Who are the Visa Team?
The Visa Team are Newcastle University’s designated student visa advisers: Tracey Baxter, Ross Patterson and Hena Mookerji. Please refer to our statement of service (PDF: 100KB) for further information about the services we offer.
The team is based on Level 2, King’s Gate and they are available Monday to Friday (apart from university closures) to answer visa queries from prospective and registered non-EEA students.
The team offers Tier 4 and PBS dependant workshops, one-to-one appointments to check Tier 4 general application forms following visa workshops and a drop-in service for more complex visa issues. They can also be contacted by web enquiry form.
If you need to speak to a member of the Visa Team at a drop-in session, you do not need to make an appointment, but we would ask to read the Terms and Conditions (PDF: 119KB) of the service carefully.
Special Announcements:
Contacted by Capita Connect: We are aware that some students have been contacted by Capita Connect by telephone, text and/or email (CapitaContact@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or 0844 375 4636) and being asked to provide evidence that they have made immediate plans to leave the UK since they no longer have leave to remain here. For full details, please visit the Home Office website.
Telephone Scam: We have heard reports of students being contacted by telephone from people claiming to be from the UK Border Agency. They may have a substantial amount of information on the student e.g. passport number. They will normally demand a payment of approximately £300-£500 to be made, often by Western Union. They may quote that there are problems with the student's immigration status. If you have been contacted, please note that this may be a scam and you should not make any payment. If you are unsure, please come to see us at our visa drop-in.
Participating Post Office Ltd for Biometrics: Relevant Post Office branches can be found here. Please note the web address on the biometric invitation letter is incorrect.
Accommodation name change - Liberty Plaza, Bath Lane: for those affected by the student accommodation name change from 'Central St James, Bath Street' to 'Liberty Plaza, Bath Lane,' please update your Police Registration Certificate.
OISC (Office of Immigration Service Commissioners)
The visa advisers at Newcastle University are authorised to provide immigration advice and services as regulated by the Office of Immigration Service Commissioners (OISC). The OISC sets the standards to which services and advice must comply. For further information about the OISC, please see the Office of Immigration Service Commissioners.
Data Protection
Please note that a record of advice given will be noted and recorded electronically on a confidential system. All data is stored in accordance with Newcastle University’s Data Protection policy. For further details, please visit our Data Protection website. In line with our obligations to UKBA as a Tier 4 licensed sponsor, however, we may be required to share information on specific cases. Please ask the Visa Team for further details.
In the event of an institutional audit by the OISC, your record may be viewed strictly for audit purposes only. Please let your adviser know if you do not wish to have your record used for this purpose.
Complaints
In the event of a complaint about the service, please refer initially to our Student Complaints Procedure or contact the OISC by e-mailing info@oisc.gov.uk
