UK Sets 60-Day Deadline for Students After Sponsor Loss

The UK government has issued guidance regarding the status of international students whose educational providers lose their sponsorship licence. According to the new rules, any student affected will have their visa limited to 60 days from the date of revocation or the remaining time on their current visa if it is less than 60 days.

During this period, students must find a new course at a different licensed education provider willing to take on their sponsorship. If a student had no involvement in the circumstances leading to the licence withdrawal, they are eligible for the 60-day grace period.

Conversely, students found to have contributed to the revocation will have their visas withdrawn immediately. The guidance also covers scenarios where a sponsoring institution is taken over by another organization; in such cases, the student's visa remains valid if the new organization holds or applies for a sponsor licence within 28 days.

This guidance is particularly relevant to thousands of international students, including many Nigerians, studying in the UK.