The following measures are in place with immediate effect:

• Non-EU applicants will need to prove they have an almost-GCSE standard of English, rather than the beginner level currently required.
• To ensure applicants are coming to the UK to focus on study rather than work, students on courses below degree level will be restricted to 10 hours paid work a week instead of the current 20.
• Students on courses that last less than six months will not be permitted to bring dependants into the country, and dependants of students on below degree-level courses will not be permitted to work.
• Visas for courses that include work placements will now only be granted if the institution is on the Highly Trusted Sponsors List, a new register for educational establishments.

The increased restrictions on student visas are part of the British governments response to concerns about students coming to the UK and failing to leave at the agreed time, as well as others abusing the system and taking university places away from genuine international students.

The UK is one of the most highly-sought destinations for international students, who are thought to be worth between £5m and £8m to the UK economy.

For more information on UK visas visit the UK Border Agency and read the latest UK edition from i-studentadvisor.

Blunders by the UK Border Agency, which could cost thousands of Pakistani students their places at UK universities, have outraged Pakistani officials with students complaining of excessive delays in their applications and unfair refusals.

Critics of the UK Border Agency have been quick to point out that the visa problems began soon after the Agency moved their Pakistan operations to Abu Dhabi.

Despite the UK Border Agency employing an extra 100 staff members; a total of 140,000 students have so far experienced problems with their visa applications whilst many have missed their start date of courses.

Reports in the Dawn newspaper yesterday revealed that an estimated 20,000 student passports were piled in the UK Border Agency offices whilst applications pended. UK authorities state that student passports must be retained by the UK Border Agency for the duration of the visa processing time.

One angry student commented, “It’s ridiculous not knowing where your most important document is.”

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?