Education
Sharp Increase in Student Visitor Visas
Recent statistics published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed a significant increase in Student Visitor Visas (SVVs). The latest ONS figures show that applications for SVVs rose sharply by 12% to a record 67,000 in the 12-month period ending in September 2012.
Education providers should be mindful of this increase and that it is likely to result in the UKBA paying more attention to such applications.
You can download the full ONS report here.
Home Secretary's Speech on Immigration - 12/12/2012
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, delivered a speech on 'An Immigration System that Works in the National Interest' on 12 December 2012.
The key points made in this speech concerning international students coming to Britain were as follows:
- PhD students who have completed their studies will be permitted to stay here for longer to find skilled work or set up as an entrepreneur within the rules. They will be allowed to stay for 12 months after they have completed their PhD before having to find a job or start a business.
- Extending UKBA's interviewing programme, starting with high-risk countries, and focusing on the student visa route. The number of interviews will be increased to more than 100,000 starting next financial year.
- There are no current plans to increase a cap on the number of international students able to come to Britain.
Visa delays leave students stranded for Christmas
The Guardian reported that many international students were left stranded without passports leaving them unable to return home for Christmas due to delays in processing their visas.
The report focused on students from the London School of Film who had been asked to hand over their passports to UKBA in November so they could be issued with new study permits after the London Metropolitan University lost its highly trusted sponsor status. However, students at other institutions will have been similarly affected.
UKBA confirmed that some applications were still being processed but where requests had been made for return by 20 December, passports had been dispatched.
Student Statistics
Statistics published by the Home Office show a significant fall in student numbers.
Most recent data for the year ending September 2012 (210,921) shows there has been a 26% decrease in the number of visas issued for study in comparison with the year ending September 2011 (284,649). Admissions of those for the purposes of study in 2011 (267,000) have also fallen by 10% compared to 2010 (296,000). IPS estimates for long term student migration for the year ending March 2012 have fallen by 7% (163,000) compared with the previous 12 months (175,000). Entry clearance visas provide the most up-to-date picture of immigration.
The number of sponsored student visa applications (main applicants) fell by 29% (similar to the 26% fall in visas issued) in the year ending September 2012 (211,001) compared with the previous 12 months (295,345). There was a 1% increase in the university sector (UK-based Higher Education Institutions) and falls of 67%, 76% and 17% respectively for the further education sector (Tertiary, further education or other colleges), English language schools and independent schools.
Falls in the number of visas issued for the purposes of study since the second quarter of 2011 are consistent with significant changes to the student visas system from April 2011 following a major public consultation on reforming Tier 4 of the points-based system.
Across the available range of data sources for non-EU nationals study has been the most common reason for coming to the UK since 2006. Between 2005 and the early part of 2011, figures from entry clearance visas, admissions and estimates from the IPS for non-EU nationals all showed a rise in student immigration. However, there are now signs that student immigration may have peaked, as figures across the range of data sources have all seen recent decreases.
Working in the UK
Home Secretary's Speech on Immigration - 12/12/2012
The Home Secretary, Theresa May, delivered a speech on 'An Immigration System that Works in the National Interest' on 12 December 2012.
The key points made in this speech concerning working in the UK was as follows:
- ICT numbers have remained steady.
- A new 'exceptional talent' route has been created to attract the best experts, scientists, artists and performers. However, take-up has been low so they will be working with UK trade and investment to encourage more exceptional people taking advantage of this route.
- A further 1,000 places a year will be introduced for MBA graduates who want to stay in Britain and start up businesses.
The full speech can be read here.
New application forms
The UK Border Agency published new versions of the following Tier 1 application forms on 13 December 2012:
- Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) form
- Tier 1 (Investor) form
- Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) form
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) form
- Tier 1 (General) form
These forms can be downloaded from the UKBA website.
UKBA will continue to accept applications made on the previous versions of these forms up to and including 3 January 2013.
UKBA will consider any application submitted on or after 13 December 2012 under the revised Immigration Rules regardless of which version of the application form is sent.
General Immigration Matters
Review of Immigration Detention Casework
A thematic report of immigration detention casework jointly published by John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration and Nick Hardwick, Chief Inspector of Prisons, called for immigration casework to be improved so people aren't detained for longer than necessary.
They argue that casework must be appropriately skilled and resourced, and should be subject to more effective quality assurance.
The report also recommended that an independent panel be established to review the cases of all individuals held for lengthy periods.
The full report can be downloaded here.
Changes to Biometric Residence Permits
From 1 December 2012, changes are being made to the requirement to provide the UK Border Agency with biometric information.
Applicants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland granted permission to stay for more than 6 months on or after 1 December 2012 must apply for a biometric residence permit if they haven't already done so.
UKBA will write to those affected by the change to advise them how they can apply for their biometric residence permit.
New application forms
The UK Border Agency published new versions of the following application forms on 13 December 2012:
- NTL form
- TOC form
- SET(M) form
- SET(BUS) form
- SET(DV) form
- SET(F) form
- SET(O) form
- DRF1 form
- FLR(M) form
- FLR(O) form
- DLR(BUS) form
- DLR(P) form
- BRP(RC) form
- DL (formerly HPDL) form
- BR(1) form
- BR(3) form
These forms should be downloaded from the UKBA website.
UKBA will continue to accept applications made on the previous version of these forms up to and including 3 January 2013.
UKBA will consider any applications submitted on or after 13 December 2012 under the revised Immigration Rules regardless of which version of the application form is sent.
Met Police & UKBA jointly work to deport foreign offenders
A joint operation by the Metropolitan police and UK Border Agency has resulted in 179 foreign offenders being deported and a further 300 detained since September.
UKBA officers have been posted in 21 custody suites across London allowing quicker immigration checks to be undertaken.
The operation will run until the end of March and if successful could be rolled out to other police forces.
Veristat Services
HTS and Immigration support for Education providers
Veristat provides a wide range of services to education providers including compliance audits and advice packages, full details of which can be found on our website www.veristat.co.uk. An increasingly popular service for Universities is our mock UKBA audit which covers all aspects of compliance from recruitment to student monitoring and reporting. For further information and a no commitment discussion contact Don Ingham at don@veristat.co.uk.
Admissions Service
In response to requests from clients, Veristat has launched a new Admissions Service for schools, colleges and universities to ensure that student applications meet UKBA requirements. The service can be continuous or as additional support to cover short term, peak periods. We offer a full menu of options from which clients can select the services that meet their requirements. Examples include:
- Review and approval of all admissions documentation pending CAS issue.
- English language (SELT) and NARIC checks.
- Checks for previous refusals and study.
- Academic progression
- Rules relating to length of study
- Chasing missing documentation
- Finance checks
- Issuing CAS as Level 1 or Level 2 user
For further information, please contact us at enquiries@veristat.co.uk.
Training for Employers
We are increasingly being asked to provide training for employers both on Tier 2 and 'right to work' including document examination. Sessions normally last around half a day and are fully tailored to the employer's requirements.
For further information, please contact us at enquiries@hrimmigration.co.uk.
