UK Sponsored Researcher Changes
On 9 May 2005, the concession outside the Immigration Rules that provides for Academic Visitors to enter the United Kingdom for research purposes for ... On 9 May 2005, the concession outside the Immigration Rules that provides for Academic Visitors to enter the United Kingdom for research purposes for up to a maximum period of 12 months was amended. The amendments remove the provision for sponsored researchers and provide advice on the work permit provision for sponsored researchers.A person who obtains leave to enter or remain in the UK as an academic visitor under the new provisions (ie. from 9 May 2005) should be advised that changing immigration status whilst in the UK ('switching') from this category into work permit employment is not permitted. Individuals seeking entry to the United Kingdom for the purposes of sponsored research from 9 May 2005 should seek to do so as work permit holders under the recently introduced sponsored researcher category.
However, individuals who obtained leave to enter or remain in the UK under the sponsored researcher provisions of the Academic Visitor Concession before its revision (ie. prior to 9 May 2005), may be permitted to 'switch' into work permit employment for the purposes of sponsored research. This is provided the work permit application meets the requirements of the work permit arrangements.