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Travel / Re: Living In The Uk-life Of An Immigrant (part 2) by Dawl: 9:17pm On Dec 09, 2022
This your story is very touching and full of strength and unwavering determination and I'm happy it all turned out well for you. I'm also in the process of going for a PGCE in computing (secondary).

Yemsot:
My journey so far in the UK. (Please pardon my long epistle. This is to encourage someone.)

I came to the UK in 2020 via student visa for PGCE Primary with QTS (Initial Teacher Training) in the University of Wolverhampton. Training to be a teacher in the UK was not an easy feat for me (I did not have time for myself, neither could I do any part-time job until summer.) We had lectures Monday to Friday from 9am till 4pm, after which we were given loads of assignmnents. We had two placement blocks - one during the autumn term and the other from spring 2 term till the end of summer term. During the placement days we were going to our placement schools like teachers (i.e full-time). My first placement went smoothly in key stage 1, but trouble started during my second placement. I was placed in a challenging school in Walsall with students that have aggressive behaviours (year 6). I struggled with my teachers' standards and at the end the placement was declared a failed one in June. I was told I could resit the failed placement in the next academic year at no cost but for teacher training, you can only resit a placement once; I also had to look for a school myself. Furtunately for me, during the summer holiday, I was able to get a school in Norwich that was ready to take me in as a student teacher and I could start in September.
September came, and I started my 13-week placement with no issues. The school was a nice one with pleasant children. There was no indication of me not performing well until my university moderating tutor (UMT) came during the 6th week. Then she put in place a cause fior concern procedure saying I have not met some standards. I had a week to meet these standards, otherwise, it would be declared a failed placement. At the end of the 7th week, the cause for concern was reviewed and I was told I was making progress but not enough, therefore the cause for concern has been extended for another week. At the end of the eighth week when it was reviewed, they said though I had made progress, they do not feel that I could meet the teachers' standards within the five weeks remaining, therefore the placement was terminated. I was dejected and sad because my QTS journey ended there and I could not get a licence to teach in the UK. I was now told to complete and alternative assessment for me to pass the remaining academic module so that I can have a PGCE but without a QTS.

THE TROUBLE
When the placement was first terminated in June, I contacted the school's UKVI compliance office to inform them and to let them know that I would need an extension of my study visa (my visa was expiring in 31 December) because I had to resit the placement in the next academic session. The response I got was to wait till November before applying for the extension. When November came, my resit placement was terminated on the 12 but I still had the alternative assignment to do. Then I contacted the UKVI compliance office again for the extension of my visa. They contacted my faculty and lo and behold, the faculty said they did not have any reason to sponsor me since I would not be attending classes again. Meanwhile, I informed my department that I would need my result to be able to apply for the graduate visa, so, they told me to hand in to assignment on time so that it can be marked and the result collated. The result for that module was ready but the school's board was not going to sit on results until January 2022, whereas, my visa was expiring December 2021. The UKVI compliance office then sent me a mail telling me that they could not issue me a new CAS, also that they contacted the home office and they were told that I would not be eligible for the graduate visa because I did not gain the QTS with my PGCE, therefore, I should just go back to my country - even without having my result.

MY DILEMA
At that point I did not know what to do. I didn't want to go back home neither did I want to remain in the UK as an illegal immigrant.

RESOLUTION
An aunt now advised me to apply for the student visa extension using the old CAS (she said that as long as I put forward an application before my visa expires, I will remain legal until a decision is made). This application was to buy us some time to figure out available options since application within UK takes 8 weeks. Therefore, I had 8 weeks to figure things out. Lo and behold, the only option left was applying for a masters course with the PGCE. All the schools I applied to asked me to defer my application to the September intake. Even Wolverhampton was just staring at my application with no respon. Consequently, no way out.
The school did not tell me when my final result would be ready. The only mails from them was to ask about my travel preparations; if I had left the country, or if I had applied for another visa to remain in the country, in short, they wanted to know my immigration status in the country.
5 weeks after my visa application (19 January), I got a mail from the home office, requesting for a new CAS, saying the CAS I used has been used for my previous application. I was given 10 working days to provide the CAS after which a decision would be made on my application.

