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 Protecting the economy or losing a lot of money?
Akinyemi Solanke investigates whether the Home Office’s tightening of student immigration visa is a good move or one that might backfire especially during the era of spending cuts and the economic recession.
In recent years, the influx of international students has been growing exponentially with thousands of students flooding into the United Kingdom in search of education. This has led to an estimated eight billion pound market of fees, living expenses and created job opportunities for thousands.
The Home Office’s main reason in making the border tighter is to stop the cankerworm called bogus colleges and students that has spread in the educational sector and is a threat to the United Kingdom national security.
Terrorists such as the Christmas Day transatlantic flight bomb suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was given permission by the Home Office to study mechanical engineering at University College London between 2005 and 2008. It is speculated that a string of other terror suspects have used the bogus student visa route into the UK.
Aptly put, there are two views in this situation. Border officials believe the student visa rule is too soft; hence the tightening while language schools complain it would only affect their income and put off respectable foreign students.
One now wonders that with the Home Office introducing the highly trusted sponsor scheme as well as increase the knowledge of English an international applicant must possess before applying, what would it trigger?
Is this a case of over-reaction by the government? Is it a political move? What does the UK stand to lose? Is it necessary for the security and wellbeing of the nation? With this, how would the UK’s reputation as a welcoming nation be?
Questions abound. Undoubtedly, the Home Office’s decision has far reaching effects and is on course to affect thousands of students’ scholarly ambitions all over the world.
An epitome of that is evident in the life of this young Nigerian who seeks to study abroad. Peter Adepiti is one of millions whose dreams of having a better life hang in the balance of the Home Office’s decision.
Follow his story...
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