UK student visa system likely to be reviewed
by Christine M - August 3, 2010
United Kingdom, 3rd August: A review of UK student visas will be conducted following an unprecedented increase in the number of immigrant students coming to the UK in the last year.
As per the figures, number of international students immigrating to the UK went up by one-third in the year 2009. An increase of 75,000 students was registered in the last one year till March from students hailing from non-EU (European Union) nations coming on UK student visas.
Hence, UK student visas need to undergo a ‘thorough evaluation’ in the coming months so as to reduce the abuse of UK immigration system, stated Damian Green, UK immigration minister.
Apart from the immigration minister of Britain, several others have expressed their concerns over the increased abuse of UK student visas in the recent times. As per the chairman of Migrationwatch (a campaign group), Sir Andrew Green, there is sufficient proof that the PBS (points-based system) of the UK immigration is actually providing an illegal route for fake students to enter the UK.
According to figures revealed by UK Home Office, in the period spanning last year till March, UK student visas were granted to nearly 313,011 non-EU students. This also resulted in immigration of a total of 31,385 dependents into the UK. These figures are significantly higher than the figures of the year 2008 when total number of non-EU migrants granted UK student visas was 235,295 while the number of dependents brought into Britain was 24,780.
No doubt, UK immigration is committed to attracting not only the legitimate students into the UK but also alluring the best and the brightest to pursue studies here, affirmed Mr. Green. But, UK immigration system certainly needs to undergo a thorough evaluation in order to control growing incidence of UK student visa system. Hence, the UK student visa system will be tightened in the coming months, Mr. Green maintained.
Meanwhile, any details of the measures to be introduced in the UK student visa system were not revealed by the official spokesperson of the UK Home Office. It may be noted that UK immigration department had placed under suspension the issuance of UK student visas for immigrants hailing from Nepal and Pakistan.
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