DAY 1 (Wednesday): I couldn't do anything.
DAY 2 (Thursday): Started getting contacts of immigration lawyers.
DAY 3 (Friday): Contacted all immigration lawyers I knew but had the same response from them - they couldn't do anything to help me.
School's UKVI compliance office sent a mail requesting for my immigration status as my visa was to have expired in December.
During that weekend I, with the encouragement of my parents, decided to mail the school (copying everyone I could). I couldn't get the VC's email, but was able to get hold of the DVC student's email. We just thought it is either the school give a favourable response or not. In the email, I itemised my plight, starting from who I am being an international student, and how I felt during the course of my studies. I even wrote that I felt I was not being supported as an international student doing teacher training in the school. Also in my mail, I said that instead of me being informed of when my result would be ready, I was being chased with depressing emails and I felt as if the school just wanted to send me away after paying a huge sum in school fees; and I was being denied the opportunity enjoyed by international students in other universities (which is the application for the graduate visa). I informed them that I applied for an extension of my student visa and that the home office is requesting a new CAS from the school.

DAY 4 (Monday): The DVC responded to the mail, and appointed the head of the UKVI compliance and the Director of the School of Education to look into the issue as a matter of urgency.
Day 5 (Tuesday): The head of the compliance office responded and said the school could no longer offer sponsorship as I didn't have to attend classes again. He even said that it was not a new thing for international students to return home before their final results was ready. Furthermore, he said that I had been told to return home but I applied for a visa extension on which a decision had not been made.
The director of the School of education also responded to say they will discuss the issues raised with my department.
DAY 6 (Wednesday): I responded to the head of compliance's mail informing him of the deadline the home office had given me. Also, I told him that I had to still be in the country to be eligible for the graduate visa, quoting the UKCISA website. Whilst referring to the UKCISA website, I said the school can still support a student visa extension if my visa expires and my results are not ready (stating that this did not require class attendance as was my case). I now wrote that I would need the student visa extension in order to be eligible for the graduate visa.
DAY 7 (Thursday): The same head of compliance responded saying he had given my case some thought and checked some issues with my faculty and said they believe they would have an option to suggest to me, saying I would be contacted later that day.
Later that day, the compliance office sent me a mail saying that my award of PGCE will be confirmed the following Monday - 31 January; and that the UKVI policy team had suggested (on 13 January) that I could go ahead to apply for the graduate visa with my PGCE - even without QTS. Therefore, they advised that I submit an application for the graduate visa, which will be a variation application to the student visa application. Furthermore, I was told that they would monitor my award with the faculty to ensure it is ready by Monday.
That very day, we arranged a meeting for Monday 31 January to submit my graduate visa application. They also requested my consent to write the home office on my behalf saying that the graduate visa application is to vary the student visa application I had made. So, I signed a consent form for them.
DAY 8 (Friday): Calmness
DAY 9 (Monday 31 January): This particular day was a battle. The school's board sat on results and awards were conferred but my student record was not updated until about 4pm in the evening. The compliance office was to send my award to home office before I submmit my application. When my records were updated, lo and behold, I was not awarded PGCE but post graduate credit! During our meeting that day they had to tell me that they couldn't send that result to the home office as it is not eligible for graduate visa; and that was not the award the faculty informed them I was going to be conferred. So, the head of compliance office said they would have to chase up the Academic registrar the following morning to sign an interim award for me pending the time the school's board will sit again. Consequently, my graduate visa application was halted.

NOTE: For graduate visa, the school sends the student's award to the home office, so the student does not have to upload award when applying for the visa.

DAY 10 (Deadline 1 February): In the morning, I mailed the head of my department and my course lead to let them know of the award I was conferred as opposed to what I was to be conferred and to ask why. Immediately, they responded that it shouldn't be and that they would look into the matter urgently. Throughout that morning, I heard nothing from the school until about 3pm when the head of compliance informed me that the interrim award has been signed by the academic registrar, and my award has been sent to the home office. Therefore, I could go ahead to submit my application.
I submitted my graduate application at about 4pm that afternoon. The compliance office also helped me to draft what would be my response to the request from the home office on my student visa application. I informed the home office that the student visa application was made with the notion that my course end date was July 2022, but my award had now been conferred by the school. Therefore, I had now applied for the graduate visa which was to vary the student visa application (quoting the reference numbers for the two applications).
The school also mailed the home office saying the same (also quoting the reference numbers for the two applications.)

The home office responded the following day, acknowledging my graduate visa application and therefore declared my student visa application as void from that day.

EXACTLY eight weeks after my student visa application, my graduate visa application was approved! I have now been granted the leave to remain in the UK for two years.

PS
I have started applying for jobs with employers that have sponsor license.

