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.”

“[We] have been deeply concerned about the significant increase in delays experienced earlier this year by many international students, the groups wrote in a joint statement. “Lengthy and unnecessary delays frustrate and discourage” these individuals from travelling to the United States to work, study or attend conferences.

The joint statement highlights a number of steps needed to further improve the visa process including increased training of staff and additional resources for agencies involved in the visa process. The statement also praises recent actions taken by the Federal Government to address the issue.

“We applaud the State Department for working with its partner agencies to address this most recent spate of visa delays for students and scholars in the sciences,” said Marlene M. Johnson, Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, “we must work together to address the remaining visa problems if we are to remain a leading destination for innovation and academic excellence.”

To read the full NAFSA press release, click here.