16 October 2024: we have updated this news item to share an article from Free Movement on fee waivers that has been released subsequent to the publication of this news item.
We are aware of questions about the responsibilities for institutions where Students or former Students apply for fee waivers. Last summer we published this news item for students who were considering making a fee waiver application: Fee waivers and the Graduate route. The guidance in that news item is still relevant. Students or former Students who are enquiring about fee waivers (or have made fee waiver applications) should be directed to it. Free Movement also have an article published in September 2024 on fee waivers that can be viewed here: "The risks of making a fee waiver application for the purpose of "buying time" to make a different application".
If students, who have applied for a fee waiver, are requesting a CAS, institutions need to undertake the same due diligence as is in place for any student requesting a CAS and who is applying for immigration permission on the basis of that CAS. Our Student news item contains warnings about how Student applications might be considered following an application for a fee waiver.
Duties for sponsors with regards to the Graduate route are explained in our manual UKCISA Manual: Immigration: 3.7 Sponsor duties: (specifically 3.7.16 – Graduate route reporting duties). If an applicant makes an application under the graduate route thereafter, the risks for them are highlighted in our news item.
We are aware that fee waiver applications are taking a long time for UKVI to process. Regardless, this should not affect decisions institutions make in regard to their Sponsor responsibilities.
If you have questions about your sponsor duties for those who are on or are applying under the Student route and graduate route, please call us on our UKCISA members advice line or our Student sponsor compliance helpline.
