Immigration Minister, James Brokenshire
Nigerians as well as other foreign students in Britain are to be banned from working under a fresh crackdown on immigration.
The immigration Minister, James
Brokenshire, announced on Monday that from next month students from
outside the European Union who come to study at publicly funded further
education colleges will lose the right to work for up to 10 hours a week.
Official figures show that 121,000
non-EU students entered the UK in the 12 months to June last year, but
only 51,000 left – a net influx of 70,000.
The government estimates that the number
of foreign students coming to the UK will rise by more than 6 per cent a
year up to 2020.
They want to stop student visas being used as an easy way to enter the UK before getting a job and claiming benefits.
Some of the key points under the new rule are:
- Reducing the length of further education visas from three years to two.
- Preventing college students from applying to stay on in Britain and work when they finish their course, unless they leave the country first.
- Preventing further education students from extending their studies in Britain unless they are registered at an institution with a formal link to a university.
Brokenshire further said that it was ‘part of our plan to control immigration for the benefit of Britain’.
‘Immigration offenders want to sell illegal access to the UK jobs market and there are plenty of people willing to buy.
Hard-working taxpayers who are helping to pay for publicly funded colleges expect them to be providing topclass education, not a back door to a British work visa.
However, universities have warned that
any clampdown could damage the sector and business leaders are also wary
of the move, warning it could rob Britain of vital skills.
Seamus Nevin, head of employment and
skills at the Institute of Directors, said: ‘The Business Secretary’s
proposals to eject foreign students after graduation are misguided and
would damage the British education system, our economy and global
influence.
‘Britain already makes it difficult and
artificially expensive for international students to enter and stay, and
now these proposals would eject them ignominiously when their studies
are finished.
‘Restricting talented workers from staying on in the UK would damage business and lead to a loss of important skills.
‘Shutting the door to highly-trained
international graduates at a time when our economy needs them most would
be hugely damaging for UK businesses.
‘In the interests our education sector,
our businesses, and our international standing, the Business Secretary
should reconsider this proposal.’
