Details of changes to student visas (31 March, 2011)

A statement of changes to the Immigration Rules has today been laid before Parliament, setting out how the student visa system will be reformed from next month. The reforms, which affect Tier 4 of the points-based system, were announced last week.

To accompany the statement of changes in the Immigration Rules bringing the first set of changes into force from 21 April 2011, we have published:

• a statement of intent containing full details of the reforms;
• revised policy guidance for Tier 4 migrants from 21 April 2011; and
• revised guidance for Tier 4 sponsors from 21 April 2011.

The laying of the statement of changes was anounced in a written ministerial statement by Immigration Minister Damian Green.

You can download the statement of changes, the written ministerial statement, the statement of intent and the revised guidance from the right side of this page.

# Student visas: statement of intent and transitional measuresPDF 154KB opens in a new window

http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance-new.pdf

http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/Tier4migrantguidance-new.pdf

IOE's prestigious Centenary Scholarships

Attention Students

The Institute of Education (IOE), part of the University of London, is the UK’s number one university for education and related social sciences. The IOE’s prestigious Centenary Scholarships, worth £22,000 per year of study and covering tuition fees and living expenses, are now open for applications. These scholarships offer an opportunity for highly talented students of education to study a Masters or a Doctoral degree in one of the world’s most prestigious graduate schools of education, based in the heart of central London. And with an unrivalled choice of postgraduate opportunities, these will be highly prized awards.

The closing date for applications is 16 May 2011.

·         For Centenary Scholarships for Masters degrees: http://www.ioe.ac.uk/studentInformation/41455.html

·         For Centenary Scholarships for Doctoral degrees: http://www.ioe.ac.uk/studentInformation/41456.html

Further information about the IOE is available at www.ioe.ac.uk/canada


Regards
Fawad Ullah
Chief Executive Officer
Brightspark Education Consultants (BEC)
Tel: +92 91 570 2952
Fax: +92 91 570 2953
Email 1: info@brightspark.com.pk | fawad@brightspark.com.pk
Email 2: info@brightsparkconsultants.co.uk |

UK Government outlines overhaul of student visas (22 March 2011)

Tougher entrance criteria, limits on work entitlements and the closure of the post-study work route are among the changes to the student visa system announced today by Home Secretary Theresa May.

The announcement follows a major public consultation on reforming Tier 4 of the points-based system, after a Home Office review revealed widespread abuse. A sample of Tier 4 students studying at private institutions revealed that 26 per cent of them could not be accounted for.

The main changes are as follows:

• From April 2012, any institution wanting to sponsor students will need to be classed as a Highly Trusted sponsor, and will need to become accredited by a statutory education inspection body by the end of 2012. The current system does not require this, and has allowed too many poor-quality colleges to become sponsors.
• Students coming to study at degree level will need to speak English at an 'upper intermediate' (B2) level, rather than the current 'lower intermediate' (B1) requirement.
• UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, and who therefore clearly do not meet the minimum standard.
• Students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain their current work rights, but all other students will have no right to work. We will place restrictions on work placements in courses outside universities.
• Only postgraduate students at universities and government-sponsored students will be able to bring their dependants. At the moment, all students on longer courses can bring their dependants.
• We will limit the overall time that can be spent on a student visa to 3 years at lower levels (as it is now) and 5 years at higher levels. At present, there is no time limit for study at or above degree level.
• We will close the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route, which allows students 2 years to seek employment after their course ends. Only graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be able to stay to work.

The government has also pledged to develop a new entrepreneur route for bright and innovative students who have a business idea and want to make it work in the UK.

