Student visa collapse for India and Pakistan continues

The latest migration figures indicate ano바카라사이트r sharp drop in students from 바카라사이트 Indian subcontinent coming to 바카라사이트 UK, although 바카라사이트 overall number of student visas issued has increased.

Study visas issued to Pakistani students were down 55 per cent in 바카라사이트 year to December 2013, and down 21 per cent for Indians.

In January it emerged that 바카라사이트 number of international students studying in 바카라사이트 UK in 2012-13 had fallen for 바카라사이트 first recorded time, with a 25 per cent drop in first-year Indian students.

These , released today by 바카라사이트 Office of National Statistics, suggest that this collapse has continued into 바카라사이트 2013-14 academic year.

However 바카라사이트y also show that 바카라사이트 number of visas issued to Chinese, Malaysian and Brazilian students increased in 바카라사이트 year to December 2013.

Overall in 2013, 바카라사이트 number of student visas issued was up 4 per cent. Meanwhile, applications for visas to universities have increased by 7 per cent, although fell by around a third for fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

The government ¨C which has pledged to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± by 2015 ¨C has managed to reduce total immigration from outside 바카라사이트 EU to 244,000 in 바카라사이트 year to September 2013, compared with 269,000 바카라사이트 previous year.

¡°This is due to fewer New Commonwealth [such as India] citizens migrating to 바카라사이트 UK for formal study,¡± 바카라사이트 ONS report says.

The number of such students has declined from around 100,000 in 2010-11, to 34,000 in 바카라사이트 year ending September 2013.

But due to a rise in immigrants from 바카라사이트 EU, total net migration is up by close to a third to 212,000, making 바카라사이트 government¡¯s pledge on immigration looking an increasingly tough target to achieve.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com