BBC: Foreign student visas to be cut by UK

[Twoller]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8502640.stm

From that link, partially quoted:

Foreign student visas to be cut by UK

....

"We remain open to those foreign students who want to come to the UK for legitimate study - they remain welcome.

"But those who are not seriously interested in coming here to study but come primarily to work - they should be in no doubt that we will come down hard on those that flout the rules."

Under the measures:

• Successful applicants from outside the EU will have to speak English to a level only just below GCSE standard, rather than beginner level as at present.

• Students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for only 10 hours a week, instead of 20 as at present.

• Those on courses which last under six months will not be allowed to bring dependants into the country, while the dependants of students on courses below degree level will not be allowed to work.

• Additionally, visas for courses below degree level will also be granted only if the institutions they attend are on a new register, the Highly Trusted Sponsors List.

Last weekend it emerged the UK Border Agency had temporarily suspended student visa applications from northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Officials said they were acting after the system had been overwhelmed and concerns had been raised that many cases were not genuine.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Maybe we should contract our visa system out to the UK