Under the immigration policies formulated by the Tories, many overseas students could also be asked to pay cash deposits worth thousands of pounds, to be returned only when they left the country, UK’s leading daily Financial Times reported on Saturday. Opposition politicians argue that large-scale abuse of the student visa system is a risk to national security.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling, who described the present student regime as a “huge loophole in our border controls”, has decided not to pursue stricter measures such as shutting the door to courses below degree level or demanding higher standards of English among applicants.
The report said under the plans, students seeking to enter the UK from countries such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria and China could be singled out for extra scrutiny.
Published 09 January 2010, 19:54 IST