LONDON, June 13 (APP): A story in ‘The Guardian’ on Monday said almost a quarter of a million fewer overseas student visas are to be issued by the British Government over the next five years as a result of changes to the student visa system.Quoting Home Office figures, the paper said curb on numbers of overseas students will help government reach goal of reducing net migration to below 100,000 a year.The latest Home Office estimate is that the curb on overseas student numbers will reduce total net migration to Britain by 230,000 between now and 2015 and make a significant contribution to the government’s goal of reducing net migration to “tens of thousands” each year.
“We expect our new student visas policies to lead to a net reduction of around 230,000 student migrants over the full term of this parliament, from 2011 to 2015,” says Monday’s Home Office statement. “That is a 230,000 reduction in net migration.”
The changes to the student visa system which came into force in April this year include tighter rules on the accreditation of private colleges that can sponsor overseas students, tougher English language requirements, tighter rules on students working part-time, restrictions on which students can bring dependants with them, maximum time limits of between three and five years on the length of courses, and severe restrictions on who can stay on to work after completing their studies.
A Home Office spokesman added that seven colleges or “educational providers” had been suspended from being able to sponsor overseas students since the changes came into effect on 21 April. They include the Manchester-based Academy of Global Education, which had capacity for 270 students and was found to be employing an illegal over-stayer.
The changes to the student visa system which came into force in April this year include tighter rules on the accreditation of private colleges that can sponsor overseas students, tougher English language requirements, tighter rules on students working part-time, restrictions on which students can bring dependants with them, maximum time limits of between three and five years on the length of courses, and severe restrictions on who can stay on to work after completing their studies.
A Home Office spokesman added that seven colleges or “educational providers” had been suspended from being able to sponsor overseas students since the changes came into effect on 21 April. They include the Manchester-based Academy of Global Education, which had capacity for 270 students and was found to be employing an illegal over-stayer.