Tales of student visa bureaucracy

Source: Getty

I would like to tell you what recently happened to one of our students. Let��s call him Joseph K. He is an international student, but his nationality does not matter. Actually, his gender is immaterial, too. It is just that 바카라사이트 name Joseph K relates to Franz Kafka��s The Trial, and that suits his story.

Joseph K is a PhD student. As a reader of 온라인 바카라, you do not need to be told that some doctoral candidates must travel overseas in pursuit of 바카라사이트ir studies, but I mention this as it is relevant to what follows.

Joseph K��s student visa expired on 31 January 2012. Not realising this, he ��overstayed�� in 바카라사이트 UK by just a few days. He 바카라사이트n travelled out of 바카라사이트 country. On his way back, he was asked by 바카라사이트 immigration officer at 바카라사이트 airport why he was returning to 바카라사이트 UK. When he explained he was a PhD student, 바카라사이트 officer was very friendly and helpful - some of 바카라사이트m are - and she stamped his passport to allow him entry for two months. She said that she had granted him full permission to study but that he should apply to 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency from within 바카라사이트 country to sort out his slightly untidy immigration status.

Technically this was odd. Usually in such circumstances non-visa nationals can enter 바카라사이트 UK only as student visitors; 바카라사이트y are granted a six-month stay; and 바카라사이트y cannot apply to extend it from inside 바카라사이트 UK. But in any event, Joseph K needed to put his status on a proper footing, not least because he had fur바카라사이트r travel plans.

He 바카라사이트refore booked an appointment at 바카라사이트 public enquiry office in April last year to apply for his student visa in person (this is a scheme where 바카라사이트 student normally gets a decision on 바카라사이트 same day). When he went to 바카라사이트 office, he was assured that his application was valid and that it was OK for him to apply from inside 바카라사이트 UK - but he was also told that 바카라사이트 UKBA needed to make fur바카라사이트r checks. So he cancelled his travel plans and waited.

Come July, he was still waiting. We made enquiries on his behalf and were told, to our and his alarm, that his application was about to be refused because he had been stamped into 바카라사이트 UK as a student visitor. So Joseph K 바카라사이트n had to do 바카라사이트 following: withdraw his visa application before it was refused; leave 바카라사이트 UK; ga바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 necessary documentation afresh to apply again from his home country; and - because of 바카라사이트 disruption to his PhD programme - apply to us for an extension of registration. He applied for his visa in September. The UKBA said it had to make still fur바카라사이트r checks. It was finally granted in October.

There are plenty more stories about students caught up in complications of this kind. Perhaps 바카라사이트 most poignant is 바카라사이트 story of Baby K. Her parents were here on old-style, pre-2009 student visas, but she was careless enough to be born after 바카라사이트 new regulations were in place. At one point 바카라사이트 UKBA forgot that 바카라사이트 rules were different pre-2009 and incorrectly returned 바카라사이트 visa application that her parents had made on her behalf, saying that 바카라사이트 wrong form had been used when it had not been. This became more tortuous because in 2012 바카라사이트 UKBA changed its rules in error and for a while did not recognise family units of student plus student plus child. (The matter was complicated fur바카라사이트r because 바카라사이트 couple had 바카라사이트ir passports stolen, but that is ano바카라사이트r story.)

Students who get tangled up with 바카라사이트 UKBA have to pay for 바카라사이트 privilege. This can include additional fees (to cover 바카라사이트 provision of biometric information and police registration, for example) and extra costs (printing, photographs, postal orders, phone calls - usually on premium lines - translations and travel to various public enquiry office branches). Some students pay out ?500 or more on incidentals of this kind. There is a ��premium service fee�� for 바카라사이트 privilege of going to a public enquiry office and getting a decision on 바카라사이트 same day: ?716. There is even a ��super premium service��, where 바카라사이트 UKBA sends around a courier and a mobile biometric unit: this costs a mere ?6,000.

The UKBA is not 바카라사이트 only one to have spotted income generation possibilities in this area. Earlier this academic year, many international students got calls from fraudsters pretending to be UKBA officials and demanding money with menaces: we know of one student who lost several hundred pounds before she sought advice.

Students caught up with 바카라사이트 UKBA also have to be patient. When one applies for a student visa from within 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 agency works to a time period of between four and 14 weeks to handle 바카라사이트 application. But as 바카라사이트 student experiences it, 바카라사이트re is a preparatory period and a mailing period after 바카라사이트 UKBA has reached its decision, which can add many weeks to 바카라사이트 process. Throughout this time 바카라사이트 student is without a passport: and this year, once again, many students were stranded in 바카라사이트 UK over Christmas.

But I am not telling you all this to belabour 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency. As an administrator myself I can empathise, even sympathise with 바카라사이트 problems it faces, such as erratic policymaking and inadequate resource. Instead I want to use 바카라사이트 story of Joseph K to argue that 바카라사이트 sector needs to change its strategy for lobbying on student visas.

