UK announces new visa rules for students

London, Feb 7: Britain home secretary Alan Johnson has announced new visa rules to foreign students to prevent abuse of the immigration system.

This development comes days after Britain temporarily suspended issuing student visas in north India.

According to Johnson, Britain will continue to welcome genuine foreign students, but will come down heavily on those who use student visas to come to Britain mainly to work and abuse the system.

"We remain open to those foreign students who want to come to the UK for legitimate study - they remain welcome," Johnson said in a statement.

Under the new measures, successful applicants from India and other countries outside the European Union will have to meet a higher bar on English language requirement.

Students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work for only 10 hours a week, instead of 20 as at present.

OneIndia News