Brown for stricter student visa system

London, Nov 13: For professionals and students nurturing London dreams, the announcement by British prime minister, Gordon Brown may come as a shocker.

In his address in west London, Gordon Brown has vowed to "tighten" the UK's immigration rules by reducing the number of professions which can recruit from outside Europe.

While Brown has called for closure of profession like engineers, hospital consultants, skilled chefs and care workers, students visa systems too will be reviewed to make it stricter so that inflow of illegal immigration can be curtailed.

"So we favour, a tough but fair approach, rooted in a points system, under which we decide what category of skills are to be allowed into this country. This combines the flexibility and control that is right, with a continued commitment to strong borders and a rigorous enforcement of the laws against illegal immigration, " said Gordon Brown

But what may hit Indian students the most will be the limitation imposed on short-time courses and part-time work for non-EU immigrants.

However critics claimed that immigration policy by the prime minister will be ineffective keeping in mind that the UK's population is set to reach 70 million.

Extension of point based system to citizenship was also included in the new immigration policy announced earlier.

This was the prime minister's first statement on immigration after 18 months.

OneIndia News