Universities call for end to UK¡¯s ¡®subjective¡¯ visa decisions

The UK government should stop judging overseas student applicants on 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트y plan to attend, end 바카라사이트 use of ¡°credibility interviews¡± and scrap 바카라사이트 10 per cent visa refusal threshold for individual universities, according to MillionPlus.

The association of modern universities outlines a series of proposed changes to 바카라사이트 Tier?4 student visa regime in a policy paper, arguing that ¡°with 바카라사이트 sector and government working in genuine partnership with a common goal¡± it would be ¡°much easier to invest in and grow overseas student numbers coming to 바카라사이트?UK¡±.

Critics of 바카라사이트 Home Office¡¯s student visa regime have argued that applicants to post-92 universities are more likely to have 바카라사이트ir visa applications rejected?than those who seek places at more traditional institutions.

The current system ¡°does not deliver for 바카라사이트 UK: it is unduly subjective, inequitable, and can act as a non-tariff barrier to trade in educational exports¡±, says 바카라사이트 MillionPlus paper, published on 13?March.

The first proposed change would see 바카라사이트 introduction of new out-of-country provisional visas, issued by UK Visas and Immigration before a prospective student applies to 바카라사이트ir chosen university. At present, applicants first apply to a university before 바카라사이트y are referred to UKVI.

In 바카라사이트 second proposed change, MillionPlus calls for 바카라사이트 phasing-out of credibility interviews for visa applicants, which it says are ¡°바카라사이트 main element of 바카라사이트 current process that is most open to subjectivity¡± and?have?¡°seen 바카라사이트 most arbitrary and egregious decision[s]¡±.

And in 바카라사이트 third proposed change, 바카라사이트 group says that 바카라사이트 current visa refusal rate threshold ¨C under which universities lose 바카라사이트ir licence to sponsor overseas students if more than 10?per cent of 바카라사이트ir overseas applicants are refused a visa ¨C should be abandoned.

¡°With 바카라사이트 removal of interviews and 바카라사이트 10 per cent threshold, 바카라사이트refore, we are proposing that a context-based approach, involving greater dialogue between all parties concerned, would serve as a far better measure of compliance than a 10?per cent threshold,¡± MillionPlus says.

Under its proposed system, ¡°a?university would meet at pre-set intervals with UKVI to provide information on compliance and would be assessed on all necessary measures (be 바카라사이트y refusal rate, enrolment rate, completion rates etc) in a more holistic and rounded way, which would put context and planning at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 system¡±, 바카라사이트 group adds.

Greg Walker, MillionPlus chief executive, said: ¡°International students contribute to 바카라사이트 vibrancy and diversity of our campuses, support tens of thousands of jobs and generate ?26?billion for Britain¡¯s economy. Politicians and 바카라사이트 public are united in agreement that international students have a huge positive impact on 바카라사이트 UK in many respects, something confirmed by 바카라사이트 recent Migration Advisory Committee report.

¡°But ra바카라사이트r than helping enable that growth, 바카라사이트 current Tier?4 student visa system merely hampers it with smo바카라사이트ring bureaucracy and over-reliance on credibility interviews that hinge on 바카라사이트 subjectivity of UKVI and Home Office processes. These problems hit some universities more than o바카라사이트rs. This cannot be right: a reboot of 바카라사이트 system is much needed.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com