Loading ...UK suspends student visa applications from North India region
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) announced on January 30th that it was suspending all student visa applications from northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The suspension – enforced from February 1st and not due to be reviewed until the end of February – came in response to a large increase in the number of applications from the region.
According to the British High Commission, 13,500 student visa applications were received between October – December last year, up from 1,800 in the same period of 2008. Concerns that many applications are not from genuine students have been voiced by British officials.
But the suspension has prompted others to warn that that bona fide student will be prevented from pursuing their studies, and deterred from applying to British universities.
The head of the points-based system at the UK Border Agency, Jeremy Oppenheim, said: “The points-based system gives us the flexibility to act to maintain the integrity of the visa system, while processing legitimate applications fairly, thoroughly and as quickly as possible.
“We continually check and monitor all student applications and education providers to ensure that they meet the required standards set by the points-based system.”
He added: “We will take tough action against those who attempt to abuse the system.”
Extra checks will be carried out on the back-log in the system, which officials said had been “overwhelmed”.
The Himalayan Times reported that many Nepalese students were already suffering, while the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been in talks with the British High Commission.
A spokesperson said: “Educational cooperation between India and UK is an important facet of our bilateral relationship. Student exchanges form a vital component of this cooperation.”
Tightened immigration rules have seen increasing numbers of institutions in the UK deprived of the power to sponsor student visas, over fears around “bogus colleges”. Around 600 colleges have been inspected and over 140 shut down.
Tens of thousands of students come to Britain every year from India, which is the UK’s biggest visa operation overall.
Student visas started being issued under Tier 4 of the Points-Based System of immigration on March 31st 2009.
The system has been criticised for bureaucratic complications and because of the financial requirements on students applying to the UK.
At Goldsmiths staff and students are building a campaign against the new immigration rules, which they claim discriminate against those from less privileged backgrounds and jeopardise intercultural exchange and trust within universities.
