UK GOVERNMENT CHANGES VISA POLICY FOR STUDENTS

UK has a vibrant and cosmopolitan culture, within a setting of natural beauty. Students from around the world reckon the UK is safer and has respected higher education institutions and amazingly given the complaints about British immigration control, is easier to get a visa to study in UK.

UK Government encourage international students to study.
There are some changes in new policy for student visa which is as mentioned below:

• International students on completion of a PG or an UG degree in a shortage sector to work in the UK. Applicants will then be able to switch to other long term immigration categories such as the Highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP).
  
  
• The new change does not require SEGS (Science & Engineering Scheme) to have a job offer at the time of application. They will have to prove to the Home Office that they can support and accommodate themselves without relying on public funds.
  
  
• Student visas will become mandatory for all students to remain in the UK if studying.
  
  
• The Home Office stated it is committed to introducing mandatory entry clearance for students as part of its points based system for managing immigration system to which students enter the UK.
  
  
• Non-visa nationals who are already in the UK will also be able to switch into the student category without entry clearance as a student, subject to having been accepted for study of degree level or above.
  
  
• Students coming to the UK under a Tier 4 visa (student visa) will require a university or other qualified UK educational institution to sponsor them. They will also need to score enough points to be accepted as an international student in the UK.
  
• Foreign students have been historically allowed to work -- 20 hours while school is in session and 40 hours during holidays
  
  
• International students have an immigration options under new points based system. Once a student graduates from an eligible UK educational institution, they can apply for a Tier 1 visa under the Post study work sub-category. This will allow international graduates to remain in the UK for two years. Once completing their period under Post-Study Work, a graduate can move into another sub-category or tier.
  
  
• Foreign students will also be required to provide fingerprints and carry ID cards.
  
  
• Foreign students taking courses longer than 12 months will be required to show that they possess sufficient funds to pay for their first year of student fees, plus an additional sum of £9,600 to support their first year of living expenses
  
  
• Alternatively, non-European Union students can apply under Tier 1 General, the replacement to HSMP. The Tier 1 scheme has the benefit of a longer visa validity of three years, which also counts towards settlement, unlike Tier 1 (Post-Study Work).