Fresh statistics were produced by the Office of National Statistics show that net immigration to the UK rose in 2009 from the previous year.  There were a few reasons for this some of them are understandable but some are a result of people playing the immigration system of this country.  One genuine reason for this increase is that emmigration numbers fell by a 13% hence there are more people choosing not to leave the UK then previous years.  However the most staggering and rather worrying statistic is that of the amount of ‘student visas’ that were granted, even though the previous Labour government tightened the laws.

The numbers show that 365 015 ‘student visas’ were granted by the home office a rise of 35% on 2008.  In the past week we have seen that many college leavers do not have a university place even though they have achieved more then satisfactory results but with the common misconception that A-Level exams are getting easier and with the cash cow the foreign student is, it is more beneficial for the University to give places to overseas students.  However this is not my main concern as if a student from a remote part of India has better grades then a student born in the UK then the Indian should get the place.

My main concern is those people who play the immigration system.  In the Indian Sub-continent it is common knowledge that the easiest way to get into the UK legally is by way of the student visa scam.  The scam is very simple and is on the face of it legal.  The person applies to an accredited College or University fulfils the Home Office criteria to get the point required and 9 out of 10 applicants will succeed.  So where’s the scam?  The scam start right in the UK.  We have all heard of ‘bogus universities’ and most feel that there are very few of them about.  However next time you go down your high street and you see a cardboard sign reading along the lines of Oxford College of Business or London School of Computer Software Training Management it is a ‘bogus college’ which is most probably eligible to admit foreign students.  They have authority from the various government department to accept applications and student from abroad.  If you were to take a closer look at these fine learning institutions you will find they have a vast library on one book shelf there up to date and fully modernised IT suite has one Acorn between five students and they are being taught by teachers from Eastern Europe.

The scam then is followed by the student.  In India it is possible to get fake qualifications for any subject up to any standard as long as you are willing to pay.  For those who are desperate to follow the ‘British Dream’ they will go to any length to acquire these cirtificates.  Then the UK government require all overseas students to show that they are financially stable to live in the UK for the period of their course.  The current sum is just over £7000 per year.  The prospective student in India will go to a loan shark and get however much he needs to make up his credit to get the visa.  Once he has done this he has fulfilled all the governments criteria and will be very unlucky not to recive his visa and he lands in the UK.  This person has no intention of studying here, all he is after is a cheap job whereby he can initially pay of his debt to the loan shark and then save enough money outstay his visa and go back home.  Usually after 5-10 years unless he gets caught in the mean time.

The government is in a helpless position when it comes to student visas.  It cannot stop them entirely as foreign students contribute approximately £6bn to the UK economy and every university in the land would be up in arms if they banned foreign students.  It may be able to propose a cap on the number but how do you decide the number and again universities would not favour such a move.  The government can however do more to clamp down on ‘bogus colleges’ and not renew licenses as quickly as they do.  Another requirement they should add is the requirement for a specialised qualification in English rather then just rely on the qualifications the prospective student produces.  Until then we will not see a reduction in immigration numbers and will see a continued rise in illegal immigrants that live in the UK and do not pay any taxes but take benefit from the public services.

Related posts:

1. Why As A Student, I Have Little Sympathy For Unemployed Graduates I know this will make me about as popular as...
2. Immigration: The Election Winner – the UK and Australlia Elections With the results coming in soon for the Australian elections,...
3. Coalition Should Put Visas Up For Auction Damian Green, the Immigration Minsiter said on Channel 4 News...
4. Cameron’s Missed A Trick On Visas £10,000 to appeal a visa rejection? David Cameron's guestimate on...
5. EU Deliberately Breaks Up Families Keep the niggers out, is roughly speaking the policy of...