Posted:12/09/2009 12:05 PM
Updated:12/09/2009 12:05 PM

Alleged abuse of student visa system - government response

The government has responded to allegations in The Sunday Telegraph that Tier 4 of the UK's points-based system for immigration is being widely abused by foreign nationals posing as students...


All applications under the points-based system are closely scrutinised, and our frontline staff are trained in detecting forgery and fraud. Contrary to the newspaper's claim that anyone achieving the 40 points required under Tier 4 will have their application approved, we can still refuse anyone who submits false documents, has an adverse immigration history or has insufficient funds when they apply.

We will also refuse anyone who applies under Tier 4 but is not intending to undertake a genuine course with a genuine education provider. We can and do ban people from applying for visas for 10 years if they use false documents or deception in a visa application.

If a college is a licensed Tier 4 sponsor but knowingly accept migrants who do not intend to study there, we will revoke its licence quickly.

If someone applies to study at one college but then wants to switch to another college, they will have to apply to us for permission to do so - and the new college must also be on a licensed Tier 4 sponsor. All licensed colleges must now report on student attendance, and we will take appropriate action if they fail to do so or if they have a high drop-out rate.

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

'While there will always be people who will try to abuse our immigration rules, we have robust systems in place to ensure that only those students who are genuinely coming to the UK to study can do so.

'The points-based system ensures that only those colleges and schools who provide quality education and take responsibility for their students are licensed to bring in foreign students.

'Schools and colleges are inspected by accreditation bodies and the UK Border Agency to ensure they are genuine. Before we tightened controls, around 4,000 UK institutions were bringing in international students - this currently stands at around 2,000.

'We continuously monitor our systems, and where improvements can be made we will make them.'

UKBA-08 December 2009