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Help and guidance pages for International Students

Important: this area is being reviewed - please call back once we've completed this process, thank you.

Advice

- Claiming VAT
- Driving
- Employment advice
- Extending leave
- Income Tax and NI
- Mobile Phone
- NI Number
- Phone Charges
- Police Registering
- Schengen Visa
(also see sub-page links to the left for more)

Claiming Back VAT For Overseas Students

If you are an overseas visitor from a non-EC country or you have friends or family visiting the UK who will return to a non-EC country, it is possible to claim the VAT back on things you buy and take home.

To do this you must use shops which take part in the Retail Export Scheme. Not all shops take part in the scheme. Those who do will usually advertise. You will see a sticker which says Tax Free Shopping in the shop window. If you are not sure, ask a sales assistant if they can fill in a VAT refund document when you buy something. This is the document you need to claim your VAT back.

Some sales assistants will tell you that a till receipt with the shop's VAT number is all you need to claim back VAT. This is not true. If the shop can't offer you a VAT refund document you won't get VAT back.

There are strict conditions on who can use the Retail Export Scheme. As an overseas visitor you can use the scheme if:

• you have not been in the European Community (EC) for more than 365 days in the two years before the date when you buy the goods; and

• you plan to leave, with the goods, within three months of the date you buy them. This must be to a destination outside the EC.

For more information on the scheme contact your local VAT Business Advice Centre or call 0171 202 4227 and ask for VAT leaflet 704/1/93 'VAT refunds for travellers departing the European Community'.

You can also find information on the HM Customs website.

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International Students Driving in Great Britain (GB)

Before driving in Great Britain as an international student, it is important that you fulfil the legal requirements.

The Car

All motor vehicles in GB must be registered, taxed and insured.

You must make sure that the road tax for your car is paid for and displayed in your car windscreen before you drive it. You can get your tax disc by completing an application form (V10) which is available from any Post Office. When completed you should take it a post office which issues car tax discs (the Post Office on campus issues these) along with the following documents:

The Registration Document or a renewal notice from the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency). If you buy a new car check the Registration Document as there are two types currently in circulation. The new style document consists of three parts. You will need to insert your details on the blue part and sign the form before the seller sends it off to the DVLA to notify them of the change of keeper. The seller should hand you the green section of the document, which you should keep until you recive a full registration document from the DVLA. If you receive an old style document you should get the top half of the document when you buy the vehicle. If you buy a used vehicle, you must complete the back of this old style document and send it to the DVLA as soon as possible

The certificate of insurance, and

If the vehicle is over 3 years old, a current test certificate of roadworthiness (MOT).

The tax disc must be displayed in your car at all times.

If you are unsure of any of this documentation please ask in the Advice Centre.

It is law in GB that all motorists have valid insurance providing them with cover for the vehicle they are driving. The 3 types of cover available are:

Comprehensive (the fullest cover)

Third Party, Fire and Theft, or

Third Party only (the minimum cover.)

If the car you are going to drive dows not belong to you, then even if there is an insurance policy in force it may not cover you to drive, unless you are a named driver or it is an 'any drive' policy. Always check before driving.

If you are unsure about which insurance is suitable for you please contact a reputable insurance company or the Advice Centre.

The cost of motor insurance cover will vary according to, for example, your age, how long you have been driving, where you are living, the age and value of your car and the type of car.

It is always worthwhile shopping around and obtaining a few quotes before making a decision. Some insurance companies offer special policies for students.

The Driver

You must drive on the left-hand side of the road and overtake on the right

If you are riding a motor cycle or a moped, you must wear a crash-helmet

The driver and front seat passengers must wear seat belts. Rear seat passengers must wear seat belts where they are fitted

You must not drive whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs

You must observe the speed limits: 30 or 40mph in built-up areas but some zones in towns and cities have lower limits, 70mph on motorways, and 60mph on all other roads unless a different limit is displayed (e.g. 50).

You must have a licence that allows you to drive in GB (if unsure please ask in the Advice Centre)

Driving Licences

If you wish to drive in Britain, you must find out whether or not you can use your existing licence and for how long. You may be able to:

Drive in GB using your current licence

Apply to exchange your licence for a GB licence

Apply for a provisional licence and take a driving test in order to obtain a full licence.

