Tighter rules for international students (10/02/2010)

Today the UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson announced that international students who wish to study in the UK will be required to meet stricter criteria in future.

The new requirements for international students follow a review of Tier 4 of the points based system (PBS). The review looked at whether the current arrangements meet the right balance between facilitating access by genuine students and preventing abuse by economic migrants.

The new requirements are targeted and proportionate and continue to support the UK government's commitment to ensuring that the UK remains an attractive destination to legitimate international students who want to benefit from the world class education that the UK has to offer. 

The next step will be to discuss the details of the implementation of the changes with the education sector.

he Home Secretary said:

"The points based system was introduced to provide a rigorous system to manage legitimate access to the UK to work and study, with the ability to respond to changing circumstances.

"We want foreign students to come here to study, not to work illegally, and today we have set out necessary steps which will maintain the robustness of the system we introduced last year. I make no apologies for that."

The new requirements for adult students will include the following, and be introduced in three stages:

• raising the level for English language students coming under Tier 4 from A2 (beginner) to B2 (intermediate). The only exceptions to this will be for overseas government-sponsored English language students and students on pre-sessional English language courses as preparation for full degree courses;
• students studying below degree or foundation degree level will be restricted to working for 10 hours per week during term-time (a reduction from 20 hours), with full time employment permitted during the holidays;
• students studying on courses of six months or less will not be entitled to bring their dependants to the UK unless they qualify in their own right under one of the other PBS tiers and  
• dependants of students studying courses below degree or foundation degree level will not be permitted to take employment in the UK unless they qualify in their own right under one of the other PBS tiers.

These requirements require changes to the Immigration Rules and are expected to come into effect on 3 March 2010.

In addition:

• the government will establish a "highly trusