BackA report in the Guardian Online on Tuesday announced that the new, stricter visa laws enforced by the UK Government in April are deterring international students from applying to study in the UK.
For student visa applications to be approved, “international students are now expected to show that they can afford their tuition fees 28 days before they apply, have at least an extra £600 a month and £400 for each dependant in living expenses and to keep it all in a bank account in their own name for the first year of their study,” stated the Guardian.
Figures revealing the amount of accepted student visas have yet to be announced by the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics. Though universities have estimated that the number of international students enrolling could be down by 20%.
Each year international students contribute a billion and a half pounds to the UK economy. If visa restrictions continue to cause international student numbers to fall, the effects on the UK education system and in turn the UK economy could be extremely damaging.
Commenting on the visa system, Chief Executive of Universities UK, Diana Warwick said: “This is our busiest period for student visa applications and there are worrying indications of problems with the operation of the system overseas.” She continued, “we know the UK Border Agency is working hard to process applications in time…we remain concerned, however, that the system may delay or deter international students who wish to study in the UK.”
What do you think? Are you an international student who has experienced UK visa problems? Or a guidance counsellor who has seen a decrease in the amount of UK applicants because of visa worries?
International students are realy malised because the amount of money we spend paying for visas every year is unbelievable. I really don’t think it’s fair for the Home office to think that everyone who wants to study in the UK has to be rich..
Atimes a visa is given for 6 months yest you clearly request for 1 year which is the length of your course then the Home office expects you to cough up more money for a new visa after the 6 months which is really unfair.
Visa fees,funds needed are increased without the input of international students, i feel its now more of a business.
Student Visa appeals take so long, which i find unfair.If the home office knows that it’s term time,appeals for student should be given an urgency as students’ time is wasted in unnessary beauracracy.Why should a Student miss classes waiitng for an appeal that is then granted after 7months or longer?
I have given up on UK and going to do my masters in Canada that seems to know how o treat international students.
My daughter is supposed to be attending the University of London next week, but her visa application was denied. The ECO wrote on the rejection sheet that using her parents’ “credit card” as an income source was not acceptable proof of maintenance funds. The “credit card” account was actually a bank statement for a loan we had taken out specifically to have cash on hand for the visa application. We have enough income to handle all her expenses, but we do not keep large amounts of cash on hand because of low interest rates in bank accounts versus mutual funds and stocks. I faxed a rant to the Chicago visa office asking for a refund of the processing fee and an official called back almost immediately. The official said that her denial was not due to a problem with our financial information, but that we filled out the visa application online on 17 August and that the rules at that time required my daughter to have the money in her account. However, the rules changed on 19 August to allow parents’ financial information. Her completed application was delivered to their office on 25 August so the rule at the time of processing the application allowed parents’ financial resources to be used. However, they applied the rules that were in place when the online form was filled out. This explanation is absurd. If the rules changed prior to them receiving the complete application the new rules should have been applied to the application. I have another daughter attending graduate school in Paris and we simply have to send a letter stating that we will provide financial support for her french student visa. The UK visa system should take lessons from the French.