UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

New Immigration Rules for Students

Monday, 4 August 2008

The UK Home Office has published proposals for much tighter rules for foreign students - and the universities and colleges hosting them - under the student tier of its new Points Based System.

The new system will mean greater transparency for students, who will be able to check online that they qualify for a student visa before applying, and help stamp out bogus colleges that abuse the system.

Under the new system, due to be introduced in the spring of 2009, universities and colleges must take greater responsibility for their international students as they may face a ban on bringing over international students if they fail to follow new rules.

Universities and colleges face losing their licence if they fail to:

• keep copies of all their foreign students' passports;
• keep and update their students' contact details;
• alert the UKBA to any students who fail to enrol on their course;
• report unauthorised absences to the UKBA; and
• inform the UKBA if any student stops their studies.

For the first time education providers face a ban on bringing over international students if they fail to follow strict new rules - including alerting the UK Border Agency (UKBA) if students fail to enrol.

A student who does not have a confirmation of acceptance for studies issued to them by their sponsoring institution, will not have their visa application considered. It also acts as a pledge from the college or university that they accept responsibility for the student while they are living in the UK. Before they can study here, foreign students must:

• be sponsored by a UKBA-licensed education institution;
• prove that they have the means to support themselves and their families while studying here; and
• supply their fingerprints.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said "All those who come to Britain must play by the rules. It is right that foreign students wanting to take advantage of our world-class universities and colleges must meet strict criteria. “

Visas will only be granted to students who show a proven track record in education and are applying for a course that meets a minimum level of qualification. They must also be able to demonstrate they can financially support themselves and any of their dependants.

Students on courses for longer than 12 months will have to show they have sufficient funds to pay their first year of fees, plus £9,600 to cover their first year in the UK. Students wishing to bring their dependants with them will need to show they have a further £535 per month for each person they bring.

Each year, international students contribute £2.5 billion to the UK economy in tuition fees alone and an overall estimated contribution of £8.5 billion. In recognition of the many economic and cultural benefits that these students bring to the UK, earlier this year the Government announced a special visa category allowing successful international students who have graduated from a British university to work in the UK for up to two years under the Tier 1 (Post Study Work) visa.

If you are interested in UK Visas, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to the UK.