UK suspends accepting student visa applications in N India

New Delhi, Jan 30 (PTI) Facing an unprecedented increase
in the number of student visa-seekers from north India,
Britain has temporarily suspended accepting such applications
as it suspects that there may be attempts to abuse the system.
The UK Border Agency, which enforces immigration and
customs regulations and considers applications for permission
to enter or stay in Britain, Saturday announced the suspension
in taking visa applications at its centres in New Delhi,
Chandigarh and Jalandhar from Monday.
"We took this decision in response to unexpectedly high
numbers of student visa applications in these areas at this
time of year. The temporary suspension will allow the UK
Border Agency to continue to scrutinise applications
thoroughly and to manage the visa process efficiently for all
our customers in north India," Deputy High Commissioner Nigel
Casey said.
These three centres had received nearly 1000 student visa
applications from October to December 2007. This number
increased to 1,800 in the same period in 2008 while the number
climbed to 13,500 in the corresponding period last year.
"Some applicants are trying to abuse the visa procedure
to get entry into UK for purpose other than studies. We cannot
allow this to happen," UK Border Agency's Regional Director
Chris Dix said. MORE PTI