Could Use Some Help (New Guy)

Hey everyone.

I don't really want to be that guy that joins and immediately begs for help, but I guess that's the reason I joined here.

Here's the story, then. I've got US military parents, and at one point we lived in Hampshire for quite a while. Certainty long enough that I've still identified myself as English even after we moved back to the United States. Granted, part of that has been out of spite. The point, though - I've wanted to move back basically ever since.

I'm actually about halfway through university right now (Film Studies) and now that I'm more independent from my family, I was looking at getting a Master's degree in Film production in the UK and living/working there from that point forward. Needless to say, though, I'm really confused as to how the process would work. Especially visas.

Every time I think I understand it, something else comes up, and I realise that I'm incredibly clueless. And that's rather depressing.

If there's anything you guys could tell me, I'd be really thankful.

Basically, you'll have to apply to a program at a school that can offer you sponsorship and when accepted, apply for a Tier 4 student visa.

You should find all the info you need here:

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/studying/adult-students/

Also, keep in mind you'll have to show that you can support yourself as well pay the hefty international student fees.

Just because you study here doesn't mean you can stay though. 

Yipee for international fees. Student loans? 

Though, I guess my question is since the film courses are only 2 years, I'm particularly confused by what I'd be doing next upon finishing courses. And you can't work with a student visa, right?

So many layers of complexity... Thanks for the help so far.

You cannot work full-time with a student visa. You would probably be well served by contacting some schools and seeing what their international student experience is like.

Yipee for international fees. Student loans? 

You wouldn't be able to qualify for any UK student loans, so you would need to secure loans from the US. I believe most people use FASFA and/or Sallie Mae - you would need to check that the UK university is set up to receive the loans though. To get the visa, you would need to have access to the first year of tuition, plus £9,000 in living costs if you will be studying in Inner London (or £7,200 if you will be studying outside of Inner London).

Though, I guess my question is since the film courses are only 2 years, I'm particularly confused by what I'd be doing next upon finishing courses. And you can't work with a student visa, right?

You can work on a student visa, but you will be limited to 20 hours per week during term-time (full-time during vacations) and you cannot take a permanent position. You must also be able to meet the financial requirements (1st year of tuition and the living costs) without needing to work in the UK to support yourself.

After finishing your studies, you can only stay in the UK if you can secure yourself another visa - such as a Tier 2 sponsored work visa; or if you end up in a relationship with a UK citizen, you might be able to qualify for a partner/spousal visa to stay here.

After finishing your studies, you can only stay in the UK if you can secure yourself another visa - such as a Tier 2 sponsored work visa; or if you end up in a relationship with a UK citizen, you might be able to qualify for a partner/spousal visa to stay here.

That's the part I'm pretty confused about. Is this going to be really difficult, or...? How hard will it be to obtain a sponsored work visa?

It is pretty hard to get a sponsored work visa, yes. Entry level positions/new graduates would be unlikely to get sponsored.

It is pretty hard to get a sponsored work visa, yes. Entry level positions/new graduates would be unlikely to get sponsored.

Hmm... If that's the case, would it be more prudent to get a Film Production Master's in the States and then move over? I don't really want to do that, but I'm worried about finishing university and being in trouble... Is it likely for someone like the BBC likely to hire graduates? I know they're a big employer for television.

The thing with the film industry, from what I've seen, is that I have to start really low unless I make an amazing student film. From what research I've done, I can't find anything about how visas would work with this.

Ugh, I really should have picked a better career to get into...

I know they're a big employer for television.

They are, and they do have the benefit of being a sponsor who can supply a certificate of sponsorship pretty much without an issue...the problem is that the jobs in television/film production tend to be fairly specific and rather thin on the ground anyway. The UK has many top universities which churn out UK-citizen graduate students in the field, and the BBC, like any other sponsor, would have to prove why they should hire a foreigner over the native talent pool. It's not an issue if you're experienced, with a body of work that meets specific criteria, but as a graduate student? The UK, and in a wider scope the EU, has quite a pool already to choose from, and that is where immigration demands employers look first.

