The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) writes:

450 colleges had their ‘trusted sponsor’ status revoked in the past year. This affects around 11,000 overseas students. Much is being said in the media about the immigration abuses of student visas, but the coverage forgets the real victims of this headline figure – the students.

Colleges who have their licences revoked are not all ‘bogus’, as the red top papers would have us believe. There’s been a constant scrutiny of such institutions for a number of years now. Colleges denied the chance to recruit international students face financial oblivion, and many close leaving students stranded in the middle of their studies.

I’ve had a couple of meetings with a group of students who have been left high and dry by two main factors. Firstly, they studied at a college run by rip off merchants who were happy to take large amounts of cash in the form of tuition fees, who then filed for bankruptcy. Secondly, they’ve been let down by an immigration system that offers no support or protection to students in this situation.

Academic scrutiny

Immigration law generally limits permission to stay to 60 days if a student’s course ends earlier than expected. As such, this means that a student has 60 days to find another college after their one closes.

Whether a college is licenced to issue Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) certificates  is decided by UKBA on three criteria: the human resource systems of the college, the civil penalties, and criminal convictions of the staff and any non-compliance by the organisation. There is no academic scrutiny of the college and no financial safeguards offered to students who choose to study there.

Perhaps an example best explains the situation.

Zara (not her real name) from Bangladesh came to study in the UK. Like so many students across the world, she was keen to improve her understanding and language skills by studying in another country. She’d seen adverts about London Trinity College, knew about the quality of education in the UK and applied. On the college website, it stated that the institution was a recognised sponsor in the eyes of the UKBA, which she found reassuring. The college was indeed listed on the UKBA website as a sponsor. They issued her with a CAS and was issued with a student visa.

Fees

Zara paid fees of £8000 to cover tuition for her ACCA qualification in accounting. But the financial demands weren’t quite so simple. She had to prove to UKBA she had enough money  in her bank account to maintain herself for a year –  £9600 to be precise. Borrowing the money from her parents and a little more from her extended family, she arrived in the UK, found lodgings and started her course in accounting.She was disappointed to find her ‘college’ was set up in a closed down grocery store. But, they taught the course and she thrived as a result of her hard work.

One day Zara turned up to college one day to find it closed. Meeting other students outside they did some quick research and found the college had gone into voluntary liquidation. None of the students were able to get their money back.

On seeking advice Zara and the others discovered that unless they found a college that would accept them within 60 days, paid the fees to the new college and reapplied for a visa, they would be in the country illegally.

Zara and her family could not afford a second set of fees. Additionally, few colleges are willing to accept international students mid-course as they have to use up their valuable CAS allocation for less money than a student studying a full year.

The Government and media stoked hysteria on ‘bogus’ students and ‘bogus’ colleges does wonders for helping to massage the figures on net immigration and appeasing public perceptions on immigration, but it does nothing to help the real victims of the situation – overseas students left in the lurch by colleges and the UKBA.

Financial benefits

Overseas students bring billions of pounds of trade and education revenue to the UK each year. Cuts in funding mean that universities and colleges are more dependent than ever on the fees paid by international students to keep courses open and education provision intact.

A stamp of approval from the UKBA has helped thousands of students decide to study at institutions which have dubious academic track records. Revoking trusted status may stop further abuses in the future – but what about those left in limbo now? Source: JCWI.

The UK Border Agency has implemented significant changes to the Tier 4 student route of the points-based system, which came into effect on 4 July 2011.

The Government implemented major changes to the Immigration Rules relating to Tier 4 students who want to study at private colleges in July.

The changes:

• restrict work entitlements, by only allowing students sponsored by higher education institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges to work part-time during term time and full-time during vacations;
• restrict sponsorship of dependants to those of students sponsored by HEIs on postgraduate courses lasting 12 months or longer, and of government-sponsored students on courses lasting longer than 6 months;
• require institutions to confirm that courses represent genuine academic progression from any previous courses studied by the student in the UK; and
• create a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals sponsored by Highly Trusted sponsors.

The Home Office recently revealed a drop of 11,000 overseas students since tougher measures introduced this year. UK Universities warns that not only is the government’s action damaging Britain’s reputation, but was also responsible for 400 private colleges effectively opting out of the new Tier 4 sponsoring system.

The Universities UK action issued a warning about Britain’s reputation in education after new figures revealed that the government’s curb on overseas students had reduced their numbers by 11,000 and led to more than 450 colleges pulling out of the market, the Guardian reported earlier this month. 

