UK to test English skills of foreign students

United Kingdom, 8th August: UK has decided to act tough on bogus foreign students by introducing English skills test before getting enrollment in UK colleges.

The new rules have already come into effect from 30th July this year.

New power to UKBA officials--UK immigration officials to assess English skills—As per the details revealed by UK immigration minister Damian Green, any international student failing to clear English language skills test will be rejected at the very outset by the immigration officials.

And this ruling will also include those who have passes English language tests from any approved or certified institute.

The only thing is that if the English language standards of the concerned applicant for UK student visa are not found to be satisfactory, then he or she will not be granted a UK student visa to study in the UK.

New strict UK student visa rules will keep out the unqualified and fake applicants while welcoming genuine candidates. Current UK immigration norms do not authorize UKBA officials to refuse entry even if they find any student lacking required credibility.

High risk abuse nations-UKBA’s top concern—The UKBA(UK Border Agency) plans to target international students from nations with high risk of abuse. In addition, those applying for institutes not on ‘highly trusted sponsor’ list of the UKBA will also be targeted.

Queries regarding educational and immigration history, plans about study and post-study as well as financial position will be asked by immigration officials.

Immigration officials’ incompetency—foreign students’ loss--—Although, the UK immigration department reiterates that the new tougher UK immigration rules will help in weeding out fake or bogus applicants for UK student visas, thus offering a protection to the nation from unscrupulous persons.

However, there is no denying the fact that the lack of sufficient training in language assessment among immigration officials may lead to a big loss for the international students.

Such a thing may result in rejection of even genuine candidates with requisite English language skills for UK student visas.

As per the estimates, as many as 5,000 international migrants getting UK student visas to study here will be denied permission to get come here due to latest tougher UK visa norms introduced for cracking down on bogus international students.