UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

UK Tier 4 Student Visa affecting private school enrolments

Wednesday, 3 June 2009

Stricter visa rules designed to stamp out sham colleges and qualifications are causing problems for legitimate private schools seeking foreign students according to the Independent Schools Council ('ISC').

Introduced to halt the misuse of the student visa system as a means to gain fraudulent entry to the UK, overseas students wishing to study in the UK now face stricter eligibility criteria and greater security checks, including biometric identify cards. The list of institutions approved by the UK Border Agency ('UKBA') to recruit foreign students has also shrunk dramatically.

Despite concerns from many sectors of the education industry with regards to impacts upon legitimate students and institutions, the government has maintained that the immigration rules have to be consistently applied to all education institutions.

"The system is designed to prevent dodgy students and institutions from operating and so protect Britain. The rules are firm but fair – and they apply to everyone" said a UKBA spokesperson.

Chief Executive of the ISC, Mr David Lyscom, however believes that whilst the UK's independent schools are generally well placed to withstand the current financial downturn, the impact of excessive regulation is of greater concern.

"The greatest threat is probably not economic but legislative. Regulation, inspection and monitoring are essential to protect children and guarantee standards. But the burden needs to be simplified and where risks are low, reduced. A classic example is the new visa regime. Its main aims are to keep potential terrorists and illegal workers out of the UK. Its main effect for us it to make it very difficult for Chinese children to come to our schools. This cannot be right. The key message for our politicians is that regulation must be focused and proportionate."

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.