Latest news and updates
Media claims over sham colleges - UK Border Agency response
21 May 2009
The UK Border Agency has responded to claims in the Times newspaper that thousands of foreign nationals have entered the United Kingdom as students at a network of sham colleges.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:
'This alleged fraud took place under the old system, and highlights exactly why I have brought forward changes which crack down on abuse of the student route into the UK.
'I take any allegations of fraud incredibly seriously. The information provided by the Times has been passed on to the UK Border Agency, which is investigating.
'The UK Border Agency is systematically vetting colleges to clamp down on abuse of the rules. Before we tightened controls, around 4,000 UK institutions were bringing in international students; this currently stands at around 1,500. We will act swiftly where there is credible evidence of organised abuse of the immigration system by any college - registered as a sponsor or not.
'We have introduced tougher checks on overseas students as well as on colleges. All students applying for a visa are now fingerprinted and checked against a range of security and immigration watch lists, with expert teams abroad providing additional checks and support at high-risk posts such as Pakistan.'