Tier 1 visa, all US taught masters degrees are now 0 points on PB calculator

For the most part things only get harder.

Briefly, there are *issues* with the PBS calculator, and there's been a lot of back-and-forth back-and-forth back-and-forth  between various law firms and UKBA about it.  And apparently some workarounds have been hammered out, and there was some time spent by the practitioners sharing tips on the best way to have successful applicants.   Hopefully these will have some shape and organization when the minutes are published next week.

Have there been any updates shared since Garry's post concerning the issues with the PBS calculator?

My apologies if they're in the Advocacy forum; as a new member, I'm unable to access it.

Thanks!

No updates posted here or in the advocacy area.  It's on my list and partially composed, but I'm having trouble getting the EXACT periodicity of updates to the NARIC database vis-a-vis their propagation time.  That's an important thing to know because it tells when someone might get hit by a change in the database occuring the day after they submit an application.

When I get it all done, it will be here cuz it's news.

Sounds good.  Thanks for the update, Garry!

Well and isn't fair to say Garry that several members of the ILPA on the Economic subcomittee are looking at this.  It is something we don't have to put 100% at are forefront, because there are other much capable people working on sorting this out...

Yes, thankfully. 

But it's still down to us to figure out how the database works.

Does anyone have any ideas why the points-based calculator awards 35 points for a US Masters taught with further specialisation, but according to this guidance http://www.naric.org.uk/documents/code%20of%20practice/2%20-%20Evaluation%20Criteria%20and%20Methodology.pdf from UK NARIC,
a Band 12 ('usually designed for the purposes of further specialisation') is comparable only to a Postgraduate Diploma (page 7)?
Might this be one of the outstanding 'issues' Garry mentioned?

Also, I'm wondering about the Band 13 equivalency of 'programmes that combine classroom-based study and a research element' to a UK taught Masters standard.
Can someone please explain the difference between a UK and a US taught Masters?
I'm just unclear as to how a US two-year degree with a research component would be comparable to a UK taught Masters.

Thanks!

Yes, it would be very interesting to know how those bands relate to the points that are being awarded via the UKBA points calculator. Is a band 13 awarded points, or since it is "only" taught does it not qualify as a "points-worthy" master's degree?

Nice snag, BTW. How did you drill down to find that? I've been unable to penetrate the surface of the NARIC site and its banalities.

Well, as far as the difference, we are not entirely sure... the UK NARIC and US NARIC as well as NARICs in other countries, from what we know, agree to these things.  Obviously there is a need both in Government and the private sector to understand what someones qualifications are.

Basically the Government drew an arbirary line at "UK Masters" and UKBA has no choice but to follow the line that was drawn.  I don't think anyone realised that as degrees progressed down the difficulty level, that not all things were quite so equal in the eyes of the NARICs.

The thing is that some "US taught Masters" are not equivilant to "UK Masters" whether taught or research or whatever.  Few of us in the immigration realms have knowledge or contacts within NARIC which makes it even more difficult.  It would seem UKBA doesn't have a huge amount of contacts either.  They simply get the database of stuff to fill out their PBS system.

I sure didn't find it on UK NARIC's website, that's for sure!  (Though I've since located the link to it at the bottom of this page: http://www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page=9.)  Like you, I've had some difficulty finding much information there of current use to me (as I haven't yet completed my Masters).  I actually found that document whilst clicky-clickying around on some other immigration-related forums.

Whereabouts in Maryland are you, wybesse?  I'm in Montgomery County myself.

I sure didn't find it on UK NARIC's website, that's for sure!  (Though I've since located the link to it at the bottom of this page: http://www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page=9.)  Like you, I've had some difficulty finding much information there of current use to me (as I haven't yet completed my Masters).  I actually found that document whilst clicky-clickying around on some other immigration-related forums.

Whereabouts in Maryland are you, wybesse?  I'm in Montgomery County myself.

I'm in Montgomery Cty too, just outside Takoma Park.

Yes, thankfully. 

But it's still down to us to figure out how the database works.

I have been living in the UK since July 2008 with Work permit which is going to expire in December. I would like to switch my immigration category to Tier-1 General.
I have a Master of Science (Information Technology) degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York (That's what it says on my diploma). This qualification does not give any points in the UK HO Points Based Calculator yet none of the Master of Science degrees. However, I know that UK equivalent Master's degree should qualify for the 35 points. Therefore, I requested a letter of comparability from NARIC and they confirmed my MSc degree as "Is considered comparable to British taught Master's degree standard". I know that if the Immigration Officer ignores the letter and looks at the PBC (because my qualification IS in the database with 0 points), they will refuse my application.

Other unknown is the bands described in the evaluation criteria and methodology document. ( newcomer link: http://www.naric.org.uk/documents/code%20of%20practice/2%20-%20Evaluation%20Criteria%20and%20Methodology.pdf [nonactive] )

My naric letter assessment corresponds to band (13 see below). Maybe the PBC is awarding points for band 14+. Makes sense?

Band 13: Second cycle higher education programmes that combine classroom-based study and a research element
Comparable to British taught Master’s degree standard


Any thoughts or success stories?

Thanks,

Ali

Therefore, I requested a letter of comparability from NARIC and they confirmed my MSc degree as "Is considered comparable to British taught Master's degree standard". I know that if the Immigration Officer ignores the letter and looks at the PBC (because my qualification IS in the database with 0 points), they will refuse my application.

You are exactly the type of scenario that folks are looking for... It is unlikely the case worker (assuming you will be applying in country) will ignore the NARIC letter.  Everything we have been told is that the NARIC letter makes whatever is in the database irrelevant.  If by some off chance you got denied based on the database when your provided the NARIC letter, there would be people queueing up to fight that for you.

Garry, is there anyone at the ILPA that would be interested in speaking to the poster?

The T4 practitioners have advised that applicants should get a letter to cover situations like these.  But to specifics, alibaykal would need to consult with one of the practitioners specializing in T4 to get a reading on the viability of the letter vis-a-vis the database. 

If you were looking for a specific name, there are several who are clued in to this exact problem: Caron Pope and Andrew Tingley to name two of them, but there's at least a dozen solicitors who have had refusals brought to them by disappointed students.  Hence the advisory.

From my last advisory (which must be in the archives here), you can read that the next update to the PBS calculator is in July.  NARIC is in their own orbit wrt updates.

The caseworkers are simply not allowed to ignore the letter.  If they try to because you are not on the database then you have the right of appeal (if you no longer have leave at the time of refusal.)

Vicky