Ugh, I really should have picked a better career to get into...

In fairness, apart from some very specialized medical and engineering professions, there are no "good" careers for immigration, so don't lose sleep over that!

In fairness, apart from some very specialized medical and engineering professions, there are no "good" careers for immigration, so don't lose sleep over that!

Funnily enough, I gave up engineering when I started university.

I guess what I'm confused by is (firstly) how hard this is going to be, and (secondly) how the graduate to work process would work. Do you have to have a job lined up right away? At least with a graduate school focused on making films, I would think it'd be relatively easy to justify why someone would be chosen for a job. And with that, it'd basically be like getting job experience in school.

That could be wishful thinking on my part, I guess.

I guess what I'm confused by is (firstly) how hard this is going to be,

Very. If not very difficult, then at least very expensive. Choose your very.

and (secondly) how the graduate to work process would work. Do you have to have a job lined up right away?

From what I understand, there is now little to no grace period for students. There used to be a specific visa for hanging around after graduation to work (the post-study visa route), and that visa has been abolished. So that should give you an indication of just how many "verys" you should slip in front of the "difficult".

At least with a graduate school focused on making films, I would think it'd be relatively easy to justify why someone would be chosen for a job. And with that, it'd basically be like getting job experience in school.

That could be wishful thinking on my part, I guess.

Well, school over here allows you to build up a UK-based body of work, which of course gives you the edge over a US candidate with the same qualifications; however, you'd still have to prove why a company should hire you over your UK-citizen classmates, all of whom will be on relatively equal footing when it comes to education and experience.

The bottom line is that if you want to study here and think that the education you'd receive is good value for money, go for it -- but just understand it no longer gives you the edge when it comes to immigration. You could spend years busting your hump, as it were, to get through school, to still be told you have to leave at the end of it. If that's okay with you, then pursue the plan.

The bottom line is that if you want to study here and think that the education you'd receive is good value for money, go for it -- but just understand it no longer gives you the edge when it comes to immigration. You could spend years busting your hump, as it were, to get through school, to still be told you have to leave at the end of it. If that's okay with you, then pursue the plan.

I'm really put off by the study to work transition... That's quite worrying, to say the least. On one hand I want to try, but I'm apprehensive about the fact I could be booted out if I can't get a job right away.

Too bad my parents didn't just leave me in the UK. 

I feel bad for asking a load of questions, but I've been with someone for quite some time, and she's talked about moving with me. Assuming we're still together (hopefully!) in two years, I know she'd have to get a Tier 2 visa to move. Difficult, but... If I graduate and she's working, couldn't I apply for Partners and children of migrant workers and students?

Talk about complexity. Thanks for the help so far.

Now you're talking about two people needing visas on their own merit. Again, I wouldn't plan on qualifying for a visa through her unless she has a very specialized skill and a lot of career experience.

It is pretty hard to get a sponsored work visa, yes. Entry level positions/new graduates would be unlikely to get sponsored.

Remember though that foreign graduates with a degree from a UK university are exempt from the resident market labour test, so it would be easier to get a Tier 2 visa after studying in the UK, than without studying in the UK.

From the Tier 2 webpages (bottom of this page: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/tier2/general/eligibility/):

Switching from a post-study category

You can be assigned a certificate of sponsorship and score 30 points if you are switching from:

-    Tier 1 (Post-study work)
-    Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme
-    International Graduate Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme)
-    any Tier 4 category
-    student
-    student re-sitting an examination
-    student nurse
-    student union sabbatical officer.

If you are switching from student, student re-sitting an examination, student nurse or student union sabbatical officer, you must have current permission to stay in that category.

If you do not meet these requirements, you will need to claim points for sponsorship in another way (such as through a resident labour market test).