UK announces new visa procedure for students

LAHORE: The British government announced to apply the Points Based System to applicants, intending to visit the country for higher education, to ensure transparency in the system.

The new system, known as Tier 4 of the Points Based System, will also enable the students to check the perquisites on the web before applying for visa with the help of an online calculator, thereby enabling them to save visa fee. Under the system, all colleges and universities will acquire a license before enrolling foreign students; every applicant will also need a licensed sponsor.

The UK government will also introduce checks so as to curb the trend of working illegally in the country. The system also bounds the educational institutions to alert the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in case any student stops attending classes. Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said: “I welcome the education sectors’ involvement in developing a structure that allows international students to benefit from the excellent educational experience the country has to offer…(by) giving them the opportunity to work in the UK for two years following graduation.” Earlier this year the government announced a special visa category, thereby allowing successful international students, who have graduated from a British university, to work in the UK for up to two years. The system will come to force in the spring of 2009.

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