A spokesman for UK University Services (UKUS) said that ‘unfortunately many international students are being deterred from choosing British colleges and universities due to rule changes, the abolition of the PSW post study work visa as well as all the rumours and stories of the bad experience suffered by their fellow countrymen whilst studying in the UK’. 

English UK, an association representing 450 language colleges, demanded an apology from the Home Office claiming their remarks implied institutions were fronts for illegal immigration.

The Home Office has been threatened with legal action amid claims it mistakenly implied that 22 colleges were bogus or sub-standard.

The combination of new UK Border Agency ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ regulations introduced this year and the new Tier 4 student visa rules, has increased costs whilst wiping out the market for smaller private education providers – hence the 400 closing their doors or simply opting out of the new Highly Trusted regime.

Last month more than 650 Tasmac College students were left stranded without a college when the University of Wales (UoW) accredited college went bust.

Students affected by the closure of their college should remember that new Tier 4 visa rules apply to students applying to private colleges after 4 July 2011.

Bison UK Immigration Adviser Cynthia Barker said:

‘This means that if you renew your visa for a private college or change college after 4 July 2011, you will not be able to work and you will not be able to sponsor your dependant.’ 

The new rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

See also:

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

Tackle visa abuse, but not at the cost of genuine students say Universities UK

Student visa crackdown damaging our reputation abroad, Universities UK warns

‘I’ve done nothing wrong’ says bankrupt Tasmac College director to the 650 students who have lost £7500 in fees

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Post Study Work Visa to be abolished April 2012 as part of student visa clampdown

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk  or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

500 foreigners landed a job in Britain every day over the past year while the number of UK-born workers fell. But many employers, such as Greengrocer Keith Abel, were forced to employ foreign-born workers because his popular firm, which delivers organic groceries, struggled to find young British people to fill vacant positions.

Raising the amount husbands must earn to £26,000 would disqualify two thirds of immigrant brides, according to government watchdog MAC

As many as 40,000 foreign wives, husbands and partners were granted visas to join their family in the UK last year, but new minimum salary proposals would mean that two thirds of foreign wives could be banned from the UK under plans to stop immigrants becoming ‘a burden on the state’.

Former UK Borders Chief Brodie Clark defends his position saying ‘I’m no rogue’

The former head of the UK Border Force Brodie Clark has told MPs he is “no rogue officer”…

UK Immigration Officer illegally issued visas for cash

A UK Border Agency immigration officer has admitted to illegally issuing visas to non-qualifying immigrants allowing them to stay in the UK. Samuel Shoyeju, 53, of Namur Road, Canvey, Essex, worked as an entry clearance officer in Croydon for the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office.

Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List changes start today

The UK Border Agency has announced that Tier 2 changes will come into effect from today.

Rents level out as more students start, but numbers of overseas applications for UK universities down

Rents for new student tenants appeared to drop across the UK, including London, last month – but seasonal variations were entirely responsible, Landlord Today reports.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

Samuel Shoyeju, 53, of Namur Road, Canvey, Essex, worked as an entry clearance officer in Croydon for the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office.

He has been warned he faces a lengthy jail term after he admitted misconduct in a public office.

Shoyeju appeared at Basildon Crown Court, and pleaded guilty to one charge of wilful misconduct, by granting indefinite leave to remain to non-EU nationals who did not qualify under immigration laws before April 30, 2008.

Few details of the offence were heard in court, but prosecutors said there was evidence Shoyeju had received payments of tens of thousands of pounds into his bank account.

It is understood the visas were granted to Africans, particularly people living in Nigeria, and wanting to live and work in the UK.

Shoyeju, who wore black glasses and a light grey suit, has been remanded in custody to await sentencing.

A string of six other alleged offences, including counts of money laundering, were dropped against the father-of-three.

His co-defendant, Violet Savizon, an immigration officer, 47, from Dagenham, will go on trial next week, accused of immigration offences.

Lucy Kennedy, prosecuting, said there was documentary evidence showing payments of tens of thousands going into Shoyeju’s accounts.

She said:

“There is an inference to be drawn in that Mr Shoyeju did receive funds.

“The fact is, we do not know why he was doing it. For the purposes of sentencing the Crown say the most critical point is the vast breach of trust.”

The Crown said there was evidence of two people who were given counterfeit “indefinite leave to remain” letters which Shoyeju had made.

Stephen Linehan QC, for Shoyeju, said: “My case has always been that he did not do this for money. There is absolutely no doubt about it.”

Shoyeju will be sentenced at a later date, most likely once the outcome of Savizon’s case has been concluded.

See also:

Tier 2 Shortage Occupations List changes start today

Shortage occupations list for Tier 2 gets shorter

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

Tier 4 blacklisted financial institutions published by UK Border Agency as the heat is turned up on fraudulent student visa applications

Health care workers needed in UK now

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

UK Border Agency issues new policy guidance on age 21 marriage visas following Quila and Bibi judgement

Immigration News weekly round up 13 November 2011

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

Points Based System appeals ‘new evidence’ Upper Tribunal ruling 

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

The agency said:

‘18 October 2011 the government announced that it was accepting recommendations from the Independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on changes to the shortage occupation list. Specialist jobs that are no longer required in the UK have been removed from a government-approved list that helps to ensure the UK only accepts migrant workers that the country needs.’

The official shortage occupation list is part of the Tier 2 working visa immigration route which is part of the points based system.

Highly skilled migrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) seeking to work in the UK must apply for visas via this route.

Employers can only bring someone into the UK under Tier 2 if the job is on the shortage occupation list or if they pass a resident labour market test (no suitable resident workers apply after advertising the job in the UK first for 4 weeks).

Occupations that the MAC recommended be removed from the list include:

• secondary education biology teachers;
• speech and language therapists;
• pharmacists;
• orthoptists;
• veterinary surgeons; and,
• rank and file orchestral musicians.

Added to the list will be:

• actuaries;
• high integrity pipe welders;
• environmental scientists; and,
• geochemists

Although the government has accepted the MAC’s recommended list in full, rank and file orchestral musicians will ‘not be removed from the list until further discussions take place with the industry to discuss the resident labour market test’.

The changes do not affect EU workers, but employers should be aware that it is illegal to employ a Bulgarian or Romanian worker without permission, even though they are members of the European Union. For further information see:

Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

As the newest members of the European Union, Bulgarians and Romanians also have ‘visa-free’ access to enter the UK, but do not enjoy the same rights to work as the earlier ‘A8’ Eastern European EU accession countries.

Romanian and Bulgarian citizens who exercise their Treaty Rights (under Article 39) and apply for an accession card as students taking vocational or sandwich courses (e.g. NVQ/QCF in Health and Social Care), are allowed to work full time, as stated on their Yellow Cards. 

See also:

Shortage occupations list for Tier 2 gets shorter

Health care workers needed in UK now

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

UK Border Agency issues new policy guidance on age 21 marriage visas following Quila and Bibi judgement

Immigration News weekly round up 13 November 2011

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

Points Based System appeals ‘new evidence’ Upper Tribunal ruling 

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: 

info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

Referencing company HomeLet said that it was because more students had checked in to rental properties.

Nevertheless, it meant that the average cost of renting a home in greater London dropped for the first time this year, to an average of £1,158 per month.
 
However, despite the drop in rents, the cost of living in a rented home in London is still nearly 9% higher than the same time last year, and 23% more than in October 2009.
 
The average cost of renting a home in the UK also reduced from September to October by 2.5% to £763 per month, which is still over 4% higher than the same time last year.
 
There were only two out of 11 regions where there was an increase in average rental amounts between October and September – Wales and East Anglia.

John Boyle, managing director of HomeLet, said: “We do normally see a seasonal dip in actual rental prices at this time of year due to the amount of students being referenced.
 
“At a first glance the drop in rents would appear to be good news for tenants, however, when we see how expensive it is to live in a rented property compared to last year.
 
“With average rents rising at a much higher rate than average incomes, budgets are really being stretched, and if rental amounts increase as much in early 2012 as they have done in previous years, then renting may become unaffordable for an increasing number of people, particularly in London.” Source: Landlord Today.

September and October were busy months for landlords as hundreds of thousands of students from the UK and abroad started courses, although the trend shows a sharp reduction in expected numbers for next year.

UK University applications for 2012 are running at 9% below last year’s level, says the UCAS admissions service.

The Universities UK action group issued a warning last week about Britain’s reputation in education after new figures revealed that the government’s curb on overseas students had reduced their numbers by 11,000 and led to more than 450 colleges pulling out of the market.

The Home Office said more than 400 of the pre-degree colleges ‘lost their right’ to recruit international students because they could not meet the standards of a new inspection regime.

