New forms
The UKBA introduced a new form for Tier 4 applicants on 23 July 2010 followed on 30 July 2010 by new forms for the following categories:
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
• Tier 1 (Investor)
• Tier 1 (Post-study work)
• Tier 2 (all categories)
• Tier 4 (Child)
• Tier 5 (Temporary worker)
• dependants of points-based system applicants
• Change of circumstances
The main difference from previous versions is that the forms refer to biometric residence permits instead of identity cards for foreign nationals. This follows on from the coalition government’s plans to scrap ID cards. New guidance documents have also been produced.
Biometric residence Permits
As from the 13th of August 2010, the UKBA has changed their system so that any Biometric Residence Permit produced from that date will show the student’s CAS number rather than the sponsor’s licence number as has been the case in the past. We wait to see whether this linking of the student to the course rather than the college has any wider implications.
Specified English Tests
Universities UK, UKCISA and many individual colleges have raised with UKBA why UK qualifications such as IGCSEs are not accepted as evidence of English language ability. So far the UKBA has responded in neutral terms by stating that prospective general students will still need to take and pass the specified tests to the proscribed levels even if they have UK qualifications studied in English. They have, however, added that this will be considered further alongside other issues in Tier 4 review (see below).
Visa Issuing in China and North India
The UKBA has lifted the suspension at the three South China visa application centres (Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Shenshen) for Tier 4 student applications for all courses except English language courses. The suspension of Tier 4 visa issuing in North India has also been lifted with the exception of applications for English language courses made in North India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Informal feedback suggests that the Delhi centre is coping well with the inevitable pent up demand for the issue of visas.
Statistics
Home office statistics published on 26 August 2010 show the number of Tier 4 Students, pre-Points Based System (PBS) equivalent and student visitor visas issued was 362,015, an increase of 35 per cent compared with the year to 30 June 2009 (268,575). http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/immiq210.pdf
The figures brought the inevitable comments about tightening up immigration controls with the Immigration Minister, Damian Green stating that a "thorough evaluation" would be conducted over the coming months because of what he called a "significant abuse" of the student visa system. Other commentators refer to the financial contribution made by international students to universities and the wider UK economy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/02/review-student-visas-numbers-leap-third
Reviews of Sponsor Ratings
Education providers should be aware that the latest version of the Tier 4 Sponsor Guidance (paragraphs 159-163) contains a section covering further reviews of A and B rated sponsors. http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/employersandsponsors/pbsguidance/guidancefrom31mar09/sponsor-app-guidance-t4.pdf?view=Binary
After a Standard (B rated) sponsor has held its licence for 6 months or after it has had an intake of students, (whichever is sooner), the UKBA will assess it against a further set of ratings criteria in addition to those applied when the licence was first granted. Should a sponsor not achieve the standards in just one or two areas, UKBA will decide whether this level of performance should result in an A (Trusted)-rating, a B (Sponsor)-rating or the withdrawal of a sponsor’s licence.
The additional ratings criteria set out minimum acceptable levels of performance. The criteria are similar to those applied to applications for Highly Trusted Sponsors (HTS) but with the criteria set at slightly more generous levels. For example, whereas HTS requires a maximum of 2% no shows, the tolerance for A rated sponsors is set at up to 4% and for B rated sponsors at between 4% and 6%. The Guidance also refers to the requirement for sponsors to follow UKBA good practice guidance which is expected to be published shortly.
All new sponsors who are granted a Standard Tier 4 licence on or after 6 April 2010 may be assessed against the additional ratings criteria after they have held their licence for six months, or after they have had an intake of students, whichever is sooner.
All sponsors who already hold a Tier 4 licence on 6 April 2010, but do not make an application for a Highly Trusted sponsor licence, may be assessed against the additional ratings criteria from 6 October 2010 or after they have had an intake of students, whichever is sooner.
Towards the end of 2009 the UKBA conducted an exercise which requested data on the attendance of all students issued with visa letters and resulted in the suspension of hundreds of colleges. Against this background, education providers are advised to take early steps to review and where necessary seek to improve their performance against the UKBA criteria to guard against any similar exercise during 2010.
For support in complying with this requirement see our website www.veristat.co.uk and contact us at enquiries@veristat.co.uk
Veristat continues to provide a wide range of services to education providers through compliance audits, advice packages, assessment of intent and recruitment. Please contact us for a no commitment discussion if you think you would benefit from any of these services.
