Leaked Home Office memo admits new UK student visa system is weaker
January 11 2010 by Liam Clifford
Home Office memo lifts lid on new rules for UK visas for students.
A leaked Home Office memo admits that the new UK student visa
regime is 'less robust' than the previous one and that more bogus students are
moving to the UK through the system.
The new UK points based system for
student visas was intended to make it more difficult for bogus students to slip
through the net. They now have to produce a letter of sponsorship from an
accredited educational institution to gain the vital points they need to study and move to the UK.
However, the memo from the Heathrow Immigration Intelligence
Unit says that 'large numbers' of illegal immigrants are obtaining student
visas. UK Border Agency staff feel powerless to stop the bogus students, even if
they are clearly not genuine, according to the memo. It states that Tier 4 of
the UK points based system, which was launched in March 2009, ‘presented a
window of opportunity to both individuals and organisations seeking easy access
to the UK’.
Tory leader David Cameron told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show
that many people are exploiting the student visa system to come and work in the
UK without UK work visas.
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