English UK, an association representing 450 language colleges, has demanded an apology from the Home Office claiming their remarks implied institutions were fronts for illegal immigration.

UK University (UKUS), the free student placement service said that the figures confirm what the market already knows. International students are turning away from British Universities and colleges and choosing countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

See also:

Tackle visa abuse, but not at the cost of genuine students say Universities UK

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect

Student visa crackdown damaging our reputation abroad, Universities UK warns

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

The UK Border Agency has published its response to Brodie Clark’s statement of 8 November.

Tackle visa abuse, but not at the cost of genuine students say Universities UK

In a blog for the Guardian this week, Nicola Dandridge of Universities UK warns that tough talk on immigration will frighten away the talent our colleges need.

Student visa crackdown damaging our reputation abroad, Universities UK warns

As the Home Office reveals 11,000 drop in the number of overseas students since tougher measures introduced, UK Universities warns that not only is the government’s action damaging Britain’s reputation, but was also responsible for 400 private colleges effectively opting out of the new Tier 4 sponsoring system. The new rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim

English UK, the association for 450 language colleges, seeks apology saying remark implied institutions were fronts for illegal immigration.
The Home Office has been threatened with legal action amid claims it mistakenly implied that 22 colleges were bogus or sub-standard.

UK Border Force Chief Brodie Clark quits claiming constructive dismissal against Home Secretary

The head of the UK Border Force has dramatically resigned after being blamed for letting thousands of foreigners into the country without proper checks, the BBC reports.

Restrictions on Romanian workers in the UK labour market are ‘discriminatory’, says Keith Vaz MP

On 22 October 2011 at the London Embassy of Romania, the fourth annual Conference of Romanian Students, Professors and Researchers living in the UK, was held. Speaking at the meeting Mr Keith Vaz MP underlined that restrictions imposed on Romanian workers in the British labour market are discriminatory.

UK Border Agency issues new policy guidance on age 21 marriage visas following Quila and Bibi judgement

Changes to the Immigration Rules have been laid in Parliament today to reinstate a minimum age of 18 for a spouse, civil partner, fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner and for their sponsor in order to qualify for entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain or a variation of leave on that basis. These rules will come into effect on 28 November 2011.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.

For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org

You report on the government’s moves to clamp down on student visa abuses by colleges (Visa curb warning, 2 November). The article says Universities UK is issuing “a warning” that cutting such courses is “damaging Britain’s reputation” in education.

We’d like to make it clear that abuse of the immigration system has to be dealt with robustly, and we support the government’s efforts in this respect. If a college is defrauding and abusing the system, it is quite right that their licences should be withdrawn or they be shut down.

Our concern lies in the way in which these issues are being presented. As you report, the changes are described by immigration minister Damian Green in terms of counteracting “widespread abuse of the student visa system”. Yet a number of the measures relate to restrictions of the options available to genuine international students during their time in the UK. Clearly there have to be limits to what an international student can do in this country: whether they can work, who they can bring with them and how long they can stay. But to conflate discussion about the limits of those entitlements with the need to combat fraud and abuse is damaging.

International students are much sought after across the world. They bring valuable cultural, diplomatic and economic benefit with them. They contribute £5bn to UK earnings each year, making a huge difference to local economies. The students come to the country and then leave, without recourse to public funds. Of those who stay, many end up teaching and carrying out world-leading research. In a deeply competitive and global market, inter–national staff make up a large proportion of university staff, without whom many departments would not be viable, or at best would be significantly weakened.

The government’s recent measures to clamp down on net migration, and limit the right of genuine students and staff to come into the country to study and work in universities, is playing badly internationally. UK universities are losing top students and staff to other countries whose governments are more welcoming. Students from the Indian subcontinent in particular are choosing to go to other competitor countries, with some UK universities reporting drops of 30% or more.

Contrast our Home Office announcements of clampdowns and measures “beginning to bite” with Australia recently announcing a new government-appointed council to develop “a new long-term strategy for the international education sector”. The difference is not lost on international students and staff.

There is a solution here. We must continue to work constructively with the government to eliminate fraud. The record of universities is strong, but there is always more that can be done. However, issues of abuse should not be bundled in with discussions about the circumstances in which legitimate international students can come and study. Source: The Guardian.

Earlier this week English UK, an association representing more than 450 language colleges, said the alleged error could bankrupt the institutions. Its lawyers are demanding senior Home Office officials issue an immediate apology and retraction.

