Faced with a significant increase in the number in visa-seekers, the UK will temporarily stop accepting student visa applications in New Delhi, Jalandhar and Chandigarh from February 1. The steep rise in the number of applications has led to fears of visa abuse.
The decision was taken in view of applications jumping from 1,800 for the academic year 2009 to 13,500 for 2010. It will be reviewed in February-end. The number of applications received from these three north Indian centers (for the academic year 2008) was 1,000. This decision, however, will not affect other category of visas.
Although the decision leaves the western and southern regions untouched, the UK High Commission advised students from north India against traveling there for visa application without prior appointments. “The aim is to process visa applications fairly, thoroughly and quickly,” Chris Dix, UK Border Agency (UKBA) regional director said.
Indians and Chinese constitute the largest students’ community in the UK.
The decision will affect visa applications in tier 4 of the UK points-based system and will put genuine students in trouble. But agents said this was not the peak season for such travelers, who are more likely to be seeking visas between July and October.
"The temporary suspension will allow the UKBA to continue to scrutinize applications thoroughly and to manage the visa process efficiently for all our customers in north India," UK deputy high commissioner Nigel Casey said.
The huge increase in visa applications in October-December 2009 is from Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar and set off alarm bells. "Some applicants are trying to abuse the visa procedure to get entry into the UK for purpose other than studies. We cannot allow this to happen," said Dix.
Casey said the spurt in student visas had been taken up with the HRD ministry. The UK is the second most favorite destination for Indian students after the US. The UK had been overtaken by Australia, but recent attacks on Indians there may have scared away many students, particularly of the migrant variety, who may now be gravitating to the UK.
British high commissioner Sir Richard Stag said this was a temporary measure designed to protect genuine students, professional agents and good education providers from those who are not currently playing by the rules. He said, "But some applicants are attempting to abuse our visa processes and we will not let that happen."
Education providers feel that the move may have a limited impact given the current "low" season. Indian representative of University of Warwick Kanika Marwaha said, "Typically, the visa season for students is in October for the January session or July for the fall session. So, I don’t see much of an adverse impact, although it may affect some students trying for short term programs."
Journals on Education are published from different countries including India. The subject matters range from the current problems and their solutions in the field of education, government policies in education, ...
AIIMS ONCE AGAIN
Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss should be sacked at least from post of Chairperson of New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, if ...
The recent arrest of two more activists of the banned and dreaded outfit Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) outfit has sensitized the entire administrative infrastructure of India projecting the ...
What is New in India and Abroad
