LSE Students’ Union Guide 2008
One LSE International
migration permission that allows you to take employment, you can work up to 20 hours a week during term-time and full-time during your holidays, a work placement which is part of a sandwich course, or an internship. To find out whether you have permission (as a student) to work in the UK, you must see the details on your passport visa sticker. Since most of the international students haven’t yet applied for a visa, the following link will give you a heads-up on what to expect on your visa: www.ukcisa.org.uk/files/ pdf/working/work_during_stamps.pdf If you would like to work part-time whilst studying, make sure you state that on your visa application. A visa sticker that says “Work (and any changes) must be authorised” or “Able to work as authorised by the Secretary of State” basically says that you will be able to work during your studies. If your passport sticker says “No work”, you can’t work in the UK. If you have already been issued with a student visa that will not allow you to work, contact the Students’ Union Advice and Counselling Centre. They will be able to assist you in making an immigration application that will allow you to change your condition regarding work. When applying for work in the UK, you will need to simultaneously apply for your National Insurance (NI) number. This number is necessary to ensure you get charged the right level of income tax and is for national insurance contributions (paid by every worker in the UK to fund contributory benefits such as Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA), and state pensions). www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/working_
during.php
Staying in the UK Some students can now remain in the UK looking for work for 12 months after their studies. Find out how you can remain in the UK as a post-study worker by having a read through www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/working_after.php
Schengen visa, see www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/immigration.php
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‘Schengen’ visa If you are not a European Economic Area national and want to travel to Europe, you may be required to apply for a ‘Schengen’ visa before you travel. This scheme will allow international students wishing to visit countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) to travel between these countries using only one visa (saves costs on applying for different visas for different countries within the EEA!) The 21 countries that partake in the scheme (forming the Schengen space) are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. If you are travelling to countries outside of the Schengen area, you should contact that country’s embassy in the UK for information about immigration procedures there. For a list of foreign embassies in the UK visit www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/londondiplomatic-list-june For an extensive FAQ section on the
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Students’ Union Advice and Counselling Centre: su.advice-centre@lse.ac.uk (+44) (0)20 7955 7145 www.ukcisa.org.uk – The Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) provides excellent, detailed advice to all international prospective and current students (and their families, and teachers). www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/information_sheets.php - link that provides useful information (advice) sheets on topics ranging from ‘Culture Shock’ to Financial Support for all international students. www.hmrc.gov.uk – HM Revenue and Customs: responsible for tax, customs and excise duties, frontier protection and National Insurance UKvisas contact details: (+44) (0)20 7008 8308 www.ukvisas.gov.uk/enquiries