UK not to accept new visa forms for students

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UK not to accept new visa forms

Meanwhile, the British High Commission in New Delhi announced that it was temporarily suspending accepting new visa applications for students from north India from February 1, suspecting misuse of the system due to whopping hike in the number of student visa-seekers at its centres in the region.Chris Dix, regional director of UK Border Agency, which is tasked with enforcing immigration rules and considering applications for entry in Britain, told reporters that the High Commission would not accept any student visa applications at its centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar.

What has raised concern for immigration authorities is the “dramatic” increase in the numbers of student visa-seekers. Their numbers were 13,500 between October and December, 2009 compared to 1,800 in 2008 and 1,000 in 2007 in the corresponding period, leading them to scrutinise the system and applications thoroughly before inviting more applications. Dix said they would examine all applications to see if they are genuine and financially capable of pursuing education in Britain.

All applicants who had their appointments before February 1 would not be affected but those having their appointments after it would have to wait for a new date once the High Commission completes its scrutiny and arrives at a decision. Though Dix said opportunities provided in Britain could be a factor in the increase and so could be the dramatic drop in number of students seeking to go to Australia for studies, but officials said unscrupulous travel agents might be exploiting the student visa category due to huge demand in the region for getting visas to Britain.

British deputy high commissioner Nigel Casey said a dramatic increase in applications as well as concerns about their quality were the primary reasons behind the decision.

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UK gives no fixed date to resume visa service
Record applications from North baffled agencies


British deputy high commissioner Nigel Casey in Chandigarh on Monday.
British deputy high commissioner Nigel Casey in Chandigarh on Monday. A Tribune photograph

Chandigarh, February 1
Baffled by multifold increase in number of applications for student visa under Tier 4 of the points-based system, the British High Commission and its UK Border Agency — overseeing visa work — have refused to set any date for restoring normal visa service for students from north India.

“We will resume Tier 4 services as soon as possible. But prior to any decision, an evaluation will be done by month-end,” said British deputy high commissioner Nigel Casey, revealing 13,500 applications were received during the October-December quarter last year, against 1,800 and 1,200 for the corresponding period in 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Notably, the restriction indirectly suggests that no more students from the region were welcome till the start of the next academic session. The phenomenal increase witnessed in the last quarter and January could be for any reason, including misuse of the Tier 4 students’ visa or even diversion of Australia-bound student traffic to England.

Accompanied by UK Border Agency’s regional manager Charlie Molloy, Nigel Casey held that education links between India and the UK were a vital part of bilateral relations. “We are keen that Indian students should continue to study in the UK. But some applicants are attempting to abuse our visa processes and we will not let this happen,” he asserted.

Neither Nigel Casey nor Charlie Molloy could tell the number of student visas given to Indian applicants during the October-December quarter of 2007, 2008 and 2009 to corroborate their claim that increased number of applications had resulted in corresponding increase in number of visas. They also could not give the figures of applicants who had abused the Tier 4 system.

Maintaining that efforts were on to streamline the system, the visiting British officials said presently there were about 2,000 licensed educational institutions in UK, of which nearly 100 were suspended pending investigation.

“Students are advised to conduct proper research before deciding to apply for admission. Those taking admission to a public-funded university or institution should not worry,” the duo said, holding that acceptance of applications had only been suspended at Chandigarh, Jalandhar and Delhi centres. Thy admitted that the unprecedented rush of applications from these three centers not only put an additional burden on the existing staff, but also made them cautious as October-December was otherwise a lean period for admissions.

However, the officials did not answer queries about harassment of genuine students who even after going through the grill of visa processing were put to hard times on landing in the UK as they are told that college to which they had been admitted had either been suspended or blacklisted. No alternate was offered to them. Such students had to sulk and wait for months together to get their fee (deposited in advance) refunded, thus jeopardising their chances of seeking admission elsewhere.

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Visa Woes
UK to act tough with private colleges


Chandigarh, February 1
After the quarterly report of Australia’s immigration department related to increase in fraud cases due to private colleges, the UK government has been quick to identify the ripple effect.

Besides, experts in the city claim that New Zealand and other European countries are next in the queue to put a sealing on influx of students from the region.

Instrumental in luring students to study abroad, role of several agents engaged by private colleges overseas has been identified.

Besides, a sudden increase in the number of applicants to study abroad is an indication of foul play by agents.

While the representatives of the British Council maintain that the suspension of visa in North India is due to increase in applications, which shot up nine times in last quarter, the ground reality is different, claim experts.

Most immigration consultants agree that a large numbers of students have been “abusing the visa” and using it as a back-door entry to settle abroad.