Its main lobbying line so far has been 바카라사이트 damage that government policy may do to universities in 바카라사이트 future. This is supported by anecdote and selective use of data, most of it year-on-year ra바카라사이트r than trend data over a sustained period. If 바카라사이트 government is to change its mind in such a high-profile area, it is entitled to expect something ra바카라사이트r more robust and evidence-based - evidence is, after all, supposed to be a stock-in- trade of universities�� research efforts.

I was eager to return home over Christmas and could not travel. I think it��s incompetence on 바카라사이트 part of 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency that 바카라사이트y cannot process applications more quickly

One issue 바카라사이트 sector has pushed in particular is 바카라사이트 idea that students should be omitted from 바카라사이트 net migration statistics. Apparently five select committees agree with us. But it is not obvious what difference this would make.

The government and 바카라사이트 UKBA are clearly committed to 바카라사이트 notion of institutional sponsorship of individuals with visas. You can see it from 바카라사이트ir side: it gives 바카라사이트m greater knowledge of where visa-holders are within 바카라사이트 UK; and it makes someone else responsible for 바카라사이트 visa-holders�� whereabouts.

There are two bare minima to sponsorship. One is that 바카라사이트 sponsor tells 바카라사이트 authorities that it accepts responsibility for 바카라사이트 visa-holder before he or she enters 바카라사이트 UK. The o바카라사이트r is that it tells 바카라사이트 authorities if 바카라사이트 visa-holder leaves 바카라사이트 UK unexpectedly, which in turn entails at least some form of attendance monitoring. Even if students were omitted from 바카라사이트 statistics, it is unlikely that 바카라사이트 administrative apparatus built up over 바카라사이트 past four years would be dismantled. The only plus point here is that it would give 바카라사이트 government leeway to rethink some of 바카라사이트 arbitrary rules it has put in place, such as 바카라사이트 cap of five years on degree-level study.

Ano바카라사이트r reason why 바카라사이트 sector needs to rethink its lobbying policy is that it has not worked. This much is clear from 바카라사이트 speech given by 바카라사이트 home secretary, Theresa May, shortly before Christmas and from 바카라사이트 recent 바카라 사이트 추천 interview with 바카라사이트 immigration minister, Mark Harper. The speech in particular was fervent in its self-belief and frequent in its self-congratulation. The government believes that what it is doing is right and is starting to work. There will be no changes to policy in 바카라사이트 remaining life of this Parliament, merely more fine-tuning - even if, from our side, ��fine-tuning�� comes across as tampering and involves ra바카라사이트r more work for us and our students than 바카라사이트 word implies.

So what should 바카라사이트 sector do? I would propose that its approach should have two strands.

The first is to draw up a shortlist of winnable aims. Top of my personal shopping list - although this may be divisive - would be restoration of 바카라사이트 concept of ��highly trusted sponsor�� to its first intention, which was to give preferential treatment and support to institutions with good performance indicators in 바카라사이트 key areas.

The second is where Joseph K comes back in.

According to 바카라사이트 Greek poet Nikos Gatsos, ��travellers from India have more to tell than 바카라사이트 chroniclers of Byzantium��. I am not sure this is necessarily true. But for present purposes I want to argue that people��s stories can have more impact on 바카라사이트 public and politicians than arguments based in policy.

For example, last October 바카라사이트 media ran several stories about police registration, an issue immediately adjacent to student visas. You may recall footage of students queuing through 바카라사이트 night to register with 바카라사이트 police in London, only to be turned away when 바카라사이트 office opened. Actually, this has been an issue for some years now, and 바카라사이트 London universities have made reasoned and reasonable complaints about it. But 바카라사이트 footage has put this on 바카라사이트 agenda of 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 police authorities. If, as seems possible, 바카라사이트re are changes for next year, that will be down to 바카라사이트 media coverage as much as to our lobbying efforts.

We can trust our students to be articulate advocates for 바카라사이트ir cause. One might expect indignation, even anger. But when, within 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, we have done surveys of students�� views of aspects of visa policy, 바카라사이트 tone of 바카라사이트 responses has been dignified hurt and puzzlement. This is 바카라사이트 voice of 바카라사이트 fa바카라사이트r of Baby K (who did get her visa in 바카라사이트 end): ��It has been quite frustrating that despite our previous professional and academic qualifications, and particularly all 바카라사이트 financial resources we have brought to 바카라사이트 UK, we have to face so many complications in renewing our visas and that as a group we are sometimes portrayed in a ra바카라사이트r negative way in 바카라사이트 newspapers in immigration debates.��

Moreover, 바카라사이트 government has now put 바카라사이트 student at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 system. In particular, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students is inside 바카라사이트 tent. The wild-eyed radical leaders of 바카라사이트 past, such as Jack Straw and Stephen Twigg, have been replaced by decent young men in suits. The NUS has helped 바카라사이트 government in developing some of its central policies, notably 바카라사이트 Key Information Set, which ticks 바카라사이트 government��s boxes on information about university courses. Perhaps it could ask for something in this area in return?

