Article 2 Citation, commencement and interpretation

In this Order—

• “the 1971 Act” means the Immigration Act 1971^f1;

• “the 1981 Act” means the British Nationality Act 1981^f2;

• “the 1982 Order” means the British Protectorates, Protected States and Protected Persons Order 1982^f3;

• “the 1997 Act” means the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997^f4;

• “the 1999 Act” means the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999^f5;

• “the 2006 Act” means the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006;

• “A-rated sponsor” means a sponsor who is recorded as being “A-rated” on the register of licensed sponsors maintained by the Secretary of State under the immigration rules;

• “action plan” means an action plan issued under the immigration rules to a B-rated sponsor with which a B-rated sponsor must comply in order to become an A-rated sponsor;

• “B-rated sponsor” means a sponsor who is recorded as being “B-rated” on the register of licensed sponsors maintained by the Secretary of State under the immigration rules;

• “British protected person” has the same meaning as provided in section 50(1) of the 1981 Act;

• “certificate of sponsorship” means an authorisation issued under the immigration rules by the Secretary of State to a sponsor in respect of one or more applications, or potential applications, for leave to remain in or enter the United Kingdom;

• “consular functions” means any of the functions described in Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations set out in Schedule 1 to the Consular Relations Act 1968^f6 or functions in the United Kingdom which correspond with those functions;

• “consular premises” has the same meaning as provided in Article 1(1)(j) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations set out in Schedule 1 to the Consular Relations Act 1968;

• “entry clearance” has the same meaning as provided in section 33(1) of the 1971 Act^f7;

• “the former nationality Acts” has the same meaning as provided in section 50(1) of the 1981 Act;

• “the immigration rules” means rules made under section 3(2) of the 1971 Act;

• “leave to enter the United Kingdom” means leave to enter the United Kingdom given in accordance with the provisions of the 1971 Act or the immigration rules;

• “leave to remain in the United Kingdom” means leave to remain in the United Kingdom given in accordance with the provisions of the 1971 Act or the immigration rules;

• “sponsor” means a sponsor under Part 6A of the immigration rules;

• “sponsor licence” means a licence granted by the Secretary of State under the immigration rules allowing a person to act as a sponsor;

• “student” means a person given leave to enter, or remain, in the United Kingdom under Tier 4 of the points-based system set out in the immigration rules.