It is a criminal offence to drive using an existing licence that is not valid in GB. For further details see:

Driving in Great Britain (GB) as a visitor or a new resident

In Brief:

If you have a valid full driving licence issued in an EEA country, you do not need to exchange it for a GB licence provided it remains valid. You may apply to exchange your EEA licence for a British one at any time whether your licence has expired or not. A fee is charged for this service.

If your EEA licence was issued on the strength of a licence from a designated country, the licence will only be valid for driving in the GB for 12 months but is acceptable for exchange with a GB licence

If you have an EEA licence that was issued on the strength of a licence from a non-designated country, the licence will only be valid for driving in GB for 12 months and is not valid for exchange with a GB licence.

Students coming to GB for at least 12 months with a full valid ordinary licence (to drive cars or motorcycles) issued by Gibraltar or one of the designated countries can drive small vehicles for 12 months from the date of entry.

International students coming to GB for 12 months or less can drive any small vehicle for p to 12 months from the date you first arrived in GB to take up your studies if:

You have a full valid driving licence from your own country or an international driving permit, and

Your licence or permit remains valid during your stay.

International students coming to GB for more that 12 months with a valid foreign licence or international driving permit can only drive for a period of 12 months from the date you first arrived in GB to take up your studies. If you want to carry on driving after this 12 month period you must obtain a provisional GB driving licence and pass the GB driving test before the 12 month period elapses. You can apply for a provisional licence one you have been resident in GB for 6 months..

If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months of your stay, you must stop driving until you have obtained a provisional licence. When you have a valid provisional licence in your possession you will need to comply with the rules that apply to provisional licence holders until you have passed both the theory and practical parts of the driving test. These are displaying L-plates and being supervised by a qualified driving sitting in the passenger seat. The qualified driver must be at least 21 years old and have held a full GB licence for 3 years.

Once you have passed both parts of the test you can apply for your full licence.

Designated Countries

Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, Malta, New Zealand, Republic of Cyprus (until 1st May 2004), Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

The above information is given in good faith and the accuracy cannot be guaranteed after being posted on this website. Contact the Advice Centre for more up to date information regarding your personal circumstances. Or go to the DVLAwebsite.

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Employment - Changes to the Law on Preventing Illegal Working

You may be aware that a number of new countries have been joining the European Union on 1 May 2004. From this date, all citizens from these countries will be free to work legally in the United Kingdom and contribute to our economy.

Currently Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 sets out the law on the prevention if illegal working; it gives employers a statutory defence against conviction for employing an illegal worker, by checking and copying certain original documents belonging to any employees. As of 1 May 2004 this law will change, however the main change will be the type of documents that employers are required to check and copy to obtain the statutory defence.

However, there is no change to the conditions applying to the hours and types of spare time and vacation work that students may undertake. These are:

• the student should not work for more than 20 hours per week during term time, except where the placement is a necessary part of their studies and is undertaken with the education institution's agreement,

• the student should not engage in business, self employment or provide services as a professional sports person or entertainer,

• the student should not pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy,

• these arrangements do not apply to students on short courses of six months or less who are granted leave on conditions prohibiting employment.

Instead of checking the Permission to Work for an Overseas Student form previously issued by a job centre an employer can now be satisfied that if a student has been granted entry to the UK with the following endorsement stamped in their passport then the student is permitted by the Secretary of State for Employment to take part-time and vacation work in accordance with the criteria set out above.

Overseas students are admitted to the UK with an endorsement stating that:

"Leave to enter/remain in the United Kingdom, on condition that the holder maintains and accommodates himself and any dependants without recourse to public funds, does not enter or change employment paid or unpaid without the consent of the Secretary of State for Employment and does not engage in any business or profession without the consent of the Secretary of State for the Home Department is hereby given until ..."

If you have any problems with employers requesting any other documentation etc, or with employment generally, then please come into the student service and we will try to sort it out for you.

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Extending leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

The Immigration authorities grant leave to Enter or Remain in the country for a certain period of time by stamping students' passports when they enter the UK.

