British Council calls for review of student visa changes

February 17, 2012 | Filed under: England,Study Visa | Posted by: Alizah

British Council has appealed to the British government to undertake an urgent review of the student visa system in order to make it simple and quick, following an unprecedented increase in the rejection of student visa applications and an overwhelming criticism drawn by the UK Border Agency’s decision to scrap the Tier 1 post-study work visa.

The council, which is tasked with promoting the British education system across the globe, has grave concerns over the suspension of the Tier 1 visa programme and tightening of the student visa rules.

With the dawn of 2012, the UK immigration authorities have introduced a number of harsh amendments to the student visa regime, making it strict for the international student to stay and study in England.

After April 2012, the international students studying in the British educational institutes will not be able to get work permits in the wake of completing their degrees. This policy is likely to hit a number of foreign students.

Moreover, the English government plans to increase fees for all sorts of the visas from April this year.

All these anti-immigration policies of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, have made England a tough piece of land for the international students.

The British Council wants the government to repeal the unfair changes from the student visa regime and concede all due rights to the migrants.

In its recently-published report entitled as “Impact of Visa Changes on Student Mobility and Outlook for the UK”, the council has cited the examples of the British competitors in world immigration market including US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand which are offering easy visa policies to the international students, and urged the UK Border Agency to do the same.

Great Britain has more potential and strength in the field of education than its competitors but the only thing which does not let it flourish in the international market is strict visa laws. If these laws are eased down, England can still lead the world market.