The New Visa Points Based System for Abroad Language Students in the UK

LONDON - The international education sector has been living with the UK Border Agency’s new student visa guidelines for over 6 months now, and, initial teething troubles aside, it all seems to be working well, at least from this language school’s point of view. Indeed, it all seems pretty transparent: if a language school is willing to sponsor a foreign student’s visa application, and that student can prove he or she is genuinely interested in studying English and can afford course fees and living expenses, then it seems that the road to getting a student visa is relatively clear.

Of course, not any language school can issue a visa letter, which is why the UK Border Agency have been paying inspection visits to schools over the last year, ensuring that we are indeed what we say we are, and that we have clear systems to monitor our students when they arrive. Our own inspection, back in October 2008, was a thorough one, checking up on our courses and facilities, on how we monitor student attendance and keep student records, such as passport copies and contact details. We were fortunate enough to pass, and joined what is known as the Tier 4 Register of Sponsors, a list of bona fide educational institutions licenced by the UK Border Agency to issue Visa Letters.

Of course, getting a Visa Letter is just part of the process for an international student who wants to come to the UK to study English. They also need to prove their academic or linguistic level, usually by submitting examination certificates with their visa application, as well as their ability to pay for their course fees and living expenses without recourse to employment or benefits. But assuming these boxes are all successfully ticked, then an English language course should be just a flight away.

And with the new compliance rules, by which students’ daily attendance is monitored thoroughly, and language schools are required to keep students’ contact details and passport copies, stories of empty classrooms and illegal working should be consigned to the past.

In reality, of course, it is not always as straightforward as schools and students would prefer. There are still stories of visa letters being rejected on technicalities - despite schools’ adherence to guidelines - and language level and financial documentation is not always deemed satisfactory (or genuine), leading to frustrating delays and refusals. As with any brand new (and rather complex) system, one cannot sometimes help coming to the conclusion that not all those implementing the scheme understand the rules as well as they should do - resulting in elementary errors preventing bona fide students from commencing their courses on time. In our experience, however, blunders are rare and getting rarer - and if the idea is to ensure that only genuine students go to genuine English language schools to benefit from a quality UK education, then, at least for this language school, the system seems to be working.

Read more about our school, Saint George International, at www.stgeorges.co.uk.

Notes to the Editor:

St. George International is an internationally recognised language school (www.stgeorges.co.uk/saint-george-international/welcome.shtml)based in London that offers a range of English courses in London, and a selection of foreign language courses throughout the UK. SGI has 47 years of English language teaching to students as well as 17 years of training people to teach English to students from all over the world.

To find more details about our english school in London(www.stgeorges.co.uk/learn-english.shtml), please visit: www.stgeorges.co.uk.

Photos are available upon request.

Source: Saint George International (SGI)

Saint George International 79-80 Margaret Street, London W1W 8TA, England, Tel : +44(0)20-7299-1700, Fax : +44(0)20-7299-1711; Contacts: Max Loach, School Director, Tel : +44(0)20-7299-1700; Carla Silva, Online Marketing Manager, Tel: +44(0)20-7299-1700