U.K. to further tighten student visa rule

Updated on: Tuesday, August 03, 2010

The British government is set to further tighten student visa rules for non-European Union countries following allegations that many, especially from the Indian subcontinent, are exploiting loopholes in the system to enter Britain.

It is alleged that people often use the student visa route to come here to take up employment and, instead of returning home after the expiry of their visas, they simply melt into the crowd. There are reports that "significant abuse" of the rules resulting in a surge in student visas being issued over the past year.

It is estimated that the number of students from non-EU countries rose by nearly 75,000 in the past 12 months despite the introduction of a points-based system which was supposed to make it harder to get student visas.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said there would be a "thorough evaluation" of the rules to ensure that only "genuine"' students were allowed to come.

"We are committed to attract the brightest and the best to the U.K. and welcome legitimate students coming here for study. However, in the past there has been significant abuse of the student route, and we need to ensure that every student who comes to the U.K. is genuine. Therefore, I am undertaking a thorough evaluation of the student system over the coming weeks and months and I will introduce measures to minimise abuse and tighten the system further," he told.

As per the current rules, a person applying for a student visa is required to gain 40 points - 30 for an offer of a seat in a college and 10 for showing that they have enough money to pay their fee and support themselves while in Britain.

The move to tighten the system comes amid a growing row over plans to introduce an annual cap on immigration from non-EU countries next year. Universities are opposed to any further restrictions arguing that fee-paying foreign students are a major source of their income in the current difficult economic climate and a bid to limit their numbers would be fatal for their financial health.

U.K. to further tighten student visa rule

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