UK Government sets out Tier 4 (Student) Visa Reform Proposals

The UK Government has announced proposals for a major reform of the way the Tier 4 (Student) tier of the Points Based System operates. The proposals include tougher entrance criteria, limits on work and an end to students staying in the UK to look for a job. When announcing the proposed reforms the Damian Green said that “41 per cent of students coming through this route were studying courses below degree level.”

The Immigration Minister, Damian Green, said that ‘’I believe attracting talented students from abroad is vital to the United Kingdom, but we must be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay. People imagine students to be those who come here for a few years to study at university and then go home but that is not always the case. Too many students coming to study below degree level have been coming here to live and work, rather than studying. We need to stop this abuse. Today’s proposals follow a major review of the system, and are aimed at a more selective system and, crucially, reducing the numbers to meet our target of reducing net migration to sustainable levels. This government wants high-calibre students with the genuine desire to study to come to our country to come for temporary periods, and then return home. We want to hear views of our proposals from a wide range of people so that our reforms meet this objective.’’
’
Tier 4 Student Proposals

• Reduction in the number of people coming to the UK to study below degree level
• Introduction of a tougher English language requirement
• Provisions to ensure that students wishing to extend their studies show evidence of academic progression
• Limits on students’ entitlements to work and their ability to bring in dependants
• An enhanced accreditation process for education providers, alongside more rigorous inspections.

International Students remaining in the UK

Recently a new Home Office report titled ‘A Migrant’s Journey’ found that 20% of International Students remain in the UK after their initial visa has expired. Out of the 186,000 students who arrived in the United Kingdom in 2004 almost 40,000 remained in Britain by 2009 with the Home Office saying migrants were going on to further study, work or had been granted leave due to family reasons.

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 partner