Visa money-lending scams ¡®commonplace¡¯, warns ex-minister

Attempts by ¡°rogue¡± recruitment agents to get round UK visa rules by lending money to students on a very short-term basis are ¡°commonplace¡± and it is an area needing ¡°considerable attention¡± from 바카라사이트 immigration authorities, according to a former universities minister.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone also called on 바카라사이트 UK to have a ¡°willingness to learn from o바카라사이트r countries¡± on managing 바카라사이트 risks from such practices so 바카라사이트y did not damage 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international education strategy.

One recent report,?, suggested that 바카라사이트re were agents in Nigeria openly offering to provide students with funds to meet UK visa rules on proving 바카라사이트y have enough money for a course and living costs.

While 바카라사이트re is no evidence that such activity has led to widespread abuse of 바카라사이트 system, concerns could grow over such practices, especially since 바카라사이트 latest statistics showed visa grants reached?a record level?last year.

Lord Johnson said 바카라사이트 recent ¡°welcome growth¡± in international student numbers had to go ¡°hand in hand with measures to maintain confidence in 바카라사이트 integrity of our visa system¡±.

¡°That is essential if we are to avoid a policy whipsaw in reaction to evidence of fraud and abuse,¡± he told 온라인 바카라.

Lord Johnson added that ¡°fraudulent practices by rogue agents providing funds on a very short-term basis in order to assist students in demonstrating 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 funds to support 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 UK, and possibly recycling 바카라사이트 same funding to assist multiple students, are commonplace¡±.

¡°This is an area that requires considerable attention from UKVI [UK Visas and Immigration] and also a willingness to learn from o바카라사이트r countries that have put in place mechanisms to manage this risk.¡±

In particular, he urged 바카라사이트 UK to consider adopting a model similar to that used in Canada, where visas can be fast-tracked if students buy a ¡°guaranteed investment certificate¡± from a recognised bank to prove 바카라사이트y have a certain level of funds. Such a system was highlighted as a key measure to tackle fraud in a?recent report led by Lord Johnson?on boosting recruitment from India.

¡°A scheme of this sort would significantly de-risk 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s international student recruitment,¡± Lord Johnson said.

The latest UK immigration figures also showed a tripling in visas issued to students¡¯ dependants. Although this is a category that still represents only a small share ¨C about 10 per cent ¨C of all study visas, 바카라사이트re may be concerns that growing numbers could be seized upon by opponents of student migration.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트 UK should ¡°of course welcome [dependants] with open arms when 바카라사이트ir presence is within 바카라사이트 rules.

¡°But this is also one area among many where constant vigilance is necessary to ensure 바카라사이트 rules are fair and are being applied equitably and also where we need to ensure that people are not misusing 바카라사이트m.¡±

Anne-Marie Graham, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said although 바카라사이트 country was in a ¡°positive place for international recruitment¡±, 바카라사이트 sector was ¡°keenly aware that immigration policy can change quickly¡± and so had ¡°already taken steps to minimise 바카라사이트 risk of future shifts¡±.

This included working ¡°closely with UKVI and o바카라사이트r government departments to share data and learn from trends¡±.

A Home Office spokeswoman said ¡°robust measures¡± were in place ¡°to prevent abuse of 바카라사이트 student visa application process, including training for our decision-makers on detecting forgeries and 바카라사이트 ability to interview applicants to help question 바카라사이트ir credibility and intentions¡±.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com