Are you an international student at Keele?
Did you know that there are certain regulations regarding your Visa and getting involved in volunteering?
There is a difference between unpaid employment (voluntary work) and volunteering, and you should always check with the organisation which offers you a volunteering opportunity whether it can be regarded as unpaid employment. This is because the time you spend doing unpaid employment counts towards your maximum number of hours of work a week.
Students with a work prohibition must be particularly careful not to undertake work that could be regarded as unpaid employment. Taking unpaid employment would be a breach of your work prohibition and is treated very seriously by the Home Office - your immigration permission will be curtailed (cut short), you could be removed from the UK and you will have difficulties returning. If in doubt, do not undertake the work.
The Tier 4 policy guidance confirms that Tier 4 students can volunteer and explains how the Home Office differentiates between 'voluntary work' and 'volunteering'. For example, volunteers do not have a contract and are not paid, though reasonable travel and living costs can be reimbursed. Volunteers usually help a charity, voluntary organisation or public sector organisation.
To help understand the difference between Volunteering and Voluntary Work here is a useful guide.
For more information about KeeleSU Volunteering please read the Guide Booklet below.
 Click here for the International Student Volunteer Guide |