Student visas: what do you think is really going on?

An article on the BBC website today goes on about how the number of students from some countries has lept up, and apparently IOs are having to let people into the country that they shouldn't because of long lines at Heathrow.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8368709.stm (and see earlier articles in the side bar).

What do you think is going on here?  I thought that the rules were getting tougher, but there is perhaps a problem somewhere if this report is to be believed.  Negative press and visas being made to look ineffective has an impact on legitimate immigrants, I think, and increases bad feelings against us.

Sorry, no offense, but, is there a particular reason why this is in Pettifog?

I guess I was thinking it might be viewed as stirring up trouble.  Isn't that the function of the pettifog area?

Yeah, but usually it's moved here from another topic unless it's pretty blatant, along the lines of, 'Ian Huntly is a victim' or 'David Cameron is so right, despite Sarah Cameron's £20m she did nothing to earn but has through sheer luck, all people on benefits should go to the workhouse!'

Students are, um, probably a small segment of the immigrant population compared to your average-sell-your-soul-to-the-nearest-people-trafikker-from-Eritrea-your-dead-brother-drowned-on-overcrowded-death-ship-owes-me.

As such I think white Westerners still have the advantage, no matter how far the DM might penetrate, let's face it, white people with all their jabs up to date aren't the target and never will be.

Yep, lived all over the world.  Speak three languages.  Not white myself. 

Immigration sux no matter what.  Waaaa.

I have started topics in Pettifog before...

I think it is IO's being fed up with their hands being tied.  On the other hand, it seems there is a disconnect between the front lines and the people approving the educational establishments.  It seems like a typical bureaucratic *bleep*-up.  If these institutions are just fronts for students, why did UKBA validate them as a sponsor?  We didn't hear the same sort of things with Tier 2.  Maybe the UKBA was so backlogged in approving sponsors they just rubber stamped the sponsors.

There are long lines, but that is not why they are letting people through.  If the student presents themselves with a valid visa and the visa biometrically matches the right person, there are VERY few reasons an IO can bounce the student.  They basically have to let them in.  What is pissing off the front line IOs is that people they would have bounced before they are having to let through.  It can mean one of two things, they IOs were already bigoted to the point they were bouncing legitimate people, or the IOs haven't been communicating well with the people who approve the sponsors.  If there are illegitimate sponsors, such as the IOs are asserting, why is their sponsorship not getting pulled?

Personally it doesn't look good for the IOs, in my opinion.

I am not sure, however, i am quite concerned about student visa's. i have just received an offer with a university in the UK for next sept. I sure hope ill be able to still gain NHS benefits and be able to work part time come this time next year!