UK New Visa Policy

The UK Government has announced its plans for a new student visa system under the Points Based System (PBS) effective from 31 March 2009.

Known as Tier 4, the new system aims to be more transparent and to simplify existing immigration rules for genuine students and education providers. Under the new rules, universities and colleges will be required to take greater responsibility for their international students, which includes obtaining a special license for recruiting international students and reporting those who fail to attend classes.

"The new system is not meant to discourage students going to study in the UK but to weed out bogus colleges and students," said Dan Chugg, director, press and communications, British High Commission. All colleges and universities will have to maintain attendance sheets and ensure that all students' paperwork is in order, including keeping copies of their passports and alerting the UK Border Agency (UKBA) if students fail to enroll.

Education providers who fail to follow the new rules will face a ban on recruiting international students in the future and bogus colleges will be shut down.

Representatives of British universities in Nepal have welcomed the new rules. Richa Jain, India Manager, Nottingham Trent University, said: "The new system is probably going to help increase the number of students going to the UK. And if it doesn't, it would mean that bogus students have stopped applying. Besides, some students used to drag their degrees in order to extend their stay in the UK but, now, they would have to complete it on time."

Further, visas will only be granted to students who show a proven track record in education and are applying for a course that meets a minimum level of qualification. Students on courses for longer than 12 months will have to show they have sufficient funds to pay their first year of fees, plus 9,600 pounds to cover their first year in the UK. Students wishing to bring their dependants with them will need to show they have a further 535 pounds per-month for each person they bring.

For Further Details, log onto http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier4
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