Strict UK visa rules to affect Indian students

However, deserving candidates need not fear losing out on quality education in renowned institutes.

If the UK government's review of its visa norms was not enough to send Indian students looking at other destinations, the shutting down of institutes may bring the numbers further down. Besides, the US is getting more serious about attracting international students.

Till 2010, student visa allocation for the UK declined by six per cent. In April, UK did away with the Tier I Post Study Work (PSW) visa. The UK Border Agency confirmed that changes in the student visa rules will result in fewer visa applications. “The UK government is committedto minimising abuse of the student immigration system, while ensuring support for the brightest and best students to continue to study at UK’s highest quality education institutions. Closure of the PSW was triggered by an increase in abuse in the private education sector in the UK. It was found that there was increasing abuse in the private further education sector (by some, but not all colleges), so the reforms were targeted at those institutions where change was considered to be most necessary,” said Sam Murray, regional communications manager, UK Border Agency, South Asia.

Since May 2010, the UK Border Agency has revoked the licenses of 97 Tier 4 UK education providers. A further 36 currently have their licenses suspended, said a UK Border Agency Spokesperson in India.

“The recent shut down of Training and Advanced Studies in Management and Communications (TASMAC)'s London campus last week is due to tighter visa restrictions implemented by the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA),” said Sameer Dua, joint managing director, TASMAC group.

On March 22, 2011, the UK Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced sweeping changes to Tier 4 student route for migration. She said from April 2012 all institutions wanting to sponsor foreign students would have to be classfied as a Highly Trusted Sponsor by the UK Border Agency and would need to be inspected by an approved educational oversight body.

The UK government wants the brightest and best international students to come to the UK to study in its high quality education institutions. These changes to accreditation and inspection requirements protect legitimate students and ensure that only those education providers with a proven track record in immigration compliance will be licensed to bring international students to the UK.

“In the event that a student is already in the UK and his or her sponsor surrenders its license or has its licence withdrawn, the student will usually have 60 days to find an alternative education provider in the UK. If the student has less than six months left his or her leave will not be reduced,” the spokesperson added.

UK Border Agency in an email said it was important for international students to receive the standard of education that they deserve and have paid for. This is why the UK government, in its first stage of reforms to the student visa system, has increased accreditation requirements for sponsors and extended robust inspection arrangements to private sector providers.

“The tightening of visa requirements by Australia and the UK is making them less attractive destinations for students as they see lower prospects for future jobs and immigration. Also, budget cuts in the US public institutions are prompting them to recruit international students more actively as an additional source of revenue,” said Rahul Choudaha, director of development and innovation at World Education Services in New York.

International student enrollment in higher education in Australia and the UK grew by 81 per cent and 47 per cent respectively between 2002 and 2009, as compared to 18 per cent in the US. In absolute terms, Australia, the UK and US each added nearly 100,000 students over the same period.

“This translates into comparatively slow growth for the US, given that the size of the American higher education system is 17 times that of Australia and eight times that of the UK,” explains Choudaha.

According to Choudaha, some of the early reports for autumn 2011 show a significant increase in international student enrollment at US universities. For example, at the University of Iowa first-time freshmen international student enrolment reached record levels of 484 this year, compared to 388 last year. Likewise, at Arkansas State University international student enrollment for autumn 2011 passed 1,000 students for the first time. Last year 780 international students enrolled.

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) number of internationally mobile students grew by 1.6 million between 2000 and 2009. Choudaha says this trend will continue to be driven by the increasing ability of prospective students in countries like China and India to afford foreign higher education.

Wikileaks news: 'US expressed concern over lesser qualified visa application'

WASHINGTON: Much before the Tri-Valley University scam that affected many Indians was exposed in the US, the American Consulate in Mumbai had expressed concern over the steep jump in lesser qualified student visa applications, a leaked US diplomatic cable has said.

According to the cable dated December 29, 2009, over the past year, Mumbai noted a marked rise in the number of lesser qualified student visa applicants, many of whom tended to apply to the same universities.

A study of students visa found that multiple transfers were not uncommon and 40 per cent of transfers were to a lower level degree programme.

Source: The Economic Times

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US eases Iranian student visa rules

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday the United States is easing visa terms for Iranian students here as part of efforts to support their aspirations for political change back home.

In what she called a "big step forward" in the Obama administration support's for Iran's people, Clinton said Iranian students and exchange visitors are now eligible for two-year, multiple entry visas.

