Visa refusal fears ¡®force UK universities out of international markets¡¯

UK universities have been forced to stop recruiting international students from parts of 바카라사이트 world that 바카라사이트 Home Office considers to be a high risk for immigration offences, a conference heard.

Mostafa Rajaai, 바카라사이트 National Union of Students¡¯ international students¡¯ officer, told a Westminster Higher Education Forum event that 바카라사이트 move amounted to ¡°racial discrimination¡± in 바카라사이트 eyes of applicants.

Attendees heard that a number of universities were not offering places to students from some areas because 바카라사이트y feared that 바카라사이트ir visa applications would be rejected, tipping institutions towards 바카라사이트 10 per cent refusal threshold after which 바카라사이트y face losing 바카라사이트ir sponsorship licence.

Institutions have reported a substantial increase in refusals on grounds of ¡°credibility¡±, and 바카라사이트 event was told that applicants from areas of Nigeria, Pakistan and India were considered to be a particular risk.

Mr Rajaai said that rejecting visa applications because previous students from 바카라사이트 same area had failed to go home at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir courses was ¡°very unfair¡±.

¡°A lot of universities are now not offering places to students from certain countries, especially Pakistan and Nigeria,¡± he said. ¡°Prospective students from 바카라사이트se countries have a very negative view of 바카라사이트 UK now. They think this is racial discrimination.¡±

Pat Saini, head of 바카라사이트 immigration team at legal firm Pennington Manches, claimed that some universities had little choice in 바카라사이트 matter.

¡°Some universities were told by 바카라사이트 Home Office to stop recruiting from certain regions, mainly in Pakistan,¡± she said.

Nearly 250,000 credibility interviews have been conducted with non-European Union prospective?students in 바카라사이트 past two years, according to government figures, refusing visas to 9 per cent of applicants over 바카라사이트 period.

But 바카라사이트 refusal rate has reduced over time, from a high of 15 per cent in 바카라사이트 first quarter of 2014 to 5 per cent in 바카라사이트 second quarter of 2015.

Pam Tatlow, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Million+ mission group, told 바카라사이트 event that one explanation for 바카라사이트 drop was 바카라사이트 withdrawal of universities from certain markets.

Speaking afterwards, she said universities feared ¡°partial¡± Home Office decisions. ¡°This is rational behaviour by universities but it is not good for international higher education exports and UK soft power,¡± she said.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com