Give Us Your Foreign Students and Your Entrepreneurs

Under new rules proposed by the British Foreign Office, coming into effect on July 9, up to 5000 students a year could be denied entry to the United Kingdom under student visas.

The move, designed to discourage bogus students from entering the United Kingdom, also means that only the brightest and most accredited people will gain access to the country in order to study.

Some figures have shown that if the new rules were in place during 2011, up to 45% of applicants from Burma and 38% of applicants from Bangladesh may have been rejected.

Under current rules, it is the understanding that even if the UK Border Agency have serious doubts about the credentials of a client, they are unable to refuse them entry into the country. This now means that foreign students who are wanting to enter the United Kingdom to study now have make sure that they are able to prove their willing to study with institutions.

Opposition to the Changes

Critics of the new scheme, including over 70 university chancellors, have however, warned that the crackdown could force foreign students to go elsewhere in the world to study, causing the loss of billions of pounds to the economy of the country.

Thanks to research, it has been found that Britain attracts one in ten students who study out of their own borders, generating around £8billion a year, a figure that is set to double by around the year 2025.

One critic, Nicola Dandbridge, the Chief Executive of Universities UK stated:

"It is wrong in calling for international students to be counted within the UK's migration figures. The chancellors were calling for the Government to remove international students from net migration figures in order to make a clear distinction between temporary and permanent migrants for the UK's own internal policy purposes".

This of course comes at a time when tuition fees have risen considerably for British students living within their own country, though figures show that the applications have not fallen as much as was originally feared, with figures only falling by 5% last year.

Overseas Concerns

This however, is something that has not gone unnoticed abroad and respected education consultant, Syed Avidi, has warned Pakistani students to be careful about choosing to study within the United Kingdom, especially in regards to small institutions.

All Pakistani students will now have to be interviewed by the British High Commission in Islamabad for a student visa into the United Kingdom. This should only be done online and after very careful consideration of the information that has been submitted.

It must also be considered that students wishing to study at private universities and colleges will not be able to partake in part time study. Mr Avidi stated that:

"All public sector colleges and universities will allow students to work part time but closely monitor his/her attendance and whereabouts for a report to be sent to UK Border Agency (UKBA) regularly".

This now means that foreign students have to be extra careful when working in the United Kingdom, as an hour or two extra in the wrong place could spell harsh repercussions.
Labelled as ‘the back door to Britain', the figures of bogus students entering through the student visa is a great fear for the British government; doing nothing but undermining the confidence attributed to their immigration policies.

For those wanting to remain in the country after studying however, the Entrepreneur Visa is still available. Known as the Tier 1 Post-Study Worker, these holders have the opportunity to remain within the country if they are able to show funds of £50,000.

The good news is that there is legal help available; Business consulting from Phoenix BSC for example, can help and advise foreign entrepreneurs willing to start their own business in the country.

Share with friends