Alan Duncan, the Conservative Minister of State for International Development has announced that the Bangladeshi visa ban is to be lifted soon, during a visit to the country.
Mr Duncan described the process of solving the problems that led to the UK student visa ban as being soon to be resolved during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Tier 4 (General) Student Visa ban first came into place in January 2010 and has caused much angst amongst Bangladeshi students. Mr Duncan is the first MP from the UK’s Conservative-Liberal coalition government and has stressed his Government’s desire to increase their ties with Bangladesh in a range of areas. Poverty reduction was a key policy for Mr Duncan, as well as development of Bangladesh in general and would be a focus of his government’s term.
Various challenges that Bangladesh now faces were discussed during the meeting: climate change, education, health, poverty reduction, sanitation and corruption. Dr Dipu Moni claims Bangladesh will be the most affected country of climate change and has tried to secure British help.
She apprised the British minister about various steps taken by the Bangladesh government for alleviating poverty and improvement of education and health sectors.
Referring to the government’s efforts to make the Anti- Corruption Commission more affective, she said the present government has been able to control corruption to a great extent.
Bangladesh’s foreign minister congratulated the new UK government on winning the election and expressed hope that ties between Dhaka and London would be strengthened in the coming days, months and years.
UK announces programme to lift temporary suspension on Tier 4 visa applications and introduce Secure English Language Tests
22 July 2010
Today (22 July 2010), the UK Border Agency announced that it is partially lifting the Tier 4 visa application suspension in Bangladesh.
From today the suspension will be lifted for students who want to study the following higher education courses: foundation degrees and degree and post graduate courses. The suspension is also lifted for Child Students.
On 12 August the UK Border Agency will lift the suspension on the remaining courses, with the exception of English language courses. The UK Border Agency will continue to keep the suspension of English language courses under review.
Tier 4 applicants are required to make an appointment at a visa application centre in order to submit their Tier 4 visa applications. Appointments are free of charge. Guidance on how to schedule an appointment is available on the website: www.vfs-uk-bd.com.
On 12 August, the UK Border Agency will introduce a secure English language test requirement for Tier 4 (General Student) visas worldwide. Applicants who are studying courses below degree level, excluding a foundation degree and an English language course, need to pass a secure English language test. This test must be taken with a UK Border Agency-approved provider before the applicant applies for a CAS from the sponsor.
All applicants who make Tier 4 (General Student) visa applications to study the above courses from 12 August and using a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) issued from this date will need to pass a new secure English language test. Information about secure English language tests and the list of test providers of English language tests are available at:
http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/aboutus/newsroom/?view=News&id=22573942
It is important that applicants follow the current Tier 4 guidance carefully, complete their applications fully and submit the correct supporting documents. There have been some significant changes to the Tier 4 policy in 2010. Tier 4 guidance and application forms are available to customers free of charge.
If applicants submit fraudulent documents or false information, their visa applications will be refused. They also face an automatic ban on entry to the UK for the next 10 years for any category of visa.
Applicants may be requested to attend an interview with the UK Border Agency as part of the visa application process.
Further information
1. The temporary suspension of new Tier 4 applications was implemented in Bangladesh on 1 February 2010.
2. With effect from 22 July, the temporary suspension is lifted for the following courses: foundation degrees (including the Scottish HND in (3) below), degree and postgraduate courses only. On 12 August the suspension will be lifted for other NQF 5 equivalent courses and below. The suspension will remain in place for English language courses.
3. A foundation degree means a programme of study which leads to a qualification awarded by a UK higher education institution with degree awarding powers, which is at a minimum of level 5 on the revised National Qualifications Framework (NQF), or level 8 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Further information about NQF levels is available at: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/standardsandquality/otherrefpoints/qualsboundaries.asp
4. Tier 4 (General Student) visas are for people coming to the United Kingdom for their post-16 education. Tier 4 (Child Student) visas are for children between the ages of 4 and 17 to come to the UK. Those aged between 4 and 15 may only be educated at independent fee-paying schools. Applicants aged 16-17 years studying on courses at NQF level 3 or above have a choice of making an application either in the Tier 4 General Student category or the Tier 4 Child Student category.
5. Tier 4 of the points based system was reviewed earlier in 2010 and a number of significant changes have been introduced. The main changes are as follows:
The electronic CAS has replaced the Visa Letter.
Students who are studying below degree level, excluding foundation degrees, are permitted to work a maximum of 10 hours per week (a reduction from 20 hours). Their dependents are not permitted to work unless they qualify in their own right under the points based system.
Students who are studying a course of 6 months or less are not permitted to bring their dependents with them.
A new “highly trusted sponsor” designation has been introduced for education providers that can offer courses at National Qualification Framework level 3 and Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 6 and below.
To study courses below NQF level 6, students need to be competent in English language to level B1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Until now, it has been the education provider’s responsibility to test this.
6. The published Tier 4 guidance is available free of charge at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/pbs/tier4migrantguidance1.pdf
7. Tier 4 visa application forms (VAF 9 and appendix 8 for General Students and appendix 9 for Child Students) are available free of charge at: www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas
8. Information about the secure English language tests and the list of test providers of English language tests are available at:
www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/aboutus/newsroom/?view=News&id=22573942 .
Applicants are required to demonstrate that they are proficient to at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Applicants who are intending to study a foundation degree or at degree level (NQF level 6) and above, or an English language course, are not required to take a secure English language test before applying for a visa. Education providers may however, request students to provide evidence of English language proficiency to ensure they are capable of following the course for which they have applied.
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22 July 2010: Secure English language testing and partial lift of Tier 4 suspension announced.
The UK Border Agency announced today that it will be introducing mandatory secure English language testing for adult (Tier 4 General) students studying below degree level under Tier 4 of the points-based system. The new requirement will come into effect on 12 August 2010. For further details of these changes please visit the UK Border Agency website. The UK Border Agency also announced that, with immediate effect, it is lifting the suspension on Tier 4 visa applications for students in Bangladesh who want to study the following courses: foundation degrees, Scottish HNDs and degree and postgraduate courses. The suspension is also lifted for Child Students. The suspension on other courses remains in place until 12 August. The submission of Tier 4 applications at the visa application centres in Dhaka and Sylhet is by appointment only. Please see appointment page for guidance on how to request an appointment. Appointments will only be given to students who hold a valid Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) to follow foundation degrees, Scottish HNDs and degree and postgraduate courses, and Child Students.
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