Well Done Gordon

Date: 16th December 2010


Release: Immediate

Subject: MP welcomes student visa system reforms

Local MP, Gordon Henderson has welcomed new proposals to reform the student visa system.

Immigration Minister and Kent MP Damian Green has announced that the Home Office is committed to bringing down net migration to sustainable levels. Mr Green said that the focus will be on student visas, which currently account for two thirds of immigration.

The Home Office proposals are:

• Reducing the number of foreign students studying below degree level for whom visas are granted.

• Tougher English language requirements.

• Ensuring foreign students who wish to extend their studies show evidence of academic progression.

• Limiting the entitlements of foreign students to work and restricting their ability to bring in dependants.

• Improving the accreditation process for education providers.


• Ending or restricting the ability of foreign students to stay in the UK to look for work after their course is completed.

Mr Henderson said,

“I am delighted that the Government has moved so quickly to put into place policies that will start to bring under control the spiraling immigration the last Labour government chose to ignore!

“Immigration was the single most important issue for many people at the last General Election and reducing to tens of thousands by the end of this Parliament the number of non EU immigrants to our country is a pledge we all want to see kept.”



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