UK IMMIGRATION NEWS !

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From Monday 12 December 2011, visa applications under the points-based system and appointments at a visa application centre will need to be made online. From 12 December 2011, no application will be accepted under the points-based system completed manually.

You must apply online for applications under Tiers 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the points-based system. You can also, but are not required, apply online for a visa under categories outside the points-based system.

Click here to go to :- Visa4UK website.

After the first set of changes to be implemented in April 2011, the next set of changes for Tier 4 will be introduced on 4 July, 2011.

• restrict work entitlements to migrants studying at higher educational institutions (HEIs) and publicly funded further education colleges only;
• restrict the sponsorship of dependants to those studying at postgraduate level at HEIs on courses lasting at least 12 months, and government-sponsored students on courses lasting at least 6 months;
• require education providers to vouch that a new course represents genuine academic progression;
• ensure that maintenance funds are genuinely available to the applicant, by introducing a declaration on the visa application form;
• commit to publish a list of financial institutions that we consider, on the basis of experience, do not verify financial statements to our satisfaction in more than 50 per cent of a sample of cases;
• introduce a streamlined application process for low-risk nationals applying to attend courses with Highly Trusted Sponsors;
• extend the list of courses for which students must receive ATAS clearance;
• restrict the ability to deliver accountancy courses accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to those sponsors accorded platinum or gold status by ACCA; and
• clarify the position of overseas universities with campuses in the UK.

Changes to Financial Institution Requirements

One of the changes taking place will see the UK Border Agency maintain a list of financial institutions that we consider do not provide satisfactory verification checks of financial statements submitted with Tier 4 applications. The agency plans to publish this list in the coming weeks. Once on the published list we will not accept financial statements in support of Tier 4 applications from these institutions. These changes will also apply to applications from Tier 4 dependants.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check that the financial institution holding the funds the applicant relies on to score points under Tier 4 is not one from which the UK Border Agency will not accept financial documents. We advise all applicants to check the list of financial institutions in good time before making an application.

Once published, the list of financial institutions will be reviewed and updated regularly. The UK Border Agency will give 30 days notice of any proposed additions to or deletions from the list. Applications will be considered on the basis of the list in force at the time of application is made.

Ireland's Justice and Defence Minister Alan Shatter said that removing barriers to entry for nationals of the fourteen countries having British tourist visas, would help boost Ireland's ailing economy.

The fourteen countries included in this programme are India, China, Russia, Belarus, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.

Starting on 1 July 2011 and continuing until October 2012, a UK tourist visa will allow entry to Ireland for nationals of India and China, as well as for nationals of 12 other countries in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Glasgow Caledonian University has had its licence to sponsor overseas students suspended amid suspicions some attending a nursing course were working full time. It is the first time an established university has had its sponsorship licence suspended.

The university last night said the action was “disproportionate” and insisted students had voted it “top in Scotland for international student support”. Concerns were raised over a number of students from the Philippines who were attending a degree course in nursing.

Immigration officials suspected some were working full time in care homes or only showing up for one or two hours a month when the course required up to 15 hours a week. The Home Office has announced a major revamp of the student visa system across the UK following concerns it was being widely abused.

Phil Taylor, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland said: "I can confirm that Glasgow Caledonian University's Tier 4 licence has been suspended following concerns about abuses of the immigration system.

Government's annual immigration cap for workers from outside the EU comes into force on Wednesday, Immigration Minister Damian Green said.

Only 20,700 skilled workers from outside the EU will be allowed to come to the UK this year, with 4,200 places available in April 2011, followed by 1,500 in each consecutive month, to cut net migration from 200,000 to the tens of thousands by 2015.

Mr Green said: "We have made clear that as the recovery continues, we need employers to look first to people who are out of work and who are already in this country.

New Student Visa Rules for TIER-4 were unveiled today, drastically aimed at cutting the number of foreign students, which London term as bogus & an abuse of student visa. Targeting colleges with a poor record OR abusing the student visa system to bring in bogus students, strict measures were introduced.

Applicants interested to apply under TIER 2 points based system in UK, can apply online, wef 20th of Dec. 2010, including dependants. Applicants have to complete the forms online and dedicated desks will be provided at the visa application centres of British High Commission.

For filing online applications, Click Here

Student Visitor Visa, wef 10 January 2011 will be available, & those who wish to attend English language schools in the UK for a period of up to six months. For those foreign students who wish to study other courses will have to apply for visa under TIER 4.