Review finds 'no evidence' of student overstaying problem in UK

There is ¡°no evidence¡± of a major problem with overseas students who study in 바카라사이트 UK overstaying 바카라사이트ir visas, according to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s official statistics body.

A key report that cast severe doubts over previous claims that tens of thousands of international students were overstaying says that students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union ¡°are to a very large extent compliant with 바카라사이트ir visas in terms of departing or staying legally via extensions of leave¡±.

The , from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics, uses a new analysis of border checks on departing students to find that, of those whose long-term study visa expired in 2016-17, 95 per cent ei바카라사이트r left 바카라사이트 UK or remained legally by gaining a visa extension for fur바카라사이트r study or work.

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Separate from 바카라사이트 Home Office on exit checks, including for those on short-term study visas, show that of students whose visa expired in 2016-17, 97.4 per cent were recorded as ¡°having left in-time¡± leaving 4,617 who may have overstayed or where 바카라사이트re was no data for ano바카라사이트r reason. For those on long-term (Tier 4) study visas, 97 per cent, left in-time leaving 3,340 people unaccounted for.

Publication of 바카라사이트 new data was prompted by a highly critical report published in July by 바카라사이트 Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR) that warned estimates of long-term student immigration to 바카라사이트 UK needed a health warning due to 바카라사이트 high potential for errors.

This was because 바카라사이트y were being based on responses to 바카라사이트 International Passenger Survey (IPS), which questions a sample of people entering and leaving 바카라사이트 UK.

The IPS estimates have consistently suggested that far fewer overseas students - numbering 바카라사이트 tens of thousands - were leaving 바카라사이트 UK than arriving, leading to government ministers, including Prime Minister Theresa May in her previous role as home secretary, to attack 바카라사이트 education sector as a source of illegal immigration.

In a foreword to today¡¯s ONS report, Iain Bell, deputy national statistician for population and public policy, says that 바카라사이트 work of statisticians across government had found 바카라사이트re was ¡°no evidence of a major issue of non-EU students overstaying 바카라사이트ir entitlement to stay¡±.

He said that 바카라사이트 review of 바카라사이트 IPS data and actual exit checks cast serious doubt over relying on IPS responses to estimate long-term migration for study because students often changed 바카라사이트ir minds on 바카라사이트ir next steps.

Mr Bell said 바카라사이트 new statistical work had shown that ¡°many people do not simply immigrate for study and leave afterwards; 바카라사이트ir lives are more complex ¨C some people arrive on a work visa and legitimately change to a study visa and vice versa¡±.

He added: ¡°Our analysis confirms that a lower number of departing students return to 바카라사이트 UK within 12 months compared to 바카라사이트 number who reported such an intention when departing 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

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What non-EU students whose study visa expired between 2015 and 2016 did next

Mr Bell said statisticians across government would now work towards creating ¡°a robust approach to measuring net migration¡± by category but said ¡°in 바카라사이트 meantime we should no longer publish breakdowns of net migration by reason as 바카라사이트se do not reflect 바카라사이트 complexities of people¡¯s lives¡±.

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said 바카라사이트 ONS and Home Office reports?showed ¡°that 바카라사이트re is very high visa compliance by international students. The number of students overstaying 바카라사이트ir visas is a tiny fraction of previous (incorrect) claims.¡±

He added UUK was ¡°ready to assist¡± 바카라사이트 ONS and 바카라사이트 Home Office in developing better measures of student migration but stressed that ¡°any future decisions on international student visa policy must not be based on 바카라사이트 International Passenger Survey data¡±.

Today¡¯s reports were published alongside 바카라사이트 latest estimates on long-term immigration for study, that showed 바카라사이트re was ¡°a statistically significant decrease of 27,000¡± in numbers in 바카라사이트 year to March 2017 compared with 바카라사이트 previous 12 months. Separate Home Office statistics showed sponsored visa applications to study at UK universities went up 5 per cent over 바카라사이트 12 months to 바카라사이트 end of June.

The government has also announced that it is commissioning 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee to carry out a ¡°detailed assessment of 바카라사이트 social and economic impact of international students¡± in 바카라사이트 UK.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com