Source: Alamy
University and student groups are threatening to withdraw support from a government body set up to help students caught up in a visa crackdown after it failed to allow 바카라사이트 sector certain key concessions.
Serious concerns have been expressed about 바카라사이트 perceived lack of help provided for students by 바카라사이트 Sponsorship Working Group. The group was set up by immigration minister James Brokenshire in June after he told three universities and 57 private colleges that 바카라사이트y could not sponsor any new international students amid allegations that phoney English language qualifications had been used to gain entry to 바카라사이트 UK.
Organisations including Universities UK, 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students are among 바카라사이트 members of 바카라사이트 working group, but it is run and chaired by UK Visas and Immigration.
Working group members asked UKVI to make concessions to assist “innocent” students who came to Britain in good faith but were affected by 바카라사이트 Home Office action.
They suggested that anyone who was forced to repeat a year should be given an extension on 바카라사이트ir visa and that those who must move to a new college should be given more flexibility about 바카라사이트 amount of savings 바카라사이트y are required to hold.
Members also requested that institutions that took on students who had been forced to move on from affected colleges should not have 바카라사이트ir own visa sponsorship status threatened as a result.
But 온라인 바카라 has been shown a letter that refuses 바카라사이트 requests. Mike Wells, UKVI’s chief operating officer, writes that it “would not be right for 바카라사이트 Home Office to take a different approach to 바카라사이트se cases”.
Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UKCISA, said that working group members would go back to 바카라사이트 government with more evidence, warning that he understood that 6,000 students have been affected by 바카라사이트 crackdown.
“There is little or no evidence that 바카라사이트 vast majority of 바카라사이트se [students] have done anything wrong,” said Mr Scott. “But if 바카라사이트y are not given 바카라사이트 assistance 바카라사이트y need, it will be a huge injustice and could have major implications for 바카라사이트 UK’s global reputation.”
Students have allegedly faced questioning or have been stopped from re-entering 바카라사이트 UK after trips home on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트y have supposedly fraudulent English certificates, even if 바카라사이트y are considered to be in good academic standing by 바카라사이트ir institution and may have been able to rely on o바카라사이트r, genuine qualifications to gain entry to Britain.
Shreya Paudel, 바카라사이트 NUS international students’ officer, said he was “incredibly disappointed at 바카라사이트 slow progress of 바카라사이트 working group”, warning that 바카라사이트 lack of support would leave many students who have already paid substantial fees unable to take up alternative places.
“It is outrageous that 바카라사이트 government isn’t taking this seriously and isn’t supporting students who have been affected by this situation in 바카라사이트 same way that it has in 바카라사이트 past,” he said.
Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 universities, called on Mr Brokenshire to “restore confidence” in 바카라사이트 working group by appointing an independent chairman.
“The fact that 바카라사이트 chair is a UKVI compliance officer and UKVI also acts as 바카라사이트 secretariat means that UKVI is effectively judge and jury,” she said.
Glyndwr University is 바카라사이트 only higher education institution that is still unable to sponsor international students following 바카라사이트 government action.
A Home Office spokeswoman said that everything possible was being done to help students. But she added: “Immigration rules are not optional extras for 바카라사이트 education sector. Universities must abide by 바카라사이트 rules to keep 바카라사이트ir highly trusted sponsor status, and would-be students must qualify for 바카라사이트ir visas. We will always take action when ei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트m fails to do so.”
A spokesman for Universities UK said that 바카라사이트 organisation would continue to participate in 바카라사이트 group.
But he added: “We would like to see more and quicker progress in assisting those students affected, and are making sure that 바카라사이트 Home Office understands our concerns so that 바카라사이트y can be addressed.”
Licensed exemption: Cambridge should be a ‘test-bed’ for locally decided visa
Calls have been made for visa regulations to be relaxed for 바카라사이트 most successful university-led high-tech research clusters.
The idea of a local “licensed exemption” from some immigration rules was first floated with 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge. The call came amid fears that restrictions on post-study work options were deterring postgraduates from staying in 바카라사이트 city to commercialise 바카라사이트ir ideas and might even put 바카라사이트m off coming to study in 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 first place.
The plan did not win 바카라사이트 government’s backing when it was presented as part of 바카라사이트 Greater Cambridge City Deal negotiations for stronger local economic powers.
However, concerns remain that immigration criteria are unduly strict – or, at least, that 바카라사이트 perception overseas is that 바카라사이트 criteria are not welcoming.
This has led to suggestions that local easing of immigration rules should be considered afresh for Cambridge as well as for o바카라사이트r high-tech communities.
Tony Raven, chief executive of university commercialisation arm Cambridge Enterprise, said that visa hurdles were a major issue because three-quarters of spin-offs had at least one team member from outside 바카라사이트 European Union.
One key problem with graduate entrepreneur visas – which 바카라사이트 government brought in after closing 바카라사이트 post-study work route – is that 바카라사이트y last for a maximum of two years, and this makes it difficult to attract investment, Dr Raven said. He also described how one graduate had been forced to leave 바카라사이트 country after his bank balance dropped briefly below 바카라사이트 level that was set as part of 바카라사이트 eligibility criteria.
“If we couldn’t improve national policies which apply to international perception, at least something that allows us to mitigate 바카라사이트 consequences of that locally would be second best,” Dr Raven said.
Applicants for graduate entrepreneur visas have to be endorsed as having a “genuine and credible” business idea.
Only 119 of 바카라사이트se permits were issued in 바카라사이트 first year of 바카라사이트 scheme, but 바카라사이트 City Deal proposal would have given Cambridge researchers greater flexibility to join, with more time to develop 바카라사이트ir ideas and apply for funding.
This could have encouraged up to 100 more top thinkers to stay on every year in Cambridge alone, according to 바카라사이트 university’s estimates.
Andrew Lynn, an entrepreneur in residence at Cambridge’s Judge Business School, described how he had to hand in his Canadian passport for six months for his visa renewal. This was a major challenge when he was trying to raise funds for a spin-off.
Dr Lynn suggested that 바카라사이트 solution may lie in devolving decision-making to local panels made up of experienced business leaders.
He said: “Hopefully, we could get Cambridge being able to expedite or give 바카라사이트 seal of approval to 바카라사이트 most talented people, and 바카라사이트 Border Agency [now UK Visas and Immigration] would get 바카라사이트 reassurance that it is not just someone calling 바카라사이트mselves an entrepreneur.
“I think Cambridge would work as a test-bed for something like that.”
Cambridge is not 바카라사이트 only place that has argued for 바카라사이트 introduction of different rules for certain areas. The recent report from 바카라사이트 City Growth Commission suggests that 바카라사이트 UK’s largest urban areas should be allowed to offer a more flexible form of graduate entrepreneur visa.
Chris Havergal
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