Student Immigration Coordinator at Durham University

### The Role and the Department

The Student Immigration and Funding Service (SIFS) collaborates with both internal colleagues and external partners to offer top-tier advice and support concerning immigration legislation and financial aid for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and applicants. The services provided by SIFS pertaining to immigration include:

– Offering immigration advice related to student matters for students, academic staff, and professional service personnel.
– Conducting right-to-study checks for all students subject to immigration regulations.
– Monitoring academic engagement and reporting to UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) through the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
– Issuing Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) for visa extensions.
– Performing right-to-work checks for students employed at the University.

SIFS is a part of the Student & Academic Services Directorate (SASD), which delivers professional administrative support to University staff, students, and applicants. The Directorate is led by the Academic Registrar, who reports to the Vice Provost. SASD oversees the following services:

– Access and Engagement
– Curriculum, Learning and Assessment
– Recruitment and Admissions
– Student Immigration and Funding
– Student Registry

These services are housed at either the Palatine Centre or Mountjoy Centre in Durham City. The University has implemented a hybrid working policy, allowing up to 3 days per week of remote work.

In your role, you will be instrumental in providing high-quality immigration advice for students and supporting UKVI compliance activities to fulfill the requirements of a Student Route UKVI sponsor license. You should possess a solid understanding of the Student Sponsor Guidance and experience in advising on the challenges encountered by individuals holding or applying for a Student Route visa.

You will handle daily administrative responsibilities within the UKVI’s Sponsor Management System (SMS), such as reporting student changes in circumstances, completion of requirements for Graduate visa purposes, and issuing CAS for continuing students. Additionally, you will aid in academic re-engagement initiatives by meeting with students to discuss the implications of Student visa sponsorship withdrawal.

You must be a flexible team player capable of managing a diverse workload to a high standard. A high level of accuracy, even under pressure, is crucial. You will deal with highly confidential and potentially sensitive information, which must be managed in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and kept in strictest confidence