UK says changes to student visa system have cut abuse, raise standards

Tough new rules and enforcement action to stop abuse of the UK student visa system mean that over 450 education providers will no longer be able to sponsor new international students.

In total these colleges could have brought more than 11,000 students into the UK to study each year.

New UK Border Agency regulations have significantly raised the standards that education providers must meet before they can recruit international students.  So far, over 400 colleges have lost their right to recruit international students after they failed to sign up for the new inspection system.  As well as cutting abuse, the new standards will help ensure that genuine international students receive the highest quality education.

In addition, a targeted UK Border Agency investigation into more than 100 colleges has led to 51 institutions having their licences to recruit international students revoked. The investigation followed a spike in applications in South Asia just before the English language requirement rules were tightened in April. More than 4,500 applications to study have been refused or withdrawn as a result. 

One college advertised classes even though the website said it was shut for maintenance, while another could not even produce a list of students enrolled or a timetable of classes. On inspection, others could not produce any records of student attendance, or evidence of checking student qualifications.

 Immigration Minister, Damian Green said: Widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long and the changes we have made are beginning to bite. Too many institutions were offering international students an immigration service rather than an education and too many students have come to the UK with the aim of getting work and bringing over family members. Only first-class education providers should be given licences to sponsor international students.”

 “We have curbed the opportunities to work during study and bring in family members. We have also introduced new language requirements to ensure we only attract genuine students whose primary motivation is to study,” he added.

As well as thorough new inspections, colleges that want to bring in international students must also meet new higher sponsorship standards to ensure they are fulfilling their immigration responsibilities.  Those institutions that do not meet these standards will be removed from the sponsors’ register.

The UK Border Agency has also created a list of more than 2,000 banks and financial institutions from which it will no longer accept evidence to show that a student has sufficient funds to support themselves and pay for their course. If a bank is on the list, a student providing supporting documentation from that institution will not be granted a visa.

Further measures will be introduced in April 2012. The post study work route will close and students wishing to stay and work in a graduate level occupation will be able to apply under Tier 2 of the points based system. Students will be able to study for a maximum of 5 years above degree level (with some exceptions) and there will be restrictions on work placements for non-university courses. 

The UK Border Agency continues to work closely with UK education sponsors, and take action against those sponsors that do not comply with the required standards of education provision and immigration control.

Ahead of the introduction of the tougher new language requirements in April, the UK Border Agency saw a sharp rise in applications in South Asia. Immediate action was taken to investigate over 119 colleges of concern, and carry out further checks on the applications linked to them.  Out of 119 colleges: 51 had their licences revoked; 3 had their licences suspended; 9  had their sponsor rating re-rated; 45  were found to be compliant and 11 are subject to further considerations.

The sponsors’ register is published on the UK Border Agency’s website and includes the sponsor-rating. It is available at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pointsbasedsystem/registerofsponsorseducation

The first list of financial institutions from which the UK Border Agency will not accept documentation in support of student visa applications was published on 24 October. It will come into force for applications submitted after 24 November. Further information and the lists of institutions are available at: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/2011/october/57-financial-institutions. A list for Sri Lanka has not yet been published.