UK dumps IRIS technology at airport immigration desks
The UK plans to phase out airport ‘IRIS recognition’ machines and will instead expand automatic passport scanning gates.
Institute of Directors attacks crackdown on foreign students and Post Study Work visa abolition
UK government measures to close the Post Study Work visa route thereby restricting work foreign students can do following graduation is a “retrograde step” that will undermine Britain’s higher education sector, a leading business group has warned this week.
New student visa rules announced today
New Tier 4 student visa rules will come into force ‘within weeks’ in order to ‘cut abuse of the student visa route and ensure that only the brightest and the best students can stay and work in the UK’, Immigration Minister Damian Green announced today. International non-EU students are currently allowed work in the UK for 2 years after their studies have finished under the Tier 1 PSW (Post-study work) route. But from 6 April, a more ‘selective’ system will be implemented restricting the right to stay to international graduates who qualify under new rules.
Tier 4 student visa laws ‘harm universities’ says former Education Minister
UK universities are missing out on students from India because of the Government tightening immigration controls, a former education minister warns.
Labour’s Baroness Blackstone said the country risked being in a “very unfortunate position” when it came to attracting lucrative overseas students – worth billions of pounds to UK universities.
UK Immigration crackdown on Tier 4 students sees 70% fall in applications to private colleges
City AM reports that the UK government’s policy to cut immigration is having a devastating effect on private higher education, according to a new report published last week. Prohibiting some international students, those studying at private institutions, from working part-time to support their studies in the UK must be reversed, the Centre Forum think tank argued.
JCWI asks: Bogus’ Colleges – what about their Genuine Students?
Finally one of the main migrant groups are taking up the cases of thousands of Tier 4 students who have been left stranded like refugees in a war zone during the UK Border Agency’s relentless student visa crackdown on private colleges.
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.
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. 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.
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.
