work is to monitor government legislation that could affect international students and lobby to ensure any new measures are as fair and workable as possible. Our regular dialogue with the Home Office about immigration and employment legislation and with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the devolved administrations over fees and student support regulations, helps us to keep them informed about current issues, and ensures we are consulted at an early stage when changes are planned.

UKCISA lobbying and responses to consultations

We work closely with education sector bodies such as Universities UK, the Association of Colleges and the National Union of Students, to ensure where possible that the education sector has a strong voice and co-ordinated response to new proposals.

Some recent examples of our lobbying activity and consultation responses are given below.

Consultation on citizenship provisions

The Home Office has issued a consultation document on The path to citizenship: next steps in reforming the immigration system. We have responded to the proposals relating to access to benefits and services, including eligibility for home fees, contained in Chapter 5. Read UKCISA's response to this part of the consultation.

Consultation on code of practice about sanctions for non-compliance with biometric registration

In February 2008, the Home Office consulted on its Draft code of practice about the sanctions for non-compliance with the biometric registration regulations. Read UKCISA's response to this consultation.

Consultation on visitors

In December 2007 the Home Office published a consultation paper, seeking views on proposed changes to the immigration system for those coming to the UK for visits. Read UKCISA's response to the consultation.

Consultation on the tax position of 'resident non-domiciles'

HM Treasury recently consulted on the tax position of 'resident non-domiciles' who have been in the UK for longer than seven years and for those here for shorter periods who currently have tax allowances that don't take money/interest gained abroad into account. The consultation was titled: "Paying a fairer share: a consultation on residence and domicile" (December 2007). Read UKCISA's response to this consultation.

Consultation on fees for the Points Based System

On 24 October 2007, the Border & Immigration Agency (BIA) announced a consultation on how they might set fees for the first phase of the new Points Based System (PBS) with regard to Tier 1 (for highly skilled workers) and the sponsor licensing regime. The deadline for responses is 9 November 2007

Exchange of letters with Home Office Minister Liam Byne regarding Bulgarian and Romanian Students

Letter from UKCISA's Chief Executive, Dominic Scott, to the Home Office Minister

Liam Byrne's response 5 Jan 07

New Charging Regime for Immigration and Nationality Fees

UKCISA's response to IND's recent consultation on a new charging regime. 3 Jan 07

UKCISA Report: International Students and Banking

Report on the results of an email survey undertaken by UKCISA with member institutions in autumn 2006 to see if there had been any improvements in international students being able to open basic bank accounts. Includes extracts from the covering letters of each of the banks and email responses to 2006 survey, in table format, plus the questionnaire sent to UKCISA members. Jan 07

UKCOSA Final Response to the Selective Admissions Consultation

The Home Office published on 19 July 05 a formal consultation document on the proposed new 'tiers' and 'points' based immigration system. It will have major implications for international students and for institutions. Download UKCISA's response 4 Nov 05