National Audit Office critical of “predictable flaws” in the UKBA Tier 4 system

The National Audit Office (NAO) reported last week on Tier 4 of the immigration points based system, identifying both failings and the successes of the UK Border Agency.  

In particular, the NAO concluded that the UKBA implemented Tier 4 of the points based system relating to students with "predictable flaws, which it could have avoided if it had introduced key controls at the same time".  However, the report also states that "the Agency took quick and positive action to strengthen Tier 4" following the increase in student immigration numbers over summer 2009 and that the "new [tier 4] rules are likely to reduce abuse".

Universities UK's response to the report recognises that "much of the apparent abuse of the student visa route cited by the NAO does not relate to university-level students" and suggests that "we must ensure that legitimate concerns about immigration do not end up causing irreversible damage to a profoundly successful British export".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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