Home Office Relaxes Student Visa Rules

The government has slackened the Tier 4 Student Visa by dropping the tests for English language writing, reading and speaking. Also, applicants no longer need to provide evidence of previous academic study or proof of maintenance and finances. The ‘low risk’ countries already included the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and they are now joined by China, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Serbia, Bahrain, the Dominican Republic, Kuwait, Macau, and the Maldives. By granting China these extra Student Visa freedoms, with their students making up a third of total international students in the UK, more students are being encouraged to come to the UK, and contribute to a thriving and growing economy. The policy change comes after the government faced a backlash for targeting students in their attempt to reduce net migration.