Sometimes this stamp will cover students for the full length of their course, but sometimes it will not and you will have to apply for a further period of Leave to Remain in order to complete your course. This application must be made before the date stamp on your passport, i.e. before your current permission has expired, applying after that date means you lose your right to appeal against any refusal. If your current Leave to Stay has expired then seek help from the Advice Centre in the Student Union immediately.

You should try to make your application to extend your leave to remain about a month before your current leave expires. The latest date you can apply for an extension is the day that your current leave to remain expires. You will need to get your application in the post or go in person to a Public Enquiry Office no later than that date.

Anyone who wishes to apply for a variation of their leave, including extending their leave to remain, has to fill in a compulsory official form. The forms are free and are available from the student service in St james Hall or the Immigration Department's Application Forms Unit in Croydon (telephone 0870 241 0645.)

You can also download the application form from the Home Office Immigration and Nationality Directorate website.

There are lots of different forms - if you aren't sure which one you need then come into the student service in St James Hall to get help.

As well as completing the application form you must also supply the following documents:

• A passport sized photograph of yourself

• Passport sized photographs of any dependants who wish to stay in the UK with you

• Your passport(s)

• The passports of any dependants who wish to stay in the UK with you

• Your police registration certificate if you have one.

• Proof of financial support - usually your last 3 month's bank statements.

• If a relative or friend provides accommodation or money, a letter from them confirming they are willing to continue doing so.

• For sponsored students, evidence of continuing sponsorship

• Evidence of progress on current course

• Evidence of attendance on that course

• Evidence of enrolment on that course

If you cannot provide all the documents required with your application you must include a letter giving a good reason for each missing document.

Excellent advice for International students, on Immigration and many other topics, is available from UKCOSA: The Council for International Education
website.

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Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions

Under the law there are certain deductions employers have to make from employees' wages. These include tax and national insurance.

National Insurance

Paying, or being credited with paying, National Insurance Contributions (NICs) entitles you to certain benefits when you are unable to work. These include statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay and contributory job seekers' allowance. NICs also count towards your retirement pension.

How much you pay depends on how much you earn, and whether you are "contracted in" or "contracted out".

2004-5 if you earn less than Â£79 per week(the lower earning limit) you don't have to pay anything. If you earn between £79 and £91 (the primary threshold) you still do not have to pay NICs but you are credited as if you had.

If your earnings go above this you must pay 11 per cent on earnings between Â£91 and Â£610. Your employer must also make contributions.

What if you discover that NICs are not being deducted from your pay?

If you get paid "cash in hand", your employer may not be paying national insurance. This may seem like a good idea because you receive more in your pay packet, but it is illegal and affects your other rights.

Apart from losing your right to certain benefits, you may not be eligible for other employment rights as your contract can be deemed illegal.

If the Inland Revenue discovers that "cash in hand" payments have been made unlawfully, they can prosecute you and your employer. You may have to pay back any contributions that have not been made.

What if an employer is deduction NI but not passing it on?

If you suspect, or find out, that your national insurance is not being paid, you must raise it with your employer, preferably in writing. If you do not query it, you may find yourself denied basic benefits because you have not paid enough NI contributions.

Income tax

Most employers pay income tax through Pay As You Earn (PAYE) on earnings above their personal allowance. Since last year Married Couples Allowance has been restricted to couples over 65.

The basic personal allowance for under 65s is now £4,745

Children's Tax Credit (CTC) is a form of income tax relief for parents or children under a6 at the start of the tax year. If you qualify it reduces your income tax payments by up to £545 a year at the basic family rate. You will not get full relief unless you are paying at least £545 a year in tax.

For an application form call the CTC helpline on 0845 300 1036

Your PAYE code

Your PAYE code shows the first three numbers of your total allowance, followed by a letter. For example, a person without children will normally have a PAYE code of 474L. This means his/he tax free income will be 4,745 a year (for 2004 - 2005).

For further information on income tax, contact your local tax office or tax enquiry centre. The address is in the phone book under Inland Revenue. You should give them your national insurance number, your PAYE code and your full address.

Understanding your tax form

Form P46

This is given to you by your employer when you start your first job. You must sign and return it to the employer. It is to inform the tax office that you have started work.

