- New Student Visa System for UK
Effective from March 31, 2009 UK is bringing a new student visa system called 'Tier 4' of the Points Based System (PBS). In this applicants need to score 40 points in order to qualify for a student visa - 30 points for a visa letter issued by a licensed sponsor and 10 points for showing you have enough money to cover your course fees and living costs (maintenance). The visa letter should not be more than six months old.
The visa letter is an 'unconditional offer' from an education provider (university/college). It shows that the education provider will act as the student's 'immigration sponsor,' and is confident that he/she is capable of doing the course of study for which he/she has applied, and accepts responsibility for the student while he/she is in the UK.
As a result of the new visa new system which includes visa letter, students will be tied to one education provider. So, while students may still receive multiple visa letters, they can use only one to apply for the visa. If the student wants to change institutions after obtaining the visa, he/she would need to take permission from the UKBA (United Kingdom Border Agency).
The 'Tier 4' system is said to be simpler, more objective and more transparent.
- Highlights of new visa system
Educational institutions in the UK will need to take full responsibility of students who go there to study; this will be far greater degree of responsibility than before. Institutions will have to make a judgment on an individual whether he/she is capable of pursuing the chosen course. The new system will help to weed out bogus students and facilitate genuine applications.
Under Tier 4, it will be checked whether university/college is taking the onus of ensuring a prospective student's ability and English language proficiency.
Any institution that wants to sponsor foreign students will have to get a licence from the UKBA, which is an agency of Home Affairs that is responsible for protecting the UK border. Therefore, students must study with an education provider that is registered with the UK Border Agency as being permitted to recruit international students.
The visa officer will mainly be responsible for checking whether the student is capable of financing his/her study and stay in the UK.
Many students receive multiple offer letters, which makes it increasingly difficult to keep track of which university/college they eventually enrol in. But, with the new visa tying a student down to a specific university/college, this will no longer be the case. This will further ensure that those going to the UK on a student visa are, in fact, there to study.
The new system will ensure students are going to study and pay for credible institution/university in the UK, as only education providers approved by UKBA will be able to provide visa letters. It will also prevent unscrupulous colleges from misleading overseas students.
- Work visa
Students who successfully complete a Bachelor's programme or higher degree can apply for a work visa under Tier 1 (post-study and highly skilled workers), within a year of graduating. This allows them to stay and work in the UK for another two years.
Also, it is not necessary for the student to return to India as the application for switching from a 'student visa' to a 'work visa' can be made while in the UK itself.
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