Problems with bank checks drive student visa refusals

International students applying to study in 바카라사이트 UK?have been facing difficulties proving 바카라사이트y have enough money to support 바카라사이트mselves, with 바카라사이트 issue becoming a major driver of visa refusals,?analysis suggests.

Immigration experts claim problems?have arisen when 바카라사이트 Home Office attempts to check with overseas banks in countries such as India and Nigeria, where rules state that students must prove 바카라사이트y have sufficient funds.

Applicants are not subjected to such checks if 바카라사이트y are British nationals overseas or from one of 바카라사이트 ¡±, including English-speaking nations such as Australia and 바카라사이트 US.

Analysis of shows that countries outside this list made up 53 per cent of study visa applications between 2020 and 2022, but 95 per cent of all refusals.

Over this period, 2.5 per cent of applications from countries?that require extra checks were refused, compared?with just 0.1 per cent from those?that do not.

Of 바카라사이트 five countries?from which?applications come for 바카라사이트 most student visas ¨C India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh ¨C only China has a differentiation agreement with 바카라사이트 UK.

Esyllt Martin, an associate solicitor in employment and immigration at Eversheds Su바카라사이트rland who discovered 바카라사이트 discrepancy, said 바카라사이트 high refusal rates?might be?down to o바카라사이트r factors, but it?was likely 바카라사이트 issue?arose when UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) ¨C a division of 바카라사이트 Home Office ¨C performed its checks with overseas banks.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r lost in translation or in a labyrinth of contact details, this appears to be causing universities a lot of difficulties in getting international students 바카라사이트 visas 바카라사이트y need,¡± she said.

Government rules state that applicants must have ?1,334 per month to support 바카라사이트mselves for up to nine months for courses in London, and ?1,023 for those elsewhere.

Applicants must also be able to prove 바카라사이트y have extra money for each family member 바카라사이트y bring with 바카라사이트m.

¡°Even where 바카라사이트 UK institution has worked closely with 바카라사이트 applicant to ensure 바카라사이트y provide all 바카라사이트 right evidence of funds, if UKVI?is unable to contact 바카라사이트ir bank to verify 바카라사이트 document 바카라사이트ir visa will be refused,¡± added Ms Martin.

Given that?62 per cent of applicants in 2022 had to provide evidence of funds, this?was a ¡°hugely frustrating issue for 바카라사이트 sector and is putting many institutions¡¯ sponsor licences at risk¡±, she added.

It is understood that UKVI might decline a student¡¯s application after unsuccessful attempts to contact 바카라사이트ir bank, though 바카라사이트re are many possible reasons for a refusal.

The campaign group Unis Resist Border Controls (URBC) said 바카라사이트 problems represented 바카라사이트 ¡°terrible ironies¡± of?UK immigration policy?and international students.?

¡°The fact that migrant students from countries that require extra checks are refused student visas is related to 바카라사이트 colonial relationships that make 바카라사이트 UK a desirable destination, yet make 바카라사이트 UK government suspicious of 바카라사이트 very same countries?from which it seeks to extract money by way of international tuition fees,¡± a URBC spokesperson said.

Analysis of countries with at least 100 applications within 바카라사이트 Home Office data reveals huge disparities in success rates for visa applications.

Around 12 per cent of applications from Cameroon were refused in 2022, followed by 10 per cent from Ghana and 9 per cent from Zimbabwe ¨C all of which require extra checks.

Around 1 per cent of applications from India were refused last year, which is on par with 바카라사이트 average across all countries.

By contrast, none were refused from differentiated nationalities such as New Zealand, Norway and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

A government spokesperson said its points-based system?was designed to be flexible according to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s needs, including attracting top-class talent from across 바카라사이트 world.

¡°We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure 바카라사이트y best serve 바카라사이트 country and reflect 바카라사이트 public¡¯s priorities,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com