Overseas students

Rights to work as an Overseas Student:

If you have a student visa for longer than six months you can usually work for up to 20 hours per week during term time or 40 hours per week during holiday time without applying for permission from the Home Office.
If you are an EEA national you have the same rights to work as an UK citizen or permanent resident and you are free to take any type of employment. It should be noted that from May 2004 it is almost certain that nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia will be allowed to live and work freely in the UK.
If you have a visa in the UK based on a relationship to someone with a long term visa in the UK you will normally be free to take up any sort of employment in the UK.

You will firstly need to find an employer willing to go to the trouble of applying for a work permit.
The employer will need to provide a detailed training programme or details of the work experience provided and how this will benefit you back in your home Country at the end of your work experience or training.
This type of permit is granted for up to two years. If you have been on this permit for up to twelve months you will not be eligible to come under a full work permit for 12 months. If you have been on a permit for longer than 12 months you will not be eligible to come under the full work permit scheme for 24 months.

Full work permits are normally only granted for highly skilled jobs and only if the employer can show that they cannot find someone who already has the right to work in the UK to fill this vacancy. Normally, for students to be able to gain a full work permit they will probably have to show that they have relevant work experience from abroad.
The Highly Skilled Migrant Programme is in effect a skilled immigration category and an increasingly popular way in which you can stay in the UK in the long term. You gain points based on skills, qualifications, work experience, etc. At the time of writing significant changes are about to occur in this category. It is likely to be the case that you will continue to need high level qualifications and years of work experience to come under this. You can calculate your points yourself on our points calculator.
These categories will normally lead to indefinite leave to remain after four years. If you meet the residence requirements you will normally be in a position to apply for UK citizenship after five years.

This scheme was only introduced at the end of May 2003. It is still not certain whether this will be a permanent scheme with work permits being available after 2004.
The scheme is only available for low skilled work currently only in the hospitality and food processing industry for a maximum period of 12 months. It may become available for other industries in future.
You have to be between the ages of 18 to 30 years old to come under this.
The employer will need to show that they cannot find someone who can fill the vacancy with someone who already has the right to work in the EU.
Unless you are a citizen of one of the Countries that will be joining the EU in May 2004 you will need to apply for entry on the basis of the approved work permit at the nearest British Embassy or Consulate.

You will find further details at: www.workpermit.com/sbs

Workpermit.com
: Our own sites with lots of useful guides on visas and work permits for the UK: www.workpermit.com
Work Permits UK: The official Government Site covering UK work permits: www.workpermts.gov.uk
Immigration and Nationality Directorate: The official Government site covering UK immigration and nationality related matters: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk