Home Secretary may demand overseas students prove they have more savings before they can study in UK (21 July 2015)

The Home Secretary is considering even stricter rules on overseas students, in a proposal which could mean foreign students having more savings in the bank in order to obtain a student visa.

The Huffington Post reports on a BBC Newsnight story, which claims Theresa May wrote a confidential letter to fellow ministers, arguing that universities should “develop sustainable funding models that are not so dependent on international students”.

Before the General Election, the Home Secretary suggested that overseas graduates should return to the their home countries and re-apply for a work visa if they wished to remain in the UK.

Leading businessmen and entrepreneurs like Sir James Dyson have called for talented overseas students in engineering and science to be handed work visas at graduation ceremonies, to prevent Britain losing the talent it trains.

There are skills gaps in science, technology and engineering and mathematics (STEM) sectors in the UK, business leaders say.

The Home Secretary has now confirmed that overseas students will be forced to leave the UK after graduation – and will also not be allowed to work part-time. Currently, overseas students can work for up to ten hours a week, many taking low-paid jobs in retail or catering to help boost their income while studying.

The changes could mean only the wealthiest students from overseas will be able to afford to study in Britain.

However, it was recently revealed that many overseas students have left the UK owing large amounts of money in loans they obtained to pay course fees while studying, with the total owed to universities estimated at £52 million. The money owed also involves EU graduates from Cyprus, France, Germany and Poland, who have not repaid loans before leaving the UK after graduation.

The MP for Ilford, Wes Streeting, has called for action against the Home Secretary’s plans, however.

“International students make an enormous contribution to UK higher education – both educationally and economically,” Mr Streeting told HuffPost UK.

“It is deeply worrying that such a senior politician – who aspires to greater office – doesn't understand the incredibly competitive global market for international students.
“The Home Secretary's comments are either self-serving or ignorant. Either way, the damage she is doing to UK higher education – one of our most important export industries – should be stamped upon by the Prime Minister.”

The National Union of Students' international officer, Mostafa Rajaai, has also criticised the Home Secretary’s policies on overseas students.

”It seems Theresa May’s exclusive international students’ club may change its door policy again, in order to suit the richest and most privileged.

“We are in no doubt it is part of a much wider attempt to impinge on migrants’ rights in the UK.

“The International Passenger Survey (IPS) – which the government relies on for its immigration statistics – is a fundamentally flawed and inaccurate method of monitoring migrant numbers.

“Policymakers’ reliance on these figures is a triumph of ideology over evidence,” he said.

When asked to respond to the suggestion that Mrs May had written to fellow ministers, the Home Office said it would not comment on leaked documents.

Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors – Overseas student visas
Duncan Lewis is one of the UK’s leading providers of immigration law advice and can advise overseas students on a wide range of immigration matters, including student visas, right to work in the UK, visa overstays and illegal entry to the UK.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on British citizenship, marriage in the UK and asylum applications and appeals – as well as five-year work permits and entrepreneur visas.

Duncan Lewis is a leading provider of Legal Aid services.

For expert legal advice on UK immigration law and student visas, call Duncan Lewis Immigration Solicitors on 020 7923 4020.