The combination of new UK Border Agency ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ regulations introduced this year and the new Tier 4 student visa rules, has increased costs whilst destroying the market for private education providers – hence the 400 closing their doors or simply opting out of the new Highly Trusted regime.

The new student visa rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

See also:

UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

Post Study Work Visa to be abolished April 2012 as part of student visa clampdown

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk  or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

The Universities UK action group has issued a warning about Britain’s reputation in education after new figures revealed that the government’s curb on overseas students had reduced their numbers by 11,000 and led to more than 450 colleges pulling out of the market, the Guardian reported earlier this month.

The Home Office said more than 400 of the pre-degree colleges ‘lost their right’ to recruit international students because they could not meet the standards of a new inspection regime.

40% of international students start at private colleges before going on to Universities

Universities UK said cutting such courses was damaging Britain’s reputation for being “open for business” and undermining the pathway programmes operated by many universities.

It estimates that 40% of international students go through such colleges before going taking a degree at a British university.

Student visa reforms, which included tougher sponsor and English language requirements, came into effect in April.

The Home Office said new inspection standards were designed to ensure that genuine international students received the highest quality education.

About 400 colleges – more than 20% of the sector – had their sponsorship revoked as they did not apply in time and 51 had their licences revoked after the UK Border Agency investigated a spike in applications from south Asia just before the tougher English language tests came into force.

The immigration minister, Damian Green, said:

“Widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long and the changes we have made are beginning to bite. Too many students have come to the UK with the aim of getting work and bringing over family members.”

Nicola Dandridge of Universities UK, said it believed the government’s aim of reducing net migration to below 100,000 a year lay behind the curbs.

“Universities UK believes that the number of international students coming into the country should be accounted for separately and not included in the definition of net migration for the purposes of government policy. International students are not economic migrants. They come to the UK to study and then they leave.”

She said Britain could not afford to make the same costly mistakes as the US and Australia which both curbed overseas students numbers and then dropped the policy when they realised it had seriously damaged the international competitiveness of their higher education sector. Source: Guardian.

UK University (UKUS), the free student placement service said that the figures confirm what the market already knows. International students are turning away from British Universities and colleges and choosing countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

This week English UK, an association representing 450 language colleges, demanded an apology from the Home Office claiming their remarks implied institutions were fronts for illegal immigration.

The Home Office has been threatened with legal action amid claims it mistakenly implied that 22 colleges were bogus or sub-standard.

Earlier this week English UK, an association representing more than 450 language colleges, said the alleged error could bankrupt the institutions. Its lawyers are demanding senior Home Office officials issue an immediate apology and retraction.

The combination of new UK Border Agency ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ regulations introduced this year and the new Tier 4 student visa rules, has increased costs whilst destroying the market for private education providers – hence the 400 closing their doors or simply opting out of the new Highly Trusted regime.

The new rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

See also:

UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect

English UK seeks apology from Home Office over ‘bogus colleges’ claim 

Pre Tier 4 students in the UK under the Immigration Rules that were in place before 31 March 2009

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

Post Study Work Visa to be abolished April 2012 as part of student visa clampdown

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk  or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk 

Looking for a Tier 4 college or University or need advice?

UKUS is a free University and College Admissions and advice service based in London, UK. Students interested in studying abroad can complete the Online UKUS Registration Form for more details.

The Home Office has been threatened with legal action amid claims it mistakenly implied that 22 colleges were bogus or sub-standard.

English UK, an association representing more than 450 language colleges, said the alleged error could bankrupt the institutions. Its lawyers are demanding senior Home Office officials issue an immediate apology and retraction.

Last week, the Home Office said scores of colleges had lost their right to recruit overseas students because they could not meet the standards of a new inspection regime or had not applied to be on a compulsory register of institutions authorised to enrol overseas students.

Damian Green, the immigration minister, warned that “widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long”. Too many students had come to the UK to find paid work and bring over their family, rather than to study, he said.

English UK said its colleges had not signed up for the register because their courses lasted less than a year. Only institutions that offer courses that last a year or more have to be on the register.

The association said institutions had decided not to voluntarily apply to be on the register because it would have been expensive.

Tony Millns, chief executive of English UK, said the Home Office had “allowed it to be inferred that all the colleges on its list were bogus, fronts for illegal immigration, or of poor educational quality”.

“This has been enormously damaging to the reputation of perfectly legitimate and high-quality businesses,” he said.

