Britain Tuesday implemented stricter visa rules for foreign students, including those from India.
A new points-based immigration system for non-EU migrants had been launched last year, and this five-tier system is now fully in force. Students come under Tier 4.
The change has primarily been made to check fraud and stop misuse of student visas. All educational institutions wishing to admit non-EU students would now need to have a licence issued by the UK Border Agency.
In a major relief to medical students in particular, the maximum length of the Tier 4 visa has been increased from the planned four years to cover the entire duration of a student’s course. Britain on Tuesday implemented stricter rules for foreign students, including those from India, wishing to study in the country under the Tier 4 of the points-based system.
Britain introduced a new points-based immigration system for non-European Union migrants in a major overhaul of its immigration system in 2008 and now the five-tier system has been fully implemented.
Highly-skilled migrants come under the first tier, Tier 2 comprises of skilled workers with a job offer, Tier 3 covers low-skilled workers, Tier 4 is for students, and Tier 5 for temporary workers like musicians, actors and sportsmen.
From now, all nonEuropean Economic Area citizens will have to apply for visas under the tier-system. Tier 3, however, has been suspended for all countries expect the European Union.
The changes in the student visas have been primarily made to cut down on fraud and stop use of student visa for fraudulent purposes.
All colleges, universities and any educational institutions which want to recruit students from outside the European Economic Area must be registered with and have a licence issued by the UK Border Agency.
Only licensed institutions are allowed to recruit students from non-EEA coun tries.
Foreign students contribute £2.5 billion annually to the UK economy in tuition fees alone and an overall estimated contribution of £8.5 billion every year.
They are also allowed to work in the UK for two years after finishing their degrees for work experience.
The home office revealed on Tuesday that it has so far screened out almost 460 applications from educational institutions from a total of 2,100 applications.
“These new measures make sure people who come here to study — and the people who teach them — play by the rules,” home secretary Jacqui Smith said.
“This new tier of the points based system allows us to know exactly who is coming to the UK to study and crack down on bogus colleges. I have made it clear that I will not tolerate either the fraudulent applicants trying to abuse Britain’s immigration rules, or the dodgy colleges that facilitate them,” she added.
In major relief for medical students, the UK immigration department has decided that the maximum length of the Tier 4 visa will be increased from the planned four years to cover the complete duration of a student’s course.
The change has primarily been made to check fraud and stop misuse of student visas. All educational institutions wishing to admit non-EU students would now need to have a licence issued by the UK Border Agency.
In a major relief to medical students in particular, the maximum length of the Tier 4 visa has been increased from the planned four years to cover the entire duration of a student’s course. Britain on Tuesday implemented stricter rules for foreign students, including those from India, wishing to study in the country under the Tier 4 of the points-based system.
Britain introduced a new points-based immigration system for non-European Union migrants in a major overhaul of its immigration system in 2008 and now the five-tier system has been fully implemented.
Highly-skilled migrants come under the first tier, Tier 2 comprises of skilled workers with a job offer, Tier 3 covers low-skilled workers, Tier 4 is for students, and Tier 5 for temporary workers like musicians, actors and sportsmen.
From now, all nonEuropean Economic Area citizens will have to apply for visas under the tier-system. Tier 3, however, has been suspended for all countries expect the European Union.
The changes in the student visas have been primarily made to cut down on fraud and stop use of student visa for fraudulent purposes.
All colleges, universities and any educational institutions which want to recruit students from outside the European Economic Area must be registered with and have a licence issued by the UK Border Agency.
Only licensed institutions are allowed to recruit students from non-EEA coun tries.
Foreign students contribute £2.5 billion annually to the UK economy in tuition fees alone and an overall estimated contribution of £8.5 billion every year.
They are also allowed to work in the UK for two years after finishing their degrees for work experience.
The home office revealed on Tuesday that it has so far screened out almost 460 applications from educational institutions from a total of 2,100 applications.
“These new measures make sure people who come here to study — and the people who teach them — play by the rules,” home secretary Jacqui Smith said.
“This new tier of the points based system allows us to know exactly who is coming to the UK to study and crack down on bogus colleges. I have made it clear that I will not tolerate either the fraudulent applicants trying to abuse Britain’s immigration rules, or the dodgy colleges that facilitate them,” she added.
In major relief for medical students, the UK immigration department has decided that the maximum length of the Tier 4 visa will be increased from the planned four years to cover the complete duration of a student’s course.
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