► UKCISA details

“Roll out of ID Cards for foreign Nationals (ICFN) from 25/11/08
 
“The following highlights key elements of the roll out that student advisers need to be aware of:
 
“This applies to all students who post an application from 25/11/08 onwards.
 
“Invitation letters
1. The letter inviting students to attend to have their biometrics enrolled will now be sent by the Student Batch Scheme data processing team.  An acknowledgement letter will be sent by Siemens, who process the payments, as usual and this will indicate to the applicant that a further letter will be sent to invite the student and their dependants to attend to have their biometrics enrolled.  Students should not contact to book an appointment before this letter is sent as we need to ensure that the application has been entered on our computer system prior to the student attending an appointment.
 
“Because it is now our data processing teams sending the biometric invite letters student advisers must write at the top of page 4 on the application form where they wish the invitation letter to be sent (write ‘biometric letter to applicant’ or ‘biometric letter to adviser’).  If nothing is entered at the top of this page a letter will be sent to both the student and the student adviser.
 
“Enrolment centres
2. There are a number of biometric enrolment centres across the country which are primarily based at our Public Enquiry Offices plus Cardiff and Armagh.  These centres will be rolled out incrementally from 25 November up to 12 December 2008. 
 
“The centre in Armagh is a part time office and it should also be noted that the results from the collection of individuals’ biometrics from this centre will take longer to process as a mobile enrolment unit is being used and these will need to be taken to another centre to be downloaded.
 
“Booking appointments
3. Students must book an appointment within 5 working days of the date of the letter and attend for their appointment within 15 working days. An application cannot be decided until the student and any dependants contained within their application have attended for their appointment.  As the initial roll out of the biometric enrolment centres happens over 2-3 weeks students may need to be flexible about where they attend to enrol should they wish to ensure that their applications are not delayed.
 
“Failure to book an appointment
4. If a student and/or their dependant does not book an appointment a warning letter will be sent to them instructing them that they must do so.  Caseworkers will ring to alert a student adviser should this occur and will send a copy of the letter to the student and the student adviser. Failure to book an appointment will result in an application being rejected as invalid. 
 
“Failure to attend for biometric enrolment
5. If a student and/or their dependant do not attend for their appointment a warning letter will be sent to them instructing them that they must do so.  Again, caseworkers will ring to alert a student adviser should this occur and will send a copy of the letter to the student and the student adviser. Failure to attend to have their biometrics enrolled may result in an application being refused for non compliance.
 
“Issue of ID cards
6. A letter will be sent when the application has been granted, to the student adviser with any supporting documents.  The ID card will be issued by the DVLA and should arrive within a few days of the decision being made. 

“The card will be delivered by a courier (the company is SMS) to the student adviser.  If the courier is unable to deliver they will leave a card which gives details of how to arrange delivery or collection from a depot.  Please note that details of leave granted will not be entered onto passports. Details of the service level agreement will be forwarded as soon as possible.
 
“Loss of ID card
7. If an ID card is lost a replacement card can be applied for.  A new form is available for this purpose and the cost is £30.  Biometrics would have to be given again.  Should the card be lost abroad e.g. if the student travels home during the holidays the student should contact the nearest Entry Clearance Office.  They may be able to issue a one way vignette allowing the student to travel back to the UK where a replacement card should then be applied for. 
 
“Photograph quality
8.  There is a new requirement that photos meet the standard detailed in the guidance notes.  If photos are not of the correct quality an application could be rejected as invalid.
 
 
“Applicants attending at a Public Enquiry Office from 25/11/08 onwards
 
“When booking appointment students will be advised that they and their dependants will be required to give their biometrics when attending.
 
“Further details can be found at the UKBA website.”