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Minister admits net migration target may have caused 25% fall in students from India (26 February 2014)

Date: 26/02/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Minister admits net migration target may have caused 25% fall in students from India

The Conservative Party’s science minister David Willetts has admitted that the British government’s pledge to reduce net migration to tens of thousands may have had an adverse impact on students from India applying to study in the UK.

In the last year, however, there has been a 25% fall in students from India coming to Britain to study – and tests to measure whether students from India have the required fluency in English and suitable academic qualifications to study at UK universities may also be factors, apart from immigration targets set by the government.

In an interview with Total Politics magazine, Mr Willetts said that the way in which the UK’s immigration policy was “received and reported” in India also might have contributed to a 38% fall in the number of students from India coming to the UK between 2011 and 2012.

However, Mr Willetts added that the number of students applying to the UK from China had not been affected by the government’s immigration crackdown – and he attributed this partly to more stringent reporting restrictions in China.

David Cameron has courted university students in India in recent years to encourage them to continue to sign up to study at British universities – and despite the government pledge to cut migration from countries outside the EU, the Prime Minister has said that there are no limits on the number of “legitimate” students from non-EU countries who can study in the UK.

Recently, leading British inventor Sir James Dyson has called for the government to work harder to encourage engineering students to study in the UK – and suggested that visas allowing them to remain and work in the UK when they have qualified should be handed out at graduation ceremonies.

However, on a tour of India last November, David Cameron caused controversy by suggesting a £3,000-visa bond for students coming to the UK from non-EU countries, in a bid to persuade them not to remain and overstay their student visas. The proposal has now been shelved by the government.

Mr Willetts insists that the government is committed to encouraging more students from India and other non-EU countries to study in the UK. He told Total Politics:

“This government, we do look outwards and especially towards these emerging powers – India, China, Mexico, Turkey, Indonesia...

“It’s very important that we build up good relations with them, and they look to collaborate with us on science and research.”

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Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors can also advise on right to work in the UK, illegal entry to the UK – and asylum in the UK, as well as asylum appeals.

For expert legal advice on student visas and immigration contact Duncan Lewis immigration solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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