UK Student Visa national consultation on changes now closed

Speaking at a conference in London, Mr Green outlined how the agency will further strengthen the UK Student Visa system and clamp down on abuses of the student route to the UK.

The national consultation on UK Student Visas closed on 31 January.

Mr Green said: “I believe attracting talented students from abroad is vital to the UK but we must be more selective about who can come here and how long they can stay”.

The eight week consultation received over 30,000 responses, and sought views on a range of measures to reduce the overall number of students who can come into the UK.

Proposals in the consultation included:

• Reducing the number of people coming to the UK to study at below degree level;
• Introducing a tougher English language requirement;
• Ensuring students wishing to extend their studies show evidence of academic progression;
• Limiting students' entitlements to work and their ability to bring in dependants; AND
• Improving the accreditation process for education providers, alongside more rigorous inspections.

The results of the consultation will be announced in the coming weeks.

The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their  UK Visa applications to the British Embassy.