40% cut in Student Visa approvals on the way?

Now that the Coalition Government has announced the proposed changes to Tier 1 and Tier 2 of the Points Based Immigration System it is now expected to focus its attention on reforming the Tier 4 (Student) entry route. And following the announcement that net Immigration to the UK has actually increased to 215,000 in the year to March 2010 he Government may now take a hard line and slash the number of migrants coming to the UK each year under the route.

The Home Secretary, Theresa May, recently said that “A recent check of students studying at private institutions below degree level showed that a quarter could not be accounted for. Too many students at these lower levels have been coming here with a view to living and working, rather than studying. We need to stop this abuse.”

Since International Students account for nearly 60% of UK Immigration the criteria may now be tightened to exclude courses below degree level. The Home Office estimates that around 30,000 people (40% of the total number of Students) are on courses below degree level.

Increase in Net Immigration

The Home Office’s quarterly Immigration figures recently revealed that net Immigration to the United Kingdom has increased to 215,000 in the year to March 2010, a unexpected increase which has been put down to a 10 year low in the number of British Citizens leaving the UK. The increase will make it harder than ever for the Coalition Government to achieve its General Election pledge of reducing net Immigration to ‘tens of thousands rather than hundreds of thousands’.

The figures on net migration show that 580,000 people came to work or study in the UK for more than a year in the 12 months to March 2010, while 364,000 moved abroad over the same period, leaving a rounded net migration figure of 215,000. The figures also show that:

• The number of migrants coming to Britain from outside the European Union remained virtually unchanged last year at 303,000
• 56,000 people headed to the United States and Australia last year, making them the most popular destinations
  • Less Poles have returned home with figures falling from 50,000 in 2007 to 24,000 last year

Commonwealth Contractors

Commonwealth Contractors is a collection of highly skilled professionals from the Commonwealth and beyond. We partner with OISC Registered Immigration Partners capable of professionally representing a Tier 1 Visa Application / Extension and Tier 2 Licensed Consultancy & Associated Trust Partners who may be prepared, where required, to sponsor a doctor on a Tier 2 Visa (formerly UK Work Permit). Commonwealth Contractors also provides updates on UK Immigration News.

To find out more call Commonwealth Contractors now on 0330 390 9021 or Submit your Details and we will get back to you. Please be prepared to send a copy of a recent CV so that we can pass to interested partners.