"No faith" in new student visa system

A computerised system for processing student visas due to launch next year could create serious problems according to higher education authorities.

The technology-based system has been trialled since the beginning of October, but will become mandatory in February.

Professor Steve Smith, president of Universities UK (UUK) said its induction had "not been smooth" and has raised “immediate worries”.

At the moment it will only affect students applying to come to Britain, however in the future it could be used for all visa applications.

Colleges and universities will be able to update details and users onto the Sponsor Management System (SMS), allowing information to be kept centrally and kept constantly up to date.

The plan follows numerous changes to visa rules implemented this year by the UK Borders Agency (UKBA).

Changes were made in line with the government's identity card plan, which meant non-EU students had to give biometric details, now held on a database.

Commenting on the pilot run of the new system, Prof Smith said: “In the long-term it should provide a more efficient and objective process for prospective international students.

“There have, however, been more immediate worries. The first few months of its operation have not been smooth.”

For the past year UUK, the umbrella group for higher education institutions, have been lobbying and working with the UKBA in shaping policy that is fair to universities.

They argue that stricter and more imposing demands on individuals who wish to study in Britain are putting people off studying at British institutions.

“We are in danger of sending out a message that the UK does not welcome international students,” said Prof Smith.

Peter Brady, head of international recruitment and support at Edinburgh Napier University, said that the department had been offered adequate support from the UKBA, through training workshops.

Mr Brady pointed out issues within the UKBA, highlighting the fact that information was late and that it slowed down applications.

“The chopping and changing of the guidelines can create a lot of confusion for people applying for visas,” he said.

One of the changes by the UKBA was to demand that applicants show that they had a set amount of funds in their bank account for 28 days; insufficient time was allowed for this to be done.

He said this year's problems would “absolutely not” be the last.

Mr Brady said the computer system for visas would likely be problematic: “I have no faith that this will work in every country.

“However, at the end of the day most universities believe something along these lines is necessary. It's a more robust system that if implemented properly, will work.”

His department at Napier employed someone to deal with the additional guidelines implemented by the immigration office this year, as they were “aware just how complicated it was going to be”.

UUK are currently fielding a survey to staff across Britain to access how the changes have been implemented and how it has affected them. The findings are to be published in the middle of December.