Biometric fingerprints will be a must for all those who want to go Britain in future. According to the strategy, released by UK Boarder Agency recently, all visa applicants must now give electronic fingerprints. This will be applicable for online applicants too.
Apart from it, citizens of countries like South Africa, Venezuela and some other countries will have to apply for visa under the new system. However, holders of biometric passports have been exempted in this concern. “These details are checked against police as well as immigration databases, allowing us to stop those who have previously had an adverse contact with the UK Border Agency or the police, including those who have subsequently changed their biographic identity”, the new policy says.
After suspension of student visa process in Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar by UK Border Agency a British Minister is visiting Delhi and Chandigarh to explore possibilities of educational partnership with of different institutions including one of new IITs. Pat McFadden, British Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills is coming Delhi on 13th February on his four day visit alongwith Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof John Beddington.
Apart from singing MoU with Indian government on several projects and research collaborations in different areas the British Minister will also visit Delhi University, IIT Ropar. Pat McFadden will also participate in a panel discussion in Chandigarh on UK-India partnership in education. In IIT Ropar he will explore the possibilities of faculty and student exchanges, joint research, academic collaborations, student internships.
He will also address the second bilateral India-UK Science and Innovation Council (SIC) in New Delhi alongwith Indian Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan in New Delhi.
Tough time is ahead for Indian students who wish to study abroad, especially UK. After spate of attacks on Indian student community in Australia now it is turn of UK to make it a difficult place for Indian students, especially for those whose mother tongue is other than English.
In a latest move, after suspension of students visa process for North Indian students for one month, the UK government has announced tough measures for students. According to media reports British Home Minister Alan Johnson has announced Intermediate level English requirements to study in UK, including short term courses. This is tougher level for those students who have not nurtured in English education system, says a senior teacher of Delhi University. The level is normally required for school teachers in Indian context, he says.
“It was a kind of close shave. Our students got their visa approval just a week ago before the announcement of the suspension of visa process”, says Savita Mehta, Vice-President, (Communications), Amity University. 36 students of Amity got visa approval in January 2010, before the announcement, she adds.
On the other hand the UK has said that the step has been taken to keep bogus students out of the country who come here to work and not for study by misusing student visa. The number of work hours is also being reduced for the foreign students from 20 hours to 10 hours in a week.
The UK Border Agency announces that, with effect from Monday 1 February, it will temporarily stop accepting student visa applications under Tier 4 of the Points Based System at visa application centres in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar. This is a temporary suspension and the UK Border Agency will begin accepting Tier 4 visa applications again as soon as possible.
The UK Border Agency has taken this decision in response to unexpectedly high numbers of student visa applications in these areas at this time of year. The temporary suspension will allow the UK Border Agency to continue to scrutinise applications thoroughly and to manage the visa process efficiently for all our customers in North India.
Customers who have already made appointments at the visa application centres in North India to submit their Tier 4 visa applications from 1 February onwards will have their appointments suspended until the UK Border Agency begins accepting Tier 4 visa applications again in these areas, and will then be given priority. Visa application centres in Western and South India will remain open for Tier 4 visa applications. Appointments will be necessary in these centres from 1 February.
Customers who are making applications in other visa categories are unaffected by this announcement
source:http://ukinindia.fco.co.uk