UK eyes ‘tougher entry criteria’ for foreign students

The British government is reviewing its policies in the granting of student visas to prevent entry of foreign nationals, including Filipinos, who end up living and working in the UK instead. The UK immigration office has launched a consultation program to introduce reforms to Tier 4 of the Points Based System, or the UK student visa. Tier 4, for overseas students who wish to study in UK, requires applicants to secure a certificate of sponsorship from an educational institution. The new student visa system aims to impose “tougher entry criteria" for adult students and ensure that they return to their home countries after completing the course. The criteria also limit the students’ entitlement to work to subsidize their expenses, and to sponsor dependents. The other proposed key areas of reform are raising the level of courses students can study, with only Highly Trusted Sponsors able to offer courses to adult students below degree level; simpler procedures for checking low-risk applications; and stricter accreditation procedures for education providers in the private sector. UK Border Agency Regional Manager for East Asia Ed Mackie said the British remains committed to encouraging genuine students to come to the UK and pursue studies in its academic institutions. “However, we also want students who come to the UK genuinely to study and then return to their home country with enhanced career prospects. We welcome views on our consultation to ensure our final policy achieves this balance," Mackie said. British immigration minister Damian Green also said that while attracting talented overseas students is vital for the UK, the country needs to be selective in deciding who can avail of the student visa and how long they can stay. “People imagine students to be those who come here for a few years to study at a university and then go home — that is not always the case. Too many students coming to study at below degree level have been coming here to live and work, rather than studying," Green said in a statement issued by the British embassy in Manila. “Today’s proposals follow a major review of the system, and are aimed at a more selective system and, crucially, reducing the numbers to meet our target of reducing net migration to sustainable levels. This Government wants high caliber students with the genuine desire to study to come to our country for temporary periods, and then return home," he added. The British Embassy noted that the student route accounts for two-thirds of migrants entering the UK each year. The consultation on the new rules of issuance of student visa runs until January 31, 2011 and can be found here. Filipino recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani earlier explained that under the Tier 4 student visa category, students are also made to undergo an on-the-job training for 17 hours as part of their curriculum. They are also allowed to work for 20 hours per week to subsidize their living expenses. “More than 25,000 Filipino student nurses now in UK have benefited from a study and work program under the UK Borders and Immigration rules, and many of these nurses have found opportunities which have allowed them to become permanent residents," Geslani said. - JA/KBK, GMANews.TV