A letter sent by English UK’s lawyers to the Home Office states the government published information that was “untrue, defamatory and gravely damaging to [colleges'] goodwill and reputations”.

“The potential damage is potentially substantial, irreparable and unquantifiable,” it said.

The Home Office wants to curb overseas student numbers to reduce total net migration to Britain by 230,000 between now and 2015. A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said senior officials would not be making an apology or retracting their statement. Ministers had made it clear that colleges not on the register were not necessarily those with poor educational standards, he said.

“Some simply failed to submit an application to demonstrate they meet our new higher standards,” he said. “Widespread abuse of the student visa system has gone on for too long which is why we’ve made changes to ensure only first-class education providers should be given licences to sponsor international students.” Source: The Guardian.

Last week Immigration Matters said that the reason that 400 private college owners have not applied for Highly Trusted status is that many have simply decided that ‘enough is enough’ following stringent new Tier 4 visa rules, implemented on 4 July, which basically means that any new international students studying at a private college (as opposed to a government publicly funded institution) can no longer work or sponsor dependants.

Under the new rules, students studying at government colleges and UK universities will be allowed to work and sponsor dependants putting the private sector at what college owners see as an unfair disadvantage.

The combination of new UK Border Agency ‘Highly Trusted Sponsor’ regulations introduced this year and the new Tier 4 student visa rules, has increased costs whilst destroying the market for private education providers – hence the 400 closing their doors or simply opting out of the new Highly Trusted regime.

The new rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect

Tier 4 blacklisted financial institutions published by UK Border Agency as the heat is turned up on fraudulent student visa applications

HIGHLY TRUSTED PRIVATE COLLEGE STUDENTS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHT TO WORK AS GOVERNMENT SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS

Post Study Work Visa to be abolished April 2012 as part of student visa clampdown

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

New Tier 4 student visa rules now in force

MORE CHALLENGES FOR TIER 4 STUDENTS AS ‘3-YEAR RULE’ APPLIED

New Tier 4 sponsor guidance published for Highly Trusted Sponsorship – will your private college qualify?

University of Wales cease validating degrees at colleges and other institutions

For free immigration news updates, please visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk  or email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk

British MPs have accused the UK Border Agency (UKBA) of losing track of a population of asylum seekers and migrants equivalent to the size of Cambridge, the BBC reports.

UK border force head suspended

The head of the UK border force has been suspended by the Home Office following allegations staff were told to scale down some identity checks, the BBC reports.

‘I’ve done nothing wrong’ says bankrupt Tasmac College director to the 650 students who have lost £7500 in fees

Bust college Director Prashan Dua told angry students at the Tasmac College creditors meeting, held on 3 November at a theatre in Rickmansworth, that he and his fellow Directors had done ‘nothing wrong’. Angry students were told that they were ‘unsecured creditors’ who fell behind secured creditors such as Bank of India and the former staff who are still owed salary payments.

UK Border Agency announce further changes to the student visa system

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has taken ‘tough new enforcement action’ to stop ‘abuse’ of the student visa system by effectively preventing over 450 education providers from sponsoring new international students…Many private college owners have decided that ‘enough is enough’ following stringent new Tier 4 visa rules, implemented on 4 July, which basically means that any new international students studying at a private college (as opposed to a government publicly funded institution) can no longer work or sponsor dependants. The new rules do not affect Bulgarians and Romanians coming to the UK on Yellow Card registration permits to work and study on vocational courses such as NVQ or QCF courses in Health and Social Care. 

TASMAC College Creditors Meeting

Bijal Shah, of Licensed Insolvency Practitioner’s RE 10, has announced a further creditors meeting for the bankrupt TASMAC College, to be held at 11am on 3 November at:

UK economy growing faster than expected

Britain’s economy is growing faster than expected, new figures have revealed, a sign that a feared double-dip recession will be averted.

UK University applications drop 9% as higher fees and student visa crackdown takes effect

UK Universities are facing a double whammy of increased fees for resident students and relentless crackdown on Tier 4 student visas for non-EU students.

If you need any immigration advice or help with Sponsorship or Work Permits, Visa, ILR/Settlement, Citizenship, dependant visa or an appeal against a refusal please email: info@immigrationmatters.co.uk or visit www.immigrationmatters.co.uk

Bison UK Immigration Adviser Cynthia Barker is offering free immigration advice consultations for Tasmac and any other students affected by the closure of their college. Her office is open 9 AM to5 PM Monday to Friday. Call 0208 905 1822. 

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