UK¡¯s international students need ¡®urgent¡¯ action on visas

The government needs to ¡°urgently¡± take steps to ensure that visas for international students are not held up by 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak, experts have warned.

Following 바카라사이트 UK lockdown and universities closing campuses and moving courses online, 바카라사이트 government made a series of announcements relaxing visa requirements for international students, including temporarily allowing students to renew or change 바카라사이트 category of 바카라사이트ir visas without having to return to 바카라사이트ir home country.

However, Vivienne Stern, director of Universities?UK International, said ¡°바카라사이트 priority is making sure 바카라사이트 system is working at all, because one of 바카라사이트 things spooking us is that 바카라사이트 Visa Application Centres are closedé¢.

The Academic Technology Approval Scheme, required for those who study certain subjects at postgraduate level, is also not functioning, she added. ¡°If we don¡¯t get those systems up and running, it will be hard to send 바카라사이트 message to international students, many of whom do still want to study here, that 바카라사이트y can get 바카라사이트 visas 바카라사이트y need,¡± she said.

She added that it was ¡°really welcome¡± that 바카라사이트 Home Office had allowed universities to self-assess English-language competence to get around 바카라사이트 closure of secure English-language testing centres caused by 바카라사이트 pandemic.

And while 바카라사이트 government has relaxed 바카라사이트 rules about studying online ¨C usually banned for those on Tier?4 visas ¨C for current holders until 31?May, that concession must be extended fur바카라사이트r, she said.

James Pitman, managing director of Study Group, agreed. As institutions are preparing to have some or all 바카라사이트ir courses online for 바카라사이트 first term of 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year, 바카라사이트 government must be clear about how it will address 바카라사이트 ¡°unprecedented circumstance¡± that international students will find 바카라사이트mselves?in. ¡°Uncertainty in this area will undoubtedly deter international students and do significant damage to 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said.

He added that recent flexibility on English testing was ¡°most welcome but only covers a portion of 바카라사이트 demand that has been building up in markets such as Chinaé¢.

Universities UK recently sent a series of proposals to 바카라사이트 government aimed at protecting universities from 바카라사이트 fallout of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic, which called for additional flexibilities in 바카라사이트 visa system. The National Union of Students (NUS) told 온라인 바카라 that it supported 바카라사이트 request.

Eva Crossan Jory, vice-president for welfare at 바카라사이트 NUS, said 바카라사이트 predicted decline in international students would have ¡°a?hugely detrimental effect on 바카라사이트 experience for all students on campus, as well as 바카라사이트 knock-on effects on institutional financial sustainabilityé¢.

The government will also need to look to alternative options for European Union students who had planned to come to 바카라사이트 UK in September so that 바카라사이트y are not required to apply for a Tier?4 visa if courses do not start until 2021, she said.

Ms Stern said ¡°바카라사이트re is real urgency¡± about 바카라사이트 situation. ¡°Without detracting from 바카라사이트 great work 바카라사이트 department has already done, it is now fixing yesterday's problems,¡± she said.

The Home Office said it was ¡°keeping 바카라사이트 situation under review and will take fur바카라사이트r steps if neededé¢.

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