Restless World

Final phase of Tier 4 is launched

Marc — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:52:11 +0000

25 February 2010

We have today implemented the final phase of the points-based system’s student tier. This has resulted in two major changes for Tier 4 sponsors.

Visa letters have become obsolete

From today, all potential Tier 4 students applying to us from inside or outside the UK must use a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) in their application. All applications that do not contain a CAS will fall for refusal.

You will need to provide all potential students with a CAS reference number and your sponsor licence number (SLN). You will also need to give them all the information they will need when making their application. This information is sometimes called a ‘CAS statement’; it is up to sponsors to decide its format and how to send it to their potential students. A ‘CAS statement’ may contain:

student name;
student date of birth;
course title;
course start and end date;
details of any financial sponsorship/deposits taken;
documents that should be included as part of an application to prove qualifications;
CAS number; and
ATAS certificate (if appropriate).

This additional information will assist our caseworkers and entry clearance officers when making decisions on migrant applications under Tier 4.

If a prospective student has a visa letter issued before 22 February 2010, they can no longer use it to apply for a Tier 4 student visa. If you have issued a visa letter to a student who is intending to apply to us, you must replace the visa letter with a CAS. For out-of-country students, the date of application is the date when the application fee is paid - so a prospective student must be in possession of a CAS if they are paying their application fee today or later.

Mandatory reporting on students who have been assigned a CAS

Sponsors now must report via the sponsorship management system (SMS) on students who have used a CAS in an application to us. For further guidance, please see the Sponsor duties - Tier 4 page of our website.

Before you can issue CASs to migrants, you must have performed the transition exercise on the SMS. If you have not yet done so, you can find full details on the Transition exercise page of your website.

Today has also seen enhancements to the Tier 4 SMS:

Users can now create a new CAS from the details of a previous CAS created in a batch.
The main site study address will be mandatory for the assignment of a CAS.

All changes and updates to the SMS will be reflected in the SMS user guides and policy guidance, which are available on our website. We advise sponsors to visit the website and familiarise themselves with the new functionality.

You can find information about the SMS, and the updated SMS user guides, in the SMS guidance section of this website.

Revised Tier 4 migrant application forms are also available on the website for applications made from today.

Source: UK Border Agency

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Countdown

Skye — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:05:13 +0000

Only two working days, one weekend and a few hours until my flight departs to the UK and I’m still
organising myself. I’m not sure if I am disorganised or just feel that way but I’m sure there’s still so
much to do and too little time.

January seems to have flown by which may have something to do with all the catch-ups, farewells
and birthday celebrations I enjoyed however, there are only a few days left and I’m sure I won’t get
everything done.(...)
Read the rest of Countdown (331 words)

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Best Hostels of 2009 Announced at the Hoscars

Marc — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:11:06 +0000

Travellers House, in Lisbon, Portugal has won the coveted award for Hostelworld.com Top Hostel in the World for the second year in a row! The award, as voted for by Hostelworld.com customers, were given to hostel owners at a glitzy ceremony in Dublin’s Button Factory in the city’s famous Temple Bar quarter and was attended by over 350 people from the hostel industry from all corners of the globe.(...)
Read the rest of Best Hostels of 2009 Announced at the Hoscars (589 words)

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Anyone for champagne?

Carolyn — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:17:24 +0000

It’s my birthday today so I’ve had a glass of champagne at breakfast and am now thinking about
going to the beach for a while. Ah, this is the life and this is definitely the weather. I’ve always loved
having my birthday in summer, pool parties and beach trips – there’s nothing like it.

Whilst I’m enjoying all this I’m wondering what on earth possessed me to head to the Northern
hemisphere at this time of year. I remember thinking it would be good to start my next adventure as
close to the beginning of the year as possible but now think I was a little careless in the timing.

(...)
Read the rest of Anyone for champagne? (323 words)

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Nick goes to Africa….

Skye — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:14:30 +0000

First it was Peru, next its Africa, as Nick takes the next step on his ‘Responsible Travel Tour’ around the World!

We will be sad to see Nick go, he has been a great member of the team, but we always knew this day would come and we couldn’t be more supportive of what he is about to do. (...)
Read the rest of Nick goes to Africa…. (236 words)

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Gang jailed for running bogus college

Marc — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:31:15 +0000

Four people who ran a bogus college and a corrupt immigration advisory firm have been jailed for a total of 25 years for masterminding an immigration scam that is thought to have netted them millions of pounds.

(...)
Read the rest of Gang jailed for running bogus college (419 words)

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Current Visa Processing Times

Skye — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:00:23 +0000

The British High Commission have released the latest processing figures and the news is good.

To summarise for you, in December, the majority of applications (xx%) were processed within 5-10 business days. However, in all visa types there was a small number of applications that were delayed due to special circumstances, and in some cases, the application review was not finalised for 30 days or more.(...)
Read the rest of Current Visa Processing Times (130 words)

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Travel photo Competition Terms & Conditions

Marc — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:59:23 +0000

How to Enter

To enter, entrants must email their entry photograph to competition@restlessworld.com.au and enter their personal details including full name, email address, mobile number, date of birth and the location of the photograph.

Terms and Conditions

Information on how to enter and prizes form part of these Terms and Conditions. Participation in this competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Restless World reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of entries and entrants and to disqualify any entrant who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Terms and Conditions or who tampers with the entry process. Failure by Restless world to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.

Incomplete, indecipherable or illegible entries will be deemed invalid.

Current competition starts 9am EST on 1st February 2010 and ends at 11:59pm on 30th April 2010.