Form P15

This is given to you by your employer. You can use it to apply to the tax office for your tax allowance.

Form P45

This should be given to you by your employer when you leave your job. It will tell you your earnings to date, your tax code and the amount of income tax you have paid. You should give it to your new employer or the DSS, of you are signing on unemployed.

Form P50

This is a tax rebate form, for if you don't intend to return to work, or are signing on unemployed (for example, you may enter full time education). You fill this form out and return it to the Inland Revenue with your P45.

Form P60

Each year your employer should give you a P60 which shows the total amount of tax and NI deducted from your pay.

For further information go to the Inland Revenuewebsite

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Picking the right mobile phone

The prices that UK mobile phone firms charge are highly contentious. Many consumers complain that it is too difficult to compare offers and that many charges are misleading. So how do you avoid being caught out?

What the salesman doesn't tell you

About 40 million people in the UK now have a mobile phone, but many of those are likely to be paying over the odds.
This is because the process of buying a mobile phone is so confusing.

There are simply so many different handsets, networks, deals and call costs to consider that buying the right phone for your usage and budget can be very difficult.
There is also a lack of independent advice on offer to consumers.

What should I watch out for?

One of the main ways to get caught out is to focus on cheap headline rates.

Many deals offer a rate of say 2p for an off-peak charge to the same mobile network or call to a landline.
However, it is highly unlikely that all your friends, family and business associates will be on the same network.

A large proportion of your calls will be to other mobile networks, which are usually much more expensive.
For example, Vodafone's Leisure 200 deal offers a 2p evening and weekend rate for calls to landlines, but it will cost you 30p off-peak and 50p peak to call another mobile network.

Pre-pay or post-pay?

You can either choose a monthly deal, which has a line rental charge and often inclusive call minutes; a yearly package or a pre-paid mobile, where you simply pay for the calls and no line rental each month.

The call cost on a pre-pay phone is usually more expensive than the cost you would incur with a monthly deal.
Monthly deals also have the advantage of including free call minutes usually during the weekend and for evening use.

However, subscribing to a monthly deal may not be economical.

If you are a light user you may be better off on pre-pay, because you may not even spend enough each month to justify the line rental charges which are typically between £15 and £30.

If you want to use your mobile phone abroad, and want to subscribe to a pre-pay phone you should ask whether you will be able to use the phone while you are abroad.

What happens if I want to use my phone abroad?

If you want to use your mobile abroad you may need to get permission from your network operator before travelling.
This involves calling customer services and asking for your phone to be enabled for international use. This function can be switched on remotely.

But you should also check to see that the specification of your phone is compatible with networks abroad. You will need a so-called "tri-band" phone if you want to make mobile calls in the US or Canada.

The GSM Association's website has a full list.

Once you arrive in another country, your phone will lock onto the network with the strongest signal.

While some will let you choose which one you can use, you will have to reset it each time you switch on the phone.

Isn't international use very expensive?

The cost of "roaming" which is the mobile industry's term for using your mobile outside your home country is currently under investigation by the European Union.

The reason why using your mobile phone abroad is so expensive is because you are charged twice: both for the cost of calls you make and for those you receive, including voicemail messages.

Roaming charges vary widely among countries and networks within those states.

To avoid charges, some phones let you divert calls to voicemail so that you pay only to retrieve the messages.
Frequent travellers to one destination often purchase a mobile phone for the country they are travelling to or purchase another Sim card which they swap when they arrive overseas.

But this is not always possible: some networks block this money-saving initiative.

Consumer groups are fighting for measures to reduce the locking of handsets to Sim cards, which will make it easier for people to switch networks.

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National Insurance Numbers

What is my National Insurance (NI) number and what is it for?

Only one number is allocated to you and you keep the same number all your life. It is unique to you and ensures we correctly record NI contributions or credits to your NI account. You will need these contributions and credits when you come to claim benefit, whether it is for a short while, like Incapacity Benefit, or long term, such as your Retirement Pension.

• Your NI Number is personal to you.

• It is your account number allocated to you for you to use in all your dealings with the Inland Revenue and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP - a new department comprising in parts the former Department of Social Security).

