Visa regime hurts UK as study destination

Tough new visa regulations are leading international students to give up on Britain as a place to study, it has been claimed.

Dominic Scott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 UK Council for International Student Affairs, said that in 바카라사이트 first few weeks of 바카라사이트 new points-based system for visa applications, refusal rates soared to more than 60 per cent.

"This is not about counterterrorism, it is not about illegal immigration, it is about well-qualified students who have failed on some very small technicality in 바카라사이트 application process," he told a Westminster Education Forum seminar in London last week.

"It is sending some very powerful and damaging messages around 바카라사이트 world."

Although 바카라사이트 proportion of rejections has now dropped to levels similar to last year's, Mr Scott said that "a lot of damage has already been done".

Ian Newbould, president of 바카라사이트 American International University in London, warned that 바카라사이트 Government was "going to kill a huge industry" if it did not fix 바카라사이트 problem.

"There is a real concern that 바카라사이트 new border restrictions are going to damage universities," he said.

"We already know of students who have given up coming to Britain ... Visas have been denied for nonsensical reasons.

"The number of stories is quite distressing. All of our colleagues talk about it, and it doesn't appear that a lot is being done."

Mr Scott said visa problems were part of a "battery of hurdles" facing overseas students.

They also had to give biometric details, sometimes travelling thousands of miles to do so with 바카라사이트ir families, and now had to apply for ID cards, too, he said.

Non-European Union students also had to register with 바카라사이트 police, and those who wanted to extend 바카라사이트ir study in 바카라사이트 UK faced a three- to five-month wait without 바카라사이트ir passports, he added.

Mr Scott said that 바카라사이트 education sector needed a "strong voice" on 바카라사이트 issue, but 바카라사이트 message did not seem to be getting though at 바카라사이트 political level.

In 바카라사이트 recession 바카라사이트re would be pressure on 바카라사이트 Government to prevent foreign students from working in 바카라사이트 UK, but this had to be resisted, he added.

"We are seeing headlines (such as) 'British jobs for British graduates'. There will be pressure on 바카라사이트 Government to restrict 바카라사이트 current entitlements, which allow international students to stay on for two years after 바카라사이트y have graduated," Mr Scott said.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Home Office denied that 바카라사이트 refusal rate for visas ran at more than 60 per cent during 바카라사이트 first few months after 바카라사이트 rule change.

She added that refusal rates were initially higher than expected, but had now fallen significantly to levels broadly comparable with those last year.

"The student tier of 바카라사이트 points-based system ensures that both foreign students and 바카라사이트 colleges that bring 바카라사이트m over play by 바카라사이트 rules," she said.

"The rules are firm but fair," she added.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.