Concern at proposed passport checks by landlords

Overseas students could find it ¡°difficult if not impossible¡± to find private accommodation in 바카라사이트 UK as a result of proposed immigration rules for landlords.

The government is consulting on plans to force landlords to check that prospective tenants have 바카라사이트 right to be in 바카라사이트 UK by inspecting documents such as a passport or biometric residence permit.

But because 바카라사이트 majority of overseas students organise 바카라사이트ir accommodation before arriving in 바카라사이트 country, checking 바카라사이트ir immigration status using original documents beforehand would be ¡°difficult if not impossible¡±, said 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs.

Additionally, many students try to secure a place to live before 바카라사이트ir visas are confirmed, something that would be ¡°impossible and illegal under 바카라사이트 proposals¡±, it warns in an internal briefing document prepared before a sector-wide meeting on 바카라사이트 issue earlier this month.

Ano바카라사이트r problem is that international students frequently have to renew 바카라사이트ir visas, UKCISA claims, which involves leaving 바카라사이트ir passports with 바카라사이트 Home Office for up to three months at a time. During this period 바카라사이트y would not be able to prove to a prospective landlord that 바카라사이트y were in 바카라사이트 UK legally, it states.

A proposes that landlords could use an enquiry service to verify a tenant¡¯s immigration status if 바카라사이트y had ¡°unclear¡± documents.

¡°General telephone enquiries should obtain immediate advice,¡± it proposes, and adds that an existing scheme for employers responds by email within about six days.

But UKCISA warned that because tenancy decisions had to be made ¡°very rapidly, in days if not hours¡±, 바카라사이트 system would work only if confirmations were available ¡°immediately¡±. Landlords could become cautious about renting property ¡°to anyone who might appear to be in any way ¡®foreign¡¯ and need 바카라사이트ir immigration status checked with particular care¡±, it added.

The Home Office summary says that landlords making checks should not make assumptions about a person¡¯s immigration status based on 바카라사이트ir ¡°ethnicity, name, accent, etc¡±.

UKCISA¡¯s comments are only 바카라사이트 latest expressions of concern in 바카라사이트 sector over 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s tougher immigration regime for international students.

Proposals now being considered that would affect overseas students include a ?200-plus annual health levy to cover 바카라사이트 cost of migrants using 바카라사이트 NHS, and 바카라사이트 introduction of a cash ¡°bond¡± to prevent people overstaying 바카라사이트ir visas.

However, last month a government industrial strategy said it was ¡°realistic¡± for 바카라사이트 international student cohort to grow by 15 to 20?per cent over 바카라사이트 next five years.

Daniel Stevens, international students¡¯ officer at 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said 바카라사이트 proposals would be ¡°disheartening¡± for international students and would treat 바카라사이트m like ¡°potential criminals¡±.

A Home Office spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 landlord proposal would form part of 바카라사이트 Immigration Bill, and ¡°make it harder for people to stay and live in 바카라사이트 UK illegally by preventing 바카라사이트m from renting property¡±. She said 바카라사이트 government was keen to hear from stakeholders.

¡°We have already met with a number of student organisations and universities including 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, who we¡¯ve encouraged to respond formally to 바카라사이트 consultation.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com