"This gives young Iranians the opportunity to return home for family events, to participate in internships, to travel outside the United States -- and they won't need to get a new visa every time," she said in a statement.

The chief US diplomat said many Iranian students and Iranian Americans had asked for a change to the old policy where students and exchange visitors were eligible only for three-month, single-entry visas.

"We want more dialogue and more exchange with those of you who are shaping Iran's future. We want to be able to share what we think is great about America," Clinton said.

"Because as long as the Iranian government continues to stifle your potential, we will stand with you. We will support your aspirations, and your rights," Clinton said.

"And we will continue to look for new ways to fuel more opportunities for real change in Iran," she said.

The United States has amplified support for political change in Iran since Iranians protested the re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009 polls marred by massive allegations of fraud.

It has accused the Iranian leadership of hypocrisy for supporting pro-democracy protests now sweeping Arab countries while violently crushing political dissent at home.

Source: AFP

All about OPT and CPT in USA

F1 visa holders may be entitled to work authorization. Enrolled F-1 students, as well as recently graduated foreign students may be eligible to engage in “practical training” in the field in which they studied. There are two types of Practical training:

·         Curricular Practical Training(CPT)

·         Optional Practical Training(OPT)

Curricular Practical Training(CPT)

1.   Curriculum Practical Training is a program authorised by the USCIS to allow students on F1 status to use the skills obtained in the course of study in the industry.

2.   Curricular Practical Training(CPT) is issued to students enrolled on a full time basis at an approved educational institution to obtain work experience in their field of study.

3.    This is defined as an alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.

4.   .CPT requires that the students have been on a F1 status in the USA for a minimum of 9 months and are in a proper standing in terms of academics and GPA. The Designated School Official(DSO) at the international office can provide more individual restrictions by the school on these programs.

5.   CPT should be an integral part of the curriculum and has to be authorized by the DSO.

6.   No employment should begin before the I20 is endorsed by the DSO and the person is authorised to work on CPT.

7.   Request for CPT has to be accompanied by a job offer in the fied of study for DSO to authorize it.

8.    The student usually  receives academic credit for this training.

9.    CPT is granted by the university and the students form I20 is endorsed with the employers name, address and dates the student is eligible to work, and the number of hours per week.

10.                 A student with CPT must present an original form I20 indicating CPT approval to an intended employer before employment may lawfully commence.

11.                According to the immigration regulations, this employment may be an internship, cooperative education job, a practicum or any other work experience that is either required for the degree or for which academic credit is awarded.

12.                There is no limitation upon the length of time, you may take up full time curricular practical training. If you undertake employment for twelve months or more of curricular practical training, you will not be eligible for post –completion optional practical training(OPT).

Note: Students may work as much as they are authorized on CPT, however should they work more than 12 months of full time CPT, they will no longer be eligible for OPT.

Optional Practical Training(OPT)

1.   Optional Practical Training(OPT) is granted to students who wish to work in their field of study but are not going to work as a part of their academic program.

2.    OPT is granted for a maximum of 12 months throughout the students academic career.

3.   Students can work during their vacations or during the school year or save OPT to be used after graduation.

4.    If working during the school year, the student is permitted to work only 20 hours a week.

5.   If used after graduation, OPT must be completed within 14 months of graduation.

6.   For OPT eligibility the student must apply with USCIS for an EAD card. The F-1 OPT employment cannot begin until actually receiving the EAD card in hand from the USCIS.(Upon approval, USCIS will mail this card directly to the applicant.)

7.   As OPT is not employer specific, a student may change employers while working on OPT. However, they must report any employment changes to their school, including name of the employer, address of employer and any interruption in employment during their granted period of OPT.

8.   USCIS has allowed F-1 students engaged in OPT who are in certain STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields to apply for an additional 17 months of OPT authorization beyond their initial 12 months of OPT(for a total of 29 months).

9.   One must be already engaged in authorized OPT based on graduation from a program in an acceptable STEM field to be eligible.If eligible a student must obtain an updated Form I 20 evidencing their eligibility for the additional 17 month period and an additional form I 765, must be filled with the USCIS prior to the expiration of their current EAD card.

10.                F-1 students are generally eligible for a maximum of 12 months of OPT for each degree level.

11.                Most employers file H1B petition on behalf of F-1 students after their post completition OPT expires.