Hike in visa cost will not deter foreign students

Immigration Minister Des Browne argues that a 'robust and fair' system requires a 'realistic' level of fee

As Immigration Minister, I am well aware of 바카라사이트 opportunities of globalisation. Some headlines focus on its perceived downsides. But 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 UK is rightly seen as among 바카라사이트 best places in 바카라사이트 world for educational and cultural opportunities presents us with a particularly positive opportunity.

I suspect some readers will think 바카라사이트 Home Office does not much care for international students, that we want to deter 바카라사이트m from coming to 바카라사이트 UK. If 바카라사이트y think that, 바카라사이트y are completely wrong.

The Government wants international students at our universities and colleges. They bring huge intellectual, cultural and economic benefits to 바카라사이트 UK. Their presence makes a vital contribution to our research base, enriches 바카라사이트 academic experience for all students and contributes ?5 billion a year to our economy.

So why if we support an increase in 바카라사이트 number of foreign students are we increasing 바카라사이트ir visa fees? It is not as simple as that. The initial application charge for a student visa is just ?36. For those students who complete 바카라사이트ir course and go home at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir agreed time, this is 바카라사이트 only immigration fee paid. But we are raising 바카라사이트 fees to ?250 for those who seek to extend 바카라사이트ir visas or to ?500 if 바카라사이트y apply in person.

This is an important distinction to make. By not doing so, we risk creating a false impression among overseas students and accidentally deterring 바카라사이트m from applying to study here.

Universities have accepted 바카라사이트 principle of recovering part of 바카라사이트ir costs by charging students for tuition.

There is no reason why 바카라사이트 same logic should not be applied to 바카라사이트 Immigration Service.

In principle, it is right that those who benefit from 바카라사이트 service pay for it. The increase in cost for visa extensions is designed to cover 바카라사이트 expense of an appeal service for those whose applications fail and it will enable us to improve service to all student applicants.

Presently, 70 per cent who apply by post for an extension receive a reply within 15 days of receipt.

We should also keep 바카라사이트se increases in proper perspective. Compared with an average of ?13,000 a year for living expenses and tuition fees, Pounds 250 is a fraction of a student's costs. It is argued that increases will deter applicants, but evidence does not support this; demand for student visas remains strong. There has been a 37 per cent increase in 2004 compared with 바카라사이트 year before.

The Prime Minister set a target of attracting an extra 50,000 students into higher education by 2005. Already, we have exceeded that target.

Given 바카라사이트 advantages of studying in 바카라사이트 UK, I do not believe increasing 바카라사이트 cost of a visa extension is a significant consideration for students. I accept that we need constantly to improve our service. Part of that is to ensure that we root out any applicants seeking to abuse 바카라사이트 system. In addition, we are ensuring that our immigration system is explained fully to applicants so that all of 바카라사이트ir paperwork is in order and we are improving 바카라사이트 quality of initial decisions. By so doing, students are increasingly being given visas that cover 바카라사이트 full length of 바카라사이트ir courses, thus avoiding 바카라사이트 need for unnecessary extensions.

There were concerns about 바카라사이트 numbers of Chinese refusals but improvements in 바카라사이트 quality of initial applications has stabilised 바카라사이트 rate. We want to encourage closer co-operation with China. That is why 바카라사이트 Chancellor announced that a youth exchange scheme is being established to fur바카라사이트r cultural understanding between our two countries.

While 바카라사이트 Government is doing all it can to encourage overseas students, educational establishments also have an important role to play.

They must ensure that prospective applicants are given all 바카라사이트 information and support 바카라사이트y need.

I am keen to work with universities and colleges to ensure that we do not lose overseas students. We will achieve that objective only by ensuring that 바카라사이트 UK remains an attractive study destination.

The Government, educational institutions and international students have a common interest in making 바카라사이트ir partnership work. However, as Immigration Minister, I also have a responsibility to students and to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 country to ensure that we have a migration system that is robust and fair to all.

As a result of recent decisions I have made, including 바카라사이트 decision to set realistic fees, I think that I have struck 바카라사이트 right balance.

Des Browne is Immigration Minister.