UK: Student Immigration Unsustainable

So it looks like the students are under attack from the government this week!!!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11191341

Ministers also intend to examine work visas as two-fifths of people in this group remained in the UK after five years.

That's got Tier 1 Post-Study Work written all over it. 

Who's going to pay for all the home fees students? 

That's got Tier 1 Post-Study Work written all over it. 

Who's going to pay for all the home fees students? 

Both of my thoughts exactly! Looks like I will have to force the BF into marriage rather than the unmarried partners visa I had intended to get. Provided those don't start facing the axe, too. 

It is frustrating that I feel like the government is taking it out on the students rather than looking at what universities are doing. My course doubled the number of places since last year and was told to take on more foreign students. They're bringing us in solely to support everyone else and making us feel like they actually want our abilities more than our money.

What they don't point out here is that after 4 years, there is a net loss of migration... in that if you compare citizens leaving for more then 4 years to non-EU immigrants staying for more then 4 years, there is a net lose... more people leave then enter.  Oh but why would they point out that part of their own statistics.  F&^$ing numbnuts!   

The way it's worded also has an insinuation of overstaying. How are these people still here 5 years later? Are they doing another degree? Did they meet a British/EU partner and stay on with them? Are they on PSW? Are they on Tier 1 or 2? I have no doubt that the vast majority, if not all, of the people still here after 5 years are here quite legitimately. Bastards.

This sucks.

yep, and notice the last quote... they are priming the public audience.... go after people who are trying to get permeant settlement (families)

I thought the reduction in the number of student visas was targeted more towards people entering the country to study on non-degree courses (i.e. bogus language schools) not approved degree courses at recognised institutions.

From today's Guardian:
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/06/immigration-overseas-students-overstay-visas

'There were 281,000 non-EU students approved to study at educational establishments licensed by the UK Border Agency last year. The Home Office has estimated that 150,000 were at degree level and above, mostly at universities, while 131,000 were at sub-degree level, mostly at privately funded institutions.

Yeah, a lot of them probably English teaching schools.

How can you get a visa at an English-teaching school? Didn't they change the law to add and english proficiency requirement for Student Visas?

If you are on a course that is less than six months long, you don't need a visa, regardless of where you're from.  Many students in language schools do this.  However language schools are authorised to sponsor student visas.  Genuine schools are not the problem, the problem is the bogus ones, however instead of going to the trouble to track down the bogus ones, the government instead chose to place restrictions on all schools.  The bogus ones will find a way around it, the legit ones will suffer.  The problem won't be solved.  I teach in a legitimate language school with students from all over the world.  Every single one of those I've taught has no intention of remaining in the UK once their course is finished.  They all want to go home.  Most complain about the food and the weather and about how mean people are to them.  They have to learn English for their work, school, or future, and they think coming to the UK is the best way to achieve that, but that's as far as it goes.  I get really tired of people blaming English language schools for problems related to student visas.  It's just another area of immigration that the government and most of the populace know next to nothing about, yet are content to criticise. 

Perhaps historyenne can comment, but until the recent rule change it was a more basic level required to come study. It's not different than English or any other language speakers going to study French in France or Spanish in Spain, but here there were problems with a lot of schools that supposedly taught English actually being bogus. Instead of the government regulating it properly, they just decided to screw over genuine learners and an entire industry.

eta: x-posted with historyenne

For the record, I'm not blaming language schools, I agree with you that it's been made a scapegoat and is the government's fault for sucking. I was just saying that probably a lot of non-degree students are here to learn English.

I just keep getting more heated about this as the day goes on.  It's just ridiculous.  This government is just downright lazy, mixed with impatient and misguided.  Ugh.

Plus, all the bad politics and motivations aside, who in their right mind would tinker with a cash cow during a recession!?

I just keep getting more heated about this as the day goes on.  It's just ridiculous.  This government is just downright lazy, mixed with impatient and misguided.  Ugh.

Plus, all the bad politics and motivations aside, who in their right mind would tinker with a cash cow during a recession!?

Yet again we are on the same page... seriously, the amount of money we bring in, is insane.  BTW, don't read the comments on the article... it will just make you most pissed off.