UK tightens student visa rules

By OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT

London

July 30: Britain on Wednesday tightened visa rules for foreign students hoping to come to study in the country. The home office also unveiled tougher measures for universities and colleges to put an end to bogus colleges, which are used as fronts to get entry for illegal immigrants.

Foreign students, who will be joining courses lasting longer than 12 months, will have to show they have sufficient funds to pay their first year of fees, plus £9,600 to cover their first year in the UK. Those wishing to bring their dependants with them will need to show they have a further £535 per month for each person they bring.

International students would also need to provide fingerprints for the visa. Foreign students contribute £2.5 billion annually to the UK economy in tuition fees alone and an overall estimated contribution of £8.5 billion, the home office said. The changes in the visa rules for students have been made in tune with the points-based system, students fall under Tier 4 of the system.

Under the new rules, education providers who want to teach foreign nationals must get a licence from the UK Border Agency before they can then sponsor students to come to the UK.

"All those who come to Britain must play by the rules. It is right that foreign students wanting to take advantage of our world-class universities and colleges must meet strict criteria. By locking people to one identity with ID cards, alongside a tough new sponsorship system, we will know exactly who is coming here to study and crack down on bogus colleges," border and immigration minister Liam Byrne said.