Student visa changes balance language requirements
July 23 2010 by Liam Clifford
Key changes announced
The student tier of the UK points-based visa system is undergoing key changes that will mandate certain levels of language study for applicants and visa holders.
The changes are being made to the student, or Tier 4 UK visa, requirements in an
effort to clamp down on abuses of the system and enforce applicants to
gain working proficiency in English.
From 23 July 2010, the minimum level of English language course that
will be permitted under Tier 4 will be level B2 of the Common European
Framework of Reference.
This restores to its level prior to the Judicial Review ruling filed by
English UK earlier this year. The ruling had led to a temporary
suspension of UK visa applications from students in South Asia applying for
a particular range of degree courses. The restoration of the level
means that the people affected - largely from northern parts of India,
Bangladesh and Nepal - are once again eligible to apply for student
visas.
In another change, students who want to change their sponsor schools to
one of the lesser A- or B-rated sponsors, will have to wait to begin
their course of study until they have received an affirmative decision
from UK immigration authorities.
This does not, however, affect students wishing to transfer to the
top-rated Highly Trusted Sponsor (HTS) institutions, who will be able to
transfer immediately. 
See the latest Immigration News
