UK immigration crack down on student visas
April 01 2009 by Gareth McConnell
The crackdown by UK immigration on unlicensed educational institutions and bogus student visa applications has prevented several hundred institutions from accepting foreign students because they do not meet the new criteria.
Under the new tier 4 student visa regulations of the UK points-based system, foreign students who wish to come and study in the UK have to obtain sponsorship from a licensed university or college and has passed certain standards. Already, some 460 institutions have not made the grade and have had their application to take foreign students rejected.
Some 2,100 schools, colleges and universities have applied for a license to take international students, each of which has been visited by the UK immigration officials from the Border Agency. Each accredited institution must ensure that they are responsible for the students arriving from outside the EU, and that the foreign students adhere to the conditions of their visas.
Tuition fees paid by international students totaled £2.5 billion last year and the UKBA website says, “The Government is determined that the new route benefits talented, legitimate students making the most of Britain's world-leading educational institutions.”
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