Chaos over UK student visas resulted in rush of immigrants

Huge immigration due to chaotic UK student visa system—Widespread misuse of UK student visa program leading to arrival of migrants for employment is being labeled as a big mistake on the part of UK immigration chiefs.

The UK immigration minister Damian Green is already facing criticism for long immigration delays at Heathrow Airport. As per the reports, passengers were forced to wait for as much as three hours or even more while undergoing immigration checks at Heathrow Airport.

This was a big frustration for the passengers.

As per the findings of a latest report by NAO (National Audit Office), a UK watchdog on public spending, nearly 50,000 immigrants sneaked into the UK for working here unlawfully rather than studying.

And this is something really surprising, says, Margaret Hodge, chairman of the PAC (Commons Public Accounts Committee), while reacting to the findings revealed by the report.

And this happened as UK student visa program was launched without bothering to put effective measures in place to curb its unlawful use.

UK student visas misused for getting jobs-- It is very depressing, quipped Hodge, about the arrival of 50,000 immigrants in the very first year of the introduction of the UK student visa program for getting jobs.

Aim of the UK student visa program is to help genuine international students come and study in the UK and not get employment here.

So, using UK student visas for getting jobs is a misuse of the system. This calls for immediate reforms to the system.

When the UK student visa system allows nearly one-third of bogus students to come and seek work in the UK, it reveals complete chaos in the system, she said. Even the UK Home Office permanent secretary Dame Helen Ghosh echoed the opinion of Hodge by saying that noticeable increase in UK student visa applications was a big surprise.

The changed UK student visa system was introduced by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) way back in 2009.