The Home Secretary said:

'International students not only make a vital contribution to the UK economy but they also help make our education system one of the best in the world.
'But it has become very apparent that the old student visa regime failed to control immigration and failed to protect legitimate students from poor-quality colleges.
'The changes I am announcing today re-focus the student route as a temporary one, available to only the brightest and best. The new system is designed to ensure students come for a limited period, to study, not work, and make a positive contribution while they are here.
'My aim is not to stop genuine students coming here - it is to eliminate abuse within the system. Our stricter accreditation process will see only first-class education providers given licences to sponsor students.
'I am delighted to announce that, alongside our stricter rules, we will ensure that innovative student entrepreneurs who are creating wealth are able to stay in the UK to pursue their ideas.'

The government has committed to reforming all routes of entry to the UK in order to bring immigration levels under control. The student changes will work alongside the annual limit on economic migration, and reforms to family and settlement routes planned for later this year.

You can find a summary of the new student policy under 'Related documents' on the right side of this page.

A statement of changes to the Immigration Rules will be published on this website on 31 March. We will publish an impact assessment on the same day.

http://ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/news/summary-student-policy.pdf 

Getting tough on NHS debtors

18 March 2011

Tough action to tackle health tourism was promised today, following the publication of 2 consultation reports on charging overseas visitors for NHS hospital care.

The UK Border Agency and the Department of Health carried out consultations last year following a 2009 review which set out to examine the rules on charging overseas visitors for access to NHS services in England. After considering the responses to the consultations, the government has now announced how these rules will change.

NHS measures for England include:

• extending the time that UK residents can spend abroad without losing their automatic entitlement to free hospital treatment, from 3 months to 6 months;
• allowing the small number of failed asylum seekers co-operating on registered Home Office support schemes (but not other failed asylum seekers who refuse to return home) to be exempt from charges; and
• guaranteeing free hospital treatment for unaccompanied children while they are under local authority care.

As part of the Home Office measures for the UK, anyone owing the NHS £1,000 or more will not be allowed to enter or remain in the UK until the debt is paid off. It is hoped that the £1,000 threshold, which will be implemented later this year, will capture 94 per cent of outstanding charges owed to the NHS.

To enforce this action, the NHS will provide information enabling the UK Border Agency to identify the debtors when they apply to return to or remain in the UK.

Anne Milton, Public Health Minister, said:

'The NHS has a duty to anyone whose life or long-term health is at immediate risk, but we cannot afford to become an international health service, providing free treatment for all.

'These changes will begin the process of developing a clearer and fairer system of access to free NHS services, which our review of the charging system will complete. I want to see a system which maintains the confidence of the public while preventing inappropriate free access and continuing our commitment to human rights and protecting vulnerable groups.'

Damian Green, Immigration Minister, said:

'The NHS is a national health service, not an international one. If someone does not pay for their treatment, we will not let them back into the country.
'We need robust controls to protect our public services.'

A full copy of the UK Border Agency consultation report can be found on this website. To find out more about the Department of Health consultation, see the Department of Health website.

Proposed fee increases to immigration and nationality applications from 6 April 2011

28 February 2011

Today, immigration Minister Damian Green has issued a Written Ministerial Statement (PDF 91KB opens in a new window) that proposes to increase immigration and nationality application fees for all those applying to study, visit, work or stay in the UK.

The new proposed fees (PDF 229KB opens in a new window) will be laid in Parliament in two separate regulations. These fees will not come into force untill they have been debated and approved in Parliament, but are due to take effect from 6 April 2011.

Under the current spending review, the Home Office is implementing a real terms reduction in budgets of up to a 20 per cent. The UK Border Agency is already seeking to offset this income gap with efficiency savings of approximately £500 million by reducing support costs, increasing efficiencies, boosting productivity and improving value for money from commercial suppliers. But these measures will not go far enough, and to address the funding shortfall the UK Border Agency will need to increase fees for financial year 2011/12.

The UK Border Agency believe the proposals to increase fees continue to strike the right balance between maintaining secure and effective border controls and ensuring that the fees structure does not inhibit the UK's ability to attract those migrants and visitors that make a valued contribution. This will help to support the immigration system, maintain public confidence and ensure that migration is managed for the benefit of the UK.