2 Likes

Jobs/Vacancies / Re: NSCDC Recruitment 2019: How To Apply For Nigeria Civil Defence Corps by Dawl: 10:03pm On Jan 30, 2022
Degree converted to level 3,?? Is it a mistake or s deliberate action and can it be rectified??

earnest858:

1. Some are to to come for documentation by March, which I think it's second batch. Thanks for the information.

2. Most of those that applied with O'level to level 3 are yet to be shortlisted, only those that applied with Degree and NCE are being converted to level 3. Is there any hope for we thank applied with SSCE to level 3 directly boss. Please answer my question ���
Jobs/Vacancies / Re: NSCDC Recruitment 2019: How To Apply For Nigeria Civil Defence Corps by Dawl: 7:57am On Jan 19, 2022
ASC
nwabueze1999:

What did you apply with
Jobs/Vacancies / Re: NSCDC Recruitment 2019: How To Apply For Nigeria Civil Defence Corps by Dawl: 12:36am On Jan 19, 2022
My name came out with the list, but in my positon it indicated CA lll please what does this mean

Religion / Re: Mike Bamiloye Celebrates Easter With Family Photo by Dawl: 10:47am On Apr 23, 2019
Beautiful family. The daughter in gold no follow do SU.�

4 Likes

Religion / Re: "His Name Is Not Jesus" - Daddy Freeze Condemns The Name 'Jesus' by Dawl: 7:09am On Nov 01, 2018
Freeze is acting like a new convert. These are issues trashed out and understood as a new believer before growing in the faith.
Events / Re: Man Who Resides Abroad Rides Keke To His Wedding In Enugu (Photos) by Dawl: 4:47pm On Oct 11, 2018
Funny. That's for them tho. Ko wun mi
Business / Re: Why You Should Beware Of Unlicensed Online Small Loan Apps/websites by Dawl: 5:28pm On Sep 24, 2018
Anyone worried about money being withdrawn during the night on these apps can just disable the automatic withdrawal options. Then you get to pay once you are ready at anytime.
Travel / Re: Tanker Explosion At Otedola-Ojodu, Berger Lagos: 20 Cars Burnt (Photos) by Dawl: 8:20pm On Jun 28, 2018
Praying for the peace of God on this nation. May we all be protected in our coming and going. It happened at ojodu today, it could as well have happened somewhere else. Lord heal this land.
Education / Re: "English That Only Makes Sense In Nigeria" Trends On Twitter, Ah Naija Self by Dawl: 4:28pm On Mar 28, 2018
The man is franking his face.

1 Like

Travel / Re: Canadian Express Entry/Federal Skilled Workers Program-Connect Here Part 3 by Dawl: 9:41pm On Mar 21, 2018
I am also interested in these materials please. Whenever you come online, kindly send to my inbox. All the best

coolangel54:
LET THE IELTS STUDY BEGIN: I have downlaoded and printed the IELTS CAMBRIDGE 12 materials sent to me via my mailbox THANKS TO THE WONDERFUL N.Ls here. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. Lemme read IELTS 12 first and hopefully download some more from the numerous Cambridge IELTS MATERIALS SENT TO ME. I would be offline for sometime as I need to read. THANK YOU ALL.
Travel / Re: Canadian Express Entry/Federal Skilled Workers Program-Connect Here Part 3 by Dawl: 6:18pm On Mar 14, 2018
kaypompee:
HAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ITA don land ooooooo..... sweet Jesus! Just refreshed my email now and saw it. whew! Phase 2 begins, goodluck to everyone else expecting
Congratulations to you.

3 Likes

Webmasters / Re: Bloggers Drop Your URL Here And I'll Write A Review by Dawl: 3:28pm On Aug 20, 2017
Kindly check this out. www.sougqrandeur.com/blog
Crime / Re: Badoo Killings: Fatai Owoseni Meets With Ikorodu Traditional Rulers by Dawl: 11:38am On Aug 02, 2017
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Health / Re: Baby Born "Pregnant" In India Shocks Health Expert (PHOTOS) by Dawl: 5:29pm On Aug 01, 2017
"There were no complications. Both the mother and the baby boy are still admitted....

hardywaltz:
Maybe the parents where still nacking when the Mother was heavily pregnant and sperm strayed into the child's v and got her pregnant.

He's a boy. undecided
Jobs/Vacancies / Need Help by Dawl: 11:51pm On Jan 18, 2011
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