The Government of India has stated that educational cooperation is an “important facet” of Indo-UK ties. They will be in contact with the British High Commission to “better understand the reasons” for the temporary freeze on UK student visa applications by those based in Northern India.
The Indian Government is trying to help genuine students planning to study in the UK who have been affected by the temporary ban on student visa applications made at UK Visa application centers in New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jalandhar from 1 February 2010. An Indian official said, “Student exchanges form a vital component of this cooperation. We would remain in touch with the BHC (British High Commission) on this matter.”
The Ministry of External Affairs has been in touch with the British High Commission on this matter to better understand the reasons behind this decision and also to ensure that genuine Indian students planning to go to the UK for studies are not adversely impacted. It is also interesting to note that the UK Border Agency is investigating a number of UK education providers. This week approximately 60 education providers in the UK were suspended from the sponsors’ register.
The UK Border Agency on 31 January 2010 announced the temporary ban on UK Tier 4 student visa applications at the three Visa Application Centres in India and at Visa Application Centres in Bangladesh and Nepal. There was a huge increase in the number of UK student Tier 4 visa applications made in Northern India in the last three months of 2009. The temporary ban was introduced as UKBA was concerned that many of these student visa applications were not genuine.