• It is not proof of your identity.

• It looks something like this: AB123456C (The National Insurance number is only an example and should not be used as your own).

Who else uses my NI number?

Your NI number will also be used by:

• Employers, for the deduction of tax and NI contributions.

• Jobcentre Plus, to administer Jobseeker's Allowance.

• Local Authorities, to administer Housing Benefit.

You must not let anyone else use your number.

What do I do with my NI number?

You should quote it on letters or forms you send to the Inland Revenue, DWP (formerly DSS) or in Northern Ireland, the Social Security Agency.

Keep your number safe and do not disclose it to anyone who does not need it. Remember, its purpose is only to record NI contributions and credits you have paid or are entitled to; and to help decide how much benefit you are entitled to.

Tell your nearest Social Security office or Inland Revenue office at once if there is a change in your name, address or title so that your NI account can be kept up to date. We may need to contact you if you need to pay more contributions in a particular to make that year count for pension purposes or when you come to claim benefits like Retirement Pension.

If you are employed:

• You should tell your employer your number as soon as you know it.

• Your employer will use it to make sure the contributions you pay are recorded on your NI account. These contributions earn you entitlement to benefit. If your employer does not have the correct NI number then there can be a delay in establishing how much benefit you should get when you claim.

When do I apply for a NI number?

No one has a legal right to a NI number but there are circumstances you are legally obliged to formally apply for one and to register for NI purposes.

Criteria for applying for a NI number:

• If you do not already have a NI number you must apply for one as soon as you start work or you or your partner claims benefit.

• You must be over 16 years old and resident in Great Britain.

If you satisfy all the above conditions except for being resident in GB, and you still want to apply for a number, you must be liable to pay NI contributions or want to pay voluntary contributions and would benefit from doing so.

Providing you satisfy these conditions, you should contact your nearest Social Security office and ask for an appointment to be interviewed for a NI number.

At the interview you will need to be able to prove your identity.

There is quite often an answering machine so you should leave your name and your contact number so that they can phone you back.

For further information regarding NI numbers and Income Tax visit the Inland Revenue website

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Phone Code Charges

Be careful of what phone numbers you call for help lines and such, many can be quite expensive! The prices for each number are listed below:

0800 - You pay nothing from a landline*, up to 15p a minute from a mobile**

0808 - You pay nothing from a landline*, up to 15p a minute from a mobile**

0845 - You pay 3p a minute peak rate and 1p a minute off peak from a landline*, up to 15p a minute from a mobile**

0870 - You pay 8p a minute peak rate and 4p a minute off peak from a landline*, up to 15p a minute from a mobile**

0871 - You pay 11.7p a minute anytime from a landline*, up to 35p a minute from a mobile**

090 - You pay 10p to £1.50 a minute from a landline*, and 50p to £2 a minute from a mobile**

*BT peak time is from 8am to 6pm weekdays. Charges will vary for other phone providers such as cable operators.

**Based on O2 'pay monthly' tariff (only correct at time of writing).

Charges may vary and also vary between operators

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Registering With The Police

Citizens of the following countries who are admitted to the United Kingdom (UK) for more than 6 months may be required to register with the police:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Palestine, Peru, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen

If you are from the country from above, you should register with the police in the first week when you arrive. For future information please contactyour International students Rep.

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Schengen Visa

The Schengen States are a group of European countries which have signed an agreement to allow free circulation of people within the territory of the member countries. A visa issued by any member state is then also valid for travel to all the other states which recognise the passport.

The countries which recognise the passport and the websites of their embassies are as follows:

The Schengen Visa should be applied for at the consulate of the country which is the main destination for the first trip. On a tour of Europe this would be the country where the most number of nights are spent. If there is no main destination then it is processed by the first country of entry. Once the visa is issued by any state it is valid for all other Schengen states as well.

To apply you must have a UK residence permit (students visa, work permit, etc.) issued for more than six months and it must have more then three months remaining on it after the end of the trip (6 months for Italy, 1 month for France). Visitors to the UK can not normally apply.

The processing time is normally just a few days but can be two weeks for certain national and some consulates in London run appointment systems which can take many weeks at busy times.

General Requirements