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Tougher rules to stop abuse of student visa system

Tougher rules have been brought in to stop people abusing the student visa system to remain illegally in the UK.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said 30% of migrants who came into the UK were on student visas and a number were adults taking short courses, not degrees.

Under the new rules, applicants will need to speak English to near-GCSE level and those on short courses will not be able to bring dependants.

The Tories said the system had been the “biggest hole in border controls”.

The Home Office would not confirm reports the changes may cut visas issued this year by tens of thousands.

A spokesman said a review of student visas had been ordered in November. In 2008/9, about 240,000 student visas were issued by the UK.

News of the new measures comes a week after student visa applications from Nepal, northern India and Bangladesh were suspended amid a big rise in cases.

‘Legitimate study’

Last year the UK introduced a system requiring students wishing to enter the country to secure 40 points under its criteria.

However, the government has faced criticism that this has allowed suspected terrorists and other would-be immigrants into the UK, only for them to stay on despite their visas being temporary.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, the home secretary denied the system had been lax before.
“By 2011, we will have the most sophisticated system in the world to check people not just coming into the country but to check they have left as well,” he said.
He said the UK remains open to those foreign students who want to come to the UK for legitimate study.

 Alan Johnson: “If you are coming here for a course that is under six months you can not bring your dependents”

“We are the second most popular location for people going into higher education,” he said.

“We have to be careful that we are not damaging a major part of the UK economy, between £5bn and £8bn.”

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas told the BBC’s Politics Show 200 bogus colleges had been closed.

“Students have foreign national identity cards. We have the e-Border counting in and counting out,” he said.

“The latest proposals are a response to the moves by people who are trying to get round the system.”

Under the measures, effective immediately:

• Successful applicants from outside the EU will have to speak English to a level only just below GCSE standard, rather than beginner level as at present

• Students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for only 10 hours a week, instead of 20 as at present

• Those on courses which last under six months will not be allowed to bring dependants into the country, while the dependants of students on courses below degree level will not be allowed to work

• Additionally, visas for courses below degree level with a work placement will also be granted only if the institutions they attend are on a new register, the Highly Trusted Sponsors List.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the UK needed to “restore immediately control of our borders”.

 

“The biggest hole in the student visa system is caused by the Tory and Labour abolition of exit checks, which means we do not know if someone has left once their visa runs out,” he said.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said the student visa system had been the “biggest hole in our border controls for a decade”.

“Ministers should be ending the situation where a student visa is a way of coming to the UK to stay, by banning the practice of moving from course to course in order to stay on and stopping overseas students from applying for work permits without going home first,” he said.

The party has also proposed that overseas students should pay a cash deposit which would be lost if they did not leave the country when their course finished.

And Conservative backbencher Mark Pritchard has gone further and proposed universities withhold degree certificates until foreign students can prove they have returned to their home countries.

But Mr Johnson said Mr Grayling’s plan would just add another level of bureaucracy.

“Many of these students, if they are coming here using this route for illegal migration, will pay thousands of pounds to usually criminal gangs,” he said.

“The thought of losing a bond is not going to solve this problem.”

Popularity: 2% [?]


UK Tier 1 visa likely to become easier

25 Jan 2005

Recently the Migration Advisory Committee completed its review of the Tier 1 visa scheme.

In light of changing economic circumstances the Government had asked MAC to consider changes to Tier 1 for the years 2010/11. MAC feels that Tier 1 is operating well, but also recommended changes to the scheme.

MAC’s recommendations for Tier 1 (General) include the following:

  1. Prospective immigrants with a minimum of a bachelors degree should be able to come under Tier 1 if their previous earnings are at a high enough level and if they gain enough points. Currently to come under the Tier 1 visa you need to have at least a masters degree.
  2. Under Tier 1 overseas salaries are converted into a UK equivalent by using “salary multipliers”. MAC recommends that the “salary multipliers” are reviewed very soon.
  3. Professional qualifications for example in law and accountancy should be considered equivalent to a masters degree.
  4. There should be a substantial increase in the thresholds under which you can gain points for previous annual earnings. It is recommended that there are no points for anyone with previous annual earnings of below £24,000.
  5. There should be no educational requirements for migrants with previous annual earnings of at least £150,000.
  6. Those applicants who are under 39 years of age should receive points.
  7. Highly Skilled migrants under Tier 1 should only be given two years initial stay in the UK instead of the current three years. If they are in highly skilled employment they should then be able to apply for a three year extension at the end of the two year period.

In addition MAC says that Tier 1 (Post-study work) should continue. This is for migrants who wish to work in the UK after completing their education in the UK. This brings economic benefits to the UK. However MAC suggests that the government whether all courses and colleges should be treated in the same way.

Immigration Minister Phil Woolas had the following to say:

‘The MAC has delivered a robust and thorough report, and the government will consider it carefully over the coming weeks.

‘The points-based system is a powerful and flexible tool which means that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce.

‘Our own research shows that more than eight in ten people who have used Tier 1 ofthe points-based system were satisfied with the process.’

The Government will consider the recommendations and make an announcement in early 2010. It should be noted that normally the UK Government accepts MAC recommendations in full.

Popularity: 25% [?]


Changes to student applications from next month

25 January 2010

From 22 February 2010, any student who applies by post or at one of our public enquiry offices, to study in the UK under Tier 4 of the points-based system must possess a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) from their prospective sponsor.

You will not be able to apply under Tier 4 using a visa letter from that date, even if the visa letter was issued before 22 February 2010.

Until 21 February 2010, you can continue to apply under Tier 4 using a visa letter, even if your course of study will start after 22 February 2010.

For more information about applying to study under Tier 4 of the points-based system, see the Studying in the UK section of this website.

Popularity: 15% [?]


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