Job Description
Immigration Compliance
Act at the University lead and be an authoritative source of advice in relation to University processes around the sponsorship of International Students ensuring the University remains compliant with Home Office guidance, including taking the lead on preparations for internal and external audits collaborating with the university’s external legal advisors. Accountable for the Confirmation of Acceptance for Study (CAS) creation process and ensuring documentation for visa sponsored students meets Home Office requirements, utilising expert knowledge to manage more complex cases. Act as a level 1 user of the Home Office Sponsor Management System (SMS), alongside other operational leads in the University, managing and creating other users, reporting student activity and ensuring essential operational actions are undertaken, including determining and renewing the annual CAS allocation and completing the annual Basic Compliance Assessment (BCA) ensuring that the University can continue to sponsor students. Develop and maintain key processes around the sponsoring and monitoring of international students; working collaboratively with key stakeholders across the university including the Enterprise Solutions Team and the Head of Registry Services to support the enhancement of e:vision functionality and reporting and developing automation from the SITS system to the SMS system to reduce the manual entry required for the creation of CAS and other manual entry functions, such as Graduate Route reporting. Continually review and assess the Student Engagement Policy to ensure it remains fit for purpose in light of changing UKVI requirements and good sector practice and recommend and implement changes in collaboration with key stakeholders in the University. Responsible for ensuring that relevant checks and robust monitoring processes are in place for the admittance and monitoring of students on non-student route visas, ensuring they have the correct permission to study, including issuing visa letters in support of visitor visa applications. Provide high quality and informative annual and ad-hoc reports to relevant boards and committees, in relation to visa sponsored student numbers, the University’s position as a sponsor (BCA metrics), and to highlight any patterns, trends or potential compliance risks which the Directorate leadership Team and Senior Management should be aware. Interpretation of complex Home Office Guidance to provide high quality and sound advice and guidance to staff and students on the University’s administrative procedures in relation to visa compliance, supplemented by training, and sharing of best practice, including the routine maintenance of the Student Visa Sponsorship Policy and Procedures, ensuring they remain fit for purpose.
As a member of Registry Services, and under the direction of the Head of Registry Services, the postholder will also be expected to: Responsible for the management of the Admissions and Visa Compliance team budget, including budget setting to ensure appropriate resource is in place, authorising and monitoring spend. Act as a key University contact for platforms and information sources in support of the work of the team, including, but not limited to ARC, UCAS, the Learner Records Service, UK ENIC and UKCISA. Take responsibility for all personal development, proactively keeping up to date with relevant regulatory sector information and changes, and engaging with sector groups, networks, (including, ARC (Admissions and UKVI groups), Guild HE, UCAS, UKCISA and UKVI) and mail bases, with a focus on Admissions and Student Route visas, and representing the University within these groups as required, to ensure that good practice is followed and shared within the team, Directorate and the wider University, where applicable. Develop strong working relationships with other Registry Services teams and provide the support of members of the Admissions and Student Visa Compliance team to these as required during periods of heavy workloads. Ensure work undertaken complies with relevant legislation, including data protection (GDPR) and consumer protection (CMA). Support key University events, such as Open Days, Offer Holder Days, New Student Registration and Graduation, and ensuring sufficient attendance by the team, which will require occasional weekend working, for which time off in lieu will be returned. Undertake a range of duties, commensurate with the post, in support of the work of the wider directorate including providing support for the creation of key documentation such as the academic calendar, fees and charges brochure and university regulations.
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