Each entrant is permitted only 3 photographs per 3 month competition cycle. Each entrant will be uniquely identified by their email address.

If there is a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, Restless World reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to determine the identity of the entrant.

Winners will be notified using the contact details provided in their entry in the competition. The winners’ photograph will be published on the Restless World Web Site for a period of three months as of the 1st May 2010.

There is one prize of a Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TZ7 worth $600 AUD.

Restless World’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

In the event of war, terrorism, state of emergency or disaster, Restless World reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion, subject to any written directions from a relevant regulatory authority.

If a winner is under the age of 18 years, the prize will be awarded to the winner’s nominated parent or guardian.

Total prize pool value is $600 AUD.

Prizes, or any part of a prize, are not transferable or exchangeable.

Any unclaimed prizes will be awarded to the next winner.

Entrants consent to Restless World publishing their photo entry on the Restless World web site and flickr using the entrant’s name for an unlimited period without remuneration for the purpose of this competition (including any outcome). The copyright of each photograph will stay with the photographer

If this competition is interfered with in any way or is not capable of being conducted as reasonably anticipated due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of Restless world, Restless World reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to the fullest extent permitted by law (a) to disqualify any entrant; or (b) subject to any written directions from a regulatory authority, to modify, suspend, terminate or cancel the competition, as appropriate.

Any cost associated with accessing The Restless World website is the entrant’s responsibility and is dependent on the Internet service provider used.

Except for any liability that cannot be excluded by law, Restless World (including its officers, employees and agents) excludes all liability (including negligence), for any personal injury; or any loss or damage (including loss of opportunity); whether direct, indirect, special or consequential, arising in any way out of the Competition, including, but not limited to, where arising out of the following: (a) any technical difficulties or equipment malfunction (whether or not under the Promoter’s control); (b) any theft, unauthorised access or third party interference; (c) any entry or prize claim that is late, lost, altered, damaged or misdirected (whether or not after their receipt by Restless World) due to any reason beyond the reasonable control of the Promoter; (d) any variation in prize value to that stated in these Terms and Conditions; (e) any tax liability incurred by a winner or entrant; or (f) use or participation in a prize.

Restless World collects personal information in order to conduct the Competition and may, for this purpose, disclose such information to third parties, including, but not limited to, prize suppliers and as required, to Australian regulatory authorities. Entry is conditional on providing this information. Unless otherwise advised, Restless World may also use the information for promotional, marketing and publicity purposes including sending electronic messages. Entrants should direct any request to access, update or correct information to Restless World.

Restless World Pty Ltd ABN: 95 133 477 273. Suite 212, 61 Marlborough Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010.

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Can’t say no

Carolyn — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:56 +0000

We’re only a week into January and already I’ve been a little naughty. Not surprising for a girl who’s only rule is to have no rules but I did think I’d make it to February and my UK adventure before getting too out of hand.
I could use the excuse that it’s the silly season so I can’t be blamed for this lapse in sensible
behaviour but perhaps I should own up and say I’m behaving true to form, unable to pass up a great opportunity and leave it at that.
What did I do?(...)
Read the rest of Can’t say no (302 words)

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Pisces

Skye — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:27:15 +0000

When you’re a Pisces, you love to get lost. Travelling Pisces style means going with the flow, allowing yourself to absorb and mingle with whatever happens to be going around. Though Pisces has an almost manic need to plan, once the idea is planted and the intention is there, Pisces is happy to get carried by the wind. Travel à la Pisces is a fluid thing. Water views, while preferred, are an optional extra.
On the one hand, Pisces often has a mystical bent. They love out of the way places, mysteries and the possibilities of ‘The Otherworld’. Which, of course, suggests that there is something very kosher about a Piscean trip to Cornwall. Replete with dells, wizards and crashing surf, this is the perfect part of England for Pisces to get comfortably numb. Anywhere in the West Country equally suits. The legend of Avalon hangs mistily in the air. A Pisces is to Glastonbury town what a fish is to a chip. On a similar vein, Pisces can do the Scottish West Coast and Gaelic standing stones equally well. If it’s wet, weird and slightly confusing then it has a Pisces kind of travel diversion written all over it.
Another Pisces quality is the willingness to mingle and relate. They also have a love of anything musical and intoxicating that is interesting to behold. If there’s a jingle and some drinking involved, Pisces won’t be too far away. Many Pisces excel at understanding human foibles, having so many of their own. Pisces love a yarn, and can spend many a contented evening trilling folk songs in the comfort of some out of the way Scottish bar. In an instant, they can totally absorb the tribulations endured by Robert the Bruce, and weep sweetly at the thought of a tragic ending to a love affair. They know a bonnie lass when one comes calling, and can pipe Danny Boy from glen to glen and down the mountain side. They are also quite partial to a tipple and will happily partake of a wee dram or three if that is what it takes to keep the conviviality alive.
Of course, not all Pisceans are drunkards and drones. There is also the Pisces type who is frightfully artistic. In this sense, Pisceans thrive on transcendental artforms. Opera, music and ballet come close to Pisces heaven, as do difficult foreign film festivals and obscure photographic exhibitions. A Pisces in London must do The Tate, The Barbicon and White Cube. They must also swan around Covent Garden for the Royal Opera and Ballet. Pisces have a penchant for all things abstract and other-dimensional so will feel quite at home decoding the semantic circumambulations on show for the Turner Prize.
Traveling Pisces style can be a kooky affair. All chaos and emotion, they simultaneously need some kind of structure and a plan. Pisces are always friends with the unexpected and make ideal voyagers in the esoteric and out-of-this-world.

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