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

A UK advisor could argue the case for you and assess the documents.  If refused, we would lodge an administrative review. 

Vicky

Yes, I pointed that sample out to them when they said they could not provide me with a statement that carried that level of detail. They had no reply. 

--Wasn't your letter exactly like the sample on their website?  Do you mind posting the text? That's what you paid for! I would feel sick to the stomach knowing that I am spending a whole lot of money for a worthless piece of paper.

-- May I PM you?

What's interesting is that while that certificate is mentioned in that sample letter, and in the letter I received, it's not listed as a service in their schedule of fees.

http://www.naric.org.uk/index.asp?page=22 [nofollow]

-- I noticed

It's like a used car dealer bargaining with you all the way through, then after you've paid for the car adding "Oh, and if you want *tires* as well..."

And you have to love the weasel wording at the end of the letter, "The Service provided by UK NARIC, although based on informed opinion, should be treated only as guidance,"

IOW, "you've paid a pile of money for an informed guess--don't expect it to actually be of any value". The more I see about this organisation, the more it bothers me that the UK government treats it as a reputable professional service.

-- Well, isn't the PBS using the UK NARIC as a reference point? As Victoria mentioned in a previous post the case workers aren't allowed to ignore the letter.  I'm really confused  now whether I should go ahead with this (dis?)service.

Assume that the application gets denied and so does the administrative appeal.  How does a judge get involved in all this, especially when I will be self-applying from outside the EU(not thru an agency)? Do I then contact some lawyer?

Hiring a lawyer at that point would most likely leave you paying a charlatan.  The only way a UK judge would see your case is if there were reasonable grounds that you had been discriminated against or that your human rights had been violated.

Discrimination, even if true, is frightfully hard and expensive to establish in court.  Working in the UK is not a human right, so that goes right out the window.

Don't be misled by charlatans or touters.  In all but the most extreme cases, the remedy for a T1 refusal is a fresh application.

--Wasn't your letter exactly like the sample on their website?

Almost, but it lacked an assessment of whether my degree qualified as a Honours degree or an Ordinary (which mean a lot when applying to postgraduate programs). When I questioned it, pointing out that according to their published standards my programme qualified as an Honours degree, they claimed that they can't make assessments like that because different programmes are too diverse. I then pointed out that their sample letter makes exactly that distinction. They have not responded.

Do you mind posting the text?

It's identical to the sample, except that it lacks the one piece of information that's most important to me.

-- May I PM you?

If you'd like, sure.

Well, isn't the PBS using the UK NARIC as a reference point?

They do, and other organisations I looked into when evaluating the idea of taking a PGDE/PGCE recommended/required getting a statement from UK NARIC in order to apply to their programmes. Despite all their waffle about how their advice is only an educated guess, they seem to be the only game in town when it comes to getting credentials recognised.

Why am I reminded of Signor Ferrari in Casablanca?

Whilst we have been successful in a couple of administrative reviews, as has at least one person on this board who didn't use a legal professional, most of the time it is a case of reviewing the documents and telling the applicant that they don't qualify.  In your case, I'd actually be surprised at refusal as I am pretty sure that you qualify.

<claim removed>, so it is not true to say that Tier 1 decisions always stick.  But it is totally unfair that an in-country applicant can get a right of appeal, but you wouldn't.

Vicky

I'm a little confused as to whether or not I need a NARIC letter or not.

I have a B.A. in Economics, a Juris Doctorate and an LL.M. (Master of Laws), all from US universities (as well as having passed a couple of bar exams). Can I select a category that earns me 35 points automatically - I was planning to put the LL.M down as a "Master's degree (Taught, with further specialisation from Bachelor programme)". Is this the most appropriate thing to do?

Alternatively, would it better to put the JD be put down (perhaps as a PHD for 50 pts )

Thanks!

I would say law and economics are not considered further specialisation.  JD, would be the best thing to put down.
But if you're worried, it would be prudent to get a NARIC assessment

Hey Guys,

I'm new to the board, but I just wanted to let you know that I was in the same quandry as most of you.  I have a MS in Pharmaceutical Science and while it was not heavily research-based, there was research involved in completing the thesis at the end of the course.  I couldn't enter Masters (Research) on PBS in good conscience and I knew that entering Masters (Taught) would give me 0 points, so I went ahead and sent my information to NARIC and they came back saying that my degree is considered comparable to a British Master's Degree standard.  Therefore, I will get the full 35 points for my qualifications.

So basically, the PBS is saying one thing but when you send the same information to NARIC they tell you something else.  It is quite inconsistent.  I hope this gives hope to people who think that just because their degree was not research based they will not get any points.  I encourage you to go ahead and get the NARIC evaluation, because evidently they will score you differently than the online calculator.

I had a similar experience to lydiakristen. The PBS calculator awarded me 0 points for my Masters (Masters in Management - considered a "Masters-Taught"), but NARIC sent me a letter of comparability that said it was equivalent to a UK Masters.

I just submitted my Tier 1 (General) application and they awarded me the VISA. So the NARIC letter did the trick!

The word is that NARIC have now admitted that US taught Masters is equivalent to a UK Masters.  This has been fed to UKBA who will hopefully update the database soon.  Any applications made from today SHOULD get the full marks, with or without a NARIC letter.

Vicky

The word is that NARIC have now admitted that US taught Masters is equivalent to a UK Masters.  This has been fed to UKBA who will hopefully update the database soon.  Any applications made from today SHOULD get the full marks, with or without a NARIC letter.

Vicky

Good news then for the Americans going for Tier 1!

I'm a little confused as to whether or not I need a NARIC letter or not.

I have a B.A. in Economics, a Juris Doctorate and an LL.M. (Master of Laws), all from US universities (as well as having passed a couple of bar exams). Can I select a category that earns me 35 points automatically - I was planning to put the LL.M down as a "Master's degree (Taught, with further specialisation from Bachelor programme)". Is this the most appropriate thing to do?

Alternatively, would it better to put the JD be put down (perhaps as a PHD for 50 pts )

Thanks!

You should be able to claim LL.M. as a "Master's degree (Taught, with further specialization from Bachelor program)" as long as you did LL.M. in taxation, IP, or some other specialized stuff.

You are lucky because you did LL.M. I have earned only the JD (+ Bar admission). If you select "first professional degree" and "law," you receive no points.

The "Tier 1 General Guidance" published by the British authorities states "PhD/Master's degree (or equivalent vocational or professional qualification)" but does not specify which qualifications are covered. 

Anyway, it is absurd to equate JD with LL.B. because we do not have to do some vocational training for two years beyond the law degree in order to be an attorney.

I got my tier 1.

Got Naric Letter for Master of Science in IT from US.
Sent my application (payslips and bank statements passport and diplomas)
They received it on the 6th and I got approved on the 14th.
Received my docs back on 16th.

Thanks everyone for the comments. It was very helpful.

Hi all!

I'd like to revive this endless thread but with a slightly different theme.  I am a Tier 1 in the UK with a Bachelor Degree only.  For a renewal of Tier 1, the calculator currently does not require a Master's Degree to pass for those already having a Tier 1 under the older rules.

Given the moving goalpost atmosphere that seems to surround immigration in the UK, would it be wise to start a Master's Degree now so that in 2.5 years, when I go to renew I won't be caught in a sudden "Australian Style" adjustment to the points threshold that will see me booted from the country for not having a Masters? 

On the one hand, I don't want to be kicked out.  On the other hand, I have no need for a Master's Degree professionally.

Hi Nick,

I am in the same boat as you with the J.D. and LL.M.  Did you ever get an official answer on how many points everything is worth? 

Thank you so much!

Kim