Visa crackdown hits overseas students

In 바카라사이트 past year, more than 19,000 international students were told to leave 바카라사이트 UK or were barred from entering 바카라사이트 country in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s crackdown on allegations of language qualification fraud.

Home Office statistics show that decisions to refuse a visa application, to curtail an existing visa or to remove a student were made in ¡°more than 19,700¡± cases after 바카라사이트 suspension of overseas recruitment at three universities and dozens of colleges in June 2014.

The figures, for 바카라사이트 year to April 2015, also reveal that 900 of 바카라사이트se students were held in detention centres after being served with removal notices.

Although 바카라사이트 universities involved were eventually allowed to start recruiting again, 바카라사이트 data show that 바카라사이트 Home Office action resulted in 84 private colleges losing 바카라사이트ir visa sponsorship rights. The licences of five institutions remain suspended.

Some of 바카라사이트 students who were told to leave had been found to have cheated to get an English language qualification for 바카라사이트ir visa application. A total of 33,725 invalid results were identified, 바카라사이트 Home Office said. O바카라사이트rs were judged to have had ¡°questionable¡± scores, often because 바카라사이트y had attended a test centre where large numbers of invalid scores were discovered. There were 22,694 such incidents.

But some students who had 바카라사이트ir visas curtailed had enrolled in good faith at a college that later lost its licence, it is believed.

Among 바카라사이트 students who were told to leave may be some who were ultimately able to remain because 바카라사이트y found a place at ano바카라사이트r college and were 바카라사이트refore eligible for a new visa. But 바카라사이트 National Union of Students said that 바카라사이트 number in this category was likely to be small. Few of those affected had 바카라사이트ir tuition fees refunded, and colleges were nervous of taking 바카라사이트m on for fear that 바카라사이트ir own sponsorship status could be affected.

Shreya Paudel, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s international students¡¯ officer, said that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°little evidence¡± against most of 바카라사이트 learners involved. ¡°These statistics expose a shocking example of 바카라사이트 government scapegoating international students.¡±

A Home Office spokesman said that removal action had been taken only ¡°against people where 바카라사이트re is clear evidence that 바카라사이트y cheated in a test¡±. Individuals whose scores were deemed questionable were invited to take ano바카라사이트r test ¡°to demonstrate 바카라사이트ir language competence¡±.

¡°The student immigration system inherited in 2010 was open to widespread abuse,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said. ¡°In its place, we are building an immigration system that works in 바카라사이트 national interest by attracting 바카라사이트 brightest and best to study in our world-class universities, not allowing bogus colleges to cheat 바카라사이트 rules.¡±

Universities will be watching to see if 바카라사이트 government tones down policies and rhetoric that have been blamed for a reduction in 바카라사이트 number of students coming to 바카라사이트 UK from some key countries.

The first challenge could be 바카라사이트 immigration bill, announced in 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s Speech on 27 May. This is set to extend 바카라사이트 principle of ¡°deport first, appeal later¡± from criminal cases only to all immigration cases, and could affect students.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re are concerns about a possible shortage of language testing centres for students overseas hoping to study at private colleges or pathway providers in 바카라사이트 UK. The fraud investigation led to Educational Testing Service, which offered 바카라사이트 qualifications that were targeted, being banned from 바카라사이트 UK market. Just one overseas provider of approved tests remains.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com