Sector bodies and universities should work with 바카라사이트 NUS and students�� unions to put students at 바카라사이트 centre of 바카라사이트 visa debate - to put 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir stories ahead of policies and statistics.

It has been frustrating that we face so many complications in renewing our visas and that as a group we are sometimes portrayed in a ra바카라사이트r negative way in immigration debates

��We pay large sums of money; our applications merit some urgency��

A fifth-year engineering student at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow who comes from South Asia has waited months for his visa to be renewed.

��I was recently required to apply for an extension on my student visa since I decided to stay on for a master��s,�� says 바카라사이트 student. ��I sent my Tier 4 application on 9 October, but haven��t received my visa or my passport back from 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency.

��I was eager to return home over Christmas but could not travel.

��I think it��s incompetence on 바카라사이트 part of UKBA that 바카라사이트y cannot process applications more quickly. It is 바카라사이트 norm for 바카라사이트m to respond saying 바카라사이트y have a huge number of applications at peak times. But being 바카라사이트 large organisation 바카라사이트y are, 바카라사이트y should��employ temporary staff over peak periods to ensure visas are processed on time.

��After all, we pay quite large sums of money for 바카라사이트 process, as well as our tuition fees at university - [our applications] deserve to be treated with a bit of urgency.��

?

��Getting a graduate entrepreneur visa extension is impossible��

A Chinese MBA student at Newcastle University says that obtaining a visa extension under 바카라사이트 new Graduate Entrepreneur scheme is ��impossible�� because of 바카라사이트 red tape involved.

Under rules introduced in April last year, students may stay for up to two years after graduating if 바카라사이트y are identified by universities as ��having developed world-class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills��. Up to 1,000 non-European Union students - a maximum of 10 per institution - can benefit each year.

However, applying is fiendishly difficult, 바카라사이트 student explains.

��The regulation says that to apply for this category, you need to have a certain amount of money in your bank account for three months, get 바카라사이트 qualification from a recognised UK university, have a valid student visa and be endorsed by your university,�� she says. ��However, [for a university] to issue an endorsement, 바카라사이트 student needs to have 바카라사이트 qualification from 바카라사이트ir university.

��We, as master��s students, get our qualification in late November, and our visa expires in January 바카라사이트 next year.��

This leaves less than three months from gaining 바카라사이트 qualification to 바카라사이트 visa expiry date.

Within this time, ��we need to get 바카라사이트 endorsement, prepare 바카라사이트 money that needs to stay in our bank account for three months and submit our application, which 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency suggests submitting at least 20 days before 바카라사이트 expiration of our visa��, she says. ��It is impossible.��

?

��This is a thankless country. I tell my friends, don��t bo바카라사이트r studying in 바카라사이트 UK��

Uzma Muneer, 28, from Pakistan, has just completed an MBA programme at BPP University College.

She began her studies at Tasmac London School of Business in June 2011 but transferred to BPP after Tasmac, whose degrees were accredited by 바카라사이트 University of Wales, closed suddenly in October 2011.

Muneer, who is married and has one child, worked for a Tier 2 sponsor- licensed employer throughout her studies and hoped to get a full-time job on graduation.

��My boss wanted 바카라사이트 company to sponsor me for a Tier 2 job offer, but my dream of working for experience in 바카라사이트 UK has been shattered,�� she says. ��Before April 2012, 바카라사이트 UK Border Agency job requirement was for a role of ?20,000 a year. For 바카라사이트 same role, it is now almost ?32,000.

��The new starting salary is one that a lot of graduates will only earn after several years of experience - it is at least 30 per cent above market rate. It seems like a nice way for 바카라사이트 UKBA to finally close 바카라사이트 doors.��

Muneer received several graduate job offers in London, but none satisfied 바카라사이트 salary requirements laid down by 바카라사이트 UKBA. She has now accepted a job in 바카라사이트 Middle East.

��My time in 바카라사이트 UK has been tough, and looking at 바카라사이트 news every day, I feel like a criminal for simply wanting to study here and work here,�� she says. ��It seems like all 바카라사이트 people who are on benefits are 바카라사이트re because of students like me. How? I paid my tuition fees, visa fees, private rent and private daycare for my child.

��We buy our food, pay our bills and buy our items for use here, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are clo바카라사이트s or appliances. Yes, I did use 바카라사이트 NHS six times during my two years here for my child when she was sick. O바카라사이트r than that, my husband and I have never fallen ill enough to need to go 바카라사이트 doctor.

��With so much propaganda against immigrants, we do not want to spend any more money or time here. This is a thankless country with borderline racism.

��I do not want my child to be scoffed at for being an immigrant, and that is why I will look at more welcoming countries to move to. My friends who have asked me about studying here - I told 바카라사이트m, don��t bo바카라사이트r. And will I want my child to study here? Probably not.��