“Since there was a sudden increase in the number of private colleges in UK, the applications shot up proportionally, the government was smart to check the inflow of students. After Australia and UK, New Zealand will be the next in line,” said Naresh Gulati, Oceanic Consultants.

Deterioration in quality of private colleges overseas had been a matter of concern among parents. “Applying for universities is a better option,” said a concerned mother who had come to confirm the suspension in the UKBA centre at Sector 8.

Notably, the city observed a 50 per cent drop in queries related to study abroad, particularly in Australia.

Going by reports, visa rejection has increased form 6.5 per cent to 33.2 per cent in the last quarter. The quarterly report also states the reasons for visa rejection, particularly from Punjab and Gujarat, since there was a significant increase in number of fraud cases.

Nearly 11 colleges have closed down and 10 more would be shut soon in Australia turning the focus to universities, experts add. “Students are advised to opt for long-term courses and not from settlement, as the laws change frequently,” said Gulati.

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In touch with UK over visa issue: India


New Delhi, February 2
The government is in touch with the British High Commission on its decision to stop accepting applications at visa centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was trying to better understand the reasons behind the decision and also to ensure that bonafide Indian students planning to go to the UK for studies were not adversely impacted, MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash said in response to a question.

He said the ministry had taken note of the fact that along with the decision taken to temporarily suspend accepting student visa applications under Tier 4 of the Point Based System at visa centres, the UK Border Agency was also investigating a number of UK education providers and has, in the last week, suspended about 60 from the education sponsor register.

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Let down by Britain
Help students get back their money

North Indian students hoping to study in Britain have got a nasty shock: the British High Commission has refused to help them get back large amounts they had deposited with British colleges as part of the admission process. They have been advised to approach the colleges concerned for fee refunds and, in case of denial, move courts. Their troubles started recently when the British High Commission froze the grant of student visas, suspecting foul play in the large turnout of applicants. From 1,000 student visa applications in 2007 the number rose to 1,800 in 2008 and an amazing 13,500 in 2009.

One reason for the sudden spirit in demand for Britain could be the growing attacks on Indians in Australia. Australia’s loss could be Britain’s gain. Another is the pull of better prospects in a Western country. The third is the failure of their home states, to throw up enough opportunities to meet their rising aspirations. Youngsters in large numbers are willing to do anything to study or settle abroad: fake documents, loans or even marriages. It is the genuine students who have got caught in the mad race. The British cannot escape blame because, like Australia, they had allowed the loot of trusting foreign students, unfamiliar with the real status of substandard academic institutions they chose for admissions.

The suspension of the student visas, it is reported, is temporary. The students who are serious about studies and have got admissions in recognised institutions on the basis of genuine papers and faithfully follow the rules should not be allowed to suffer. Their visa cases should be cleared on priority. Fake applicants, fraudsters passing as travel agents and so-called teaching shops need to be dealt with firmly. It is time the authorities concerned in India and Britain clean up the mess that has crept in the private immigration and education businesses.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100203/edit.htm

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UK partially lifts ban on student visas

New Delhi, February 13
Good news for students in North India wanting to go to the UK for studies.

Britain’s Minister for Business Innovation and Skills Pat McFadden today announced that from March 1 the Tier-4 visa application suspension in North India will be lifted for all students wanting to undertake higher education courses, whether foundation degrees, undergraduate or postgraduate. “The temporary suspension remains in place for all those wanting to study at lower levels. But we will continue to keep this under review and will lift it as soon as we can, and once the new highly trusted sponsor system for colleges and other educational establishments across the UK is in place,” he said.

The temporary suspension from February 1 was effected in response to a huge surge in applications over a very short period of time. The suspension of new Tier-4 applications was implemented at three application centres in North India: Jalandhar, Chandigarh and New Delhi. On February 10, UK had announced a number of changes to the criteria of Tier-4 of the point-based system, following a review of its operation.

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Scholarship for Indian students


Chandigarh, March 11
The British Council has decided to confer the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scholarship award on Indian students who want to pursue postgraduate programmes abroad.

Eight Indian students will be selected through a special exam. The exam will have two levels. In the first level, students will have to write an essay and the selected candidates from the first level will be called in for the face-to-face presentations. The competition will be open only to students who are enrolled with the British Council. The scholarship award will be of Rs 3 lakh.

“The scholarship aims at providing students with international educational opportunities,” said Kevin McLaven, secretary, educational services, British High Commission. He said minimum of 6.5 bands would be required by a student.

When asked about the High Commission’s orders to deny visas to North Indians, Kevin said the problem arose due to fake applications from students of some dubious colleges. IELTS is the English language test that is accepted by over 125 countries. It is also a reliable measure of English proficiency. The British Council will be launching the award in three other countries.