Boris Johnson welcomes Tier 4 student visa immigration to the UK

During a five day visit to India, Boris Johnson has spoken out against the Government’s unwelcoming attitude towards foreign students on a tier 4 student visa and restrictions on overseas students which may be putting them off coming to the UK.

The Mayor believes that new rules introduced last year by ministers to clampdown on overseas students and bogus colleges sent out the “wrong signal” and could hit the £2.5bn revenue stream that British universities earn from their fees.

Figures released by the Mayor, show that there has been a 9% fall in the number of Indian students applying to study in the UK this year. It has been predicted that there is a further fall of 25% for next year.

The new restrictions include higher standards of English literacy and refusing overseas graduates the right to stay in the UK unless they secure a job with a salary above £20,000. This could lead to students being deterred from studying in the UK as it would mean their futures would not be secure.

Calls to promote British universities

Speaking to Indian students in Delhi, Johnson said that he was urging the Government to set up an educational exports commission to promote Britain’s universities abroad and help secure their future. One of its tasks would be to find out if foreign students were choosing to study in the US, Canada and Australia instead of Britain.

The Mayor said: “It’s crazy that we should be losing India’s top talent and global leaders of the future to Australia and the United States.”

Further, he said that he had written to Theresa May and Vince Cable, backing a campaign to exclude students from the government’s target of reducing net migration.

The problem with perception

Although 75% of Indian students are granted visas, the Mayor believes that there is a problem with perception and said “we need to see a strong statement of welcome to make sure that the visa system is not a deterrent to international students.”

The UKBA’s recent decision to remove London Metropolitan University’s (LMU) ability to sponsor visas for foreign students has had a negative impact on how foreign students perceive the UK.  The way the UKBA handled the situation can be said to be without regard to the welfare of these students and may lead others to believe that if they get admitted to British universities, there is no certainty that they will be able to complete their studies.

Why use a UK Specialist Immigration Lawyer?

Lexvisa is a boutique law firm that can assist with immigration matters (including Tier 4 – Adult student visas). For students who are facing legal difficulties Lexvisa offers a free consultation over the phone or in person at our office in Middle Temple (just opposite the Royal Courts of Justice), London.

We are a UK Solicitors law firm and are fully authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). We are often instructed at immigration appeal stages in cases that ‘immigration businesses’ have dealt with and which were clearly hopeless applications at the outset. When you instruct us, qualified immigration solicitors or immigration barristers work on your case from the outset when it matters the most in order to ensure no time and money is wasted and more importantly that no mistakes are made.

As a leading law firm with a track record of success, you can be assured your immigration matter is in safe hands and that the best strategy for your case will be adopted. It is crucial that you seek specialist legal advice at the outset and prior to making any type of immigration application. We can assist your with your applications for any type of Visa or permit and any form of leave to remain (or for entry clearance) under the points based system. We ensure our clients comply with the Immigration Rules and the strict requirements of the UKBA prior to making an application, thereby eliminating much of the stress of the application process.

Our Immigration Experts are able to give specialist legal information and advice on applications for UK Spouse Visas, UK Marriage Visas and UK Dependent Visas. To contact one of our Solicitors or Barristers please click here to complete a legal case assessment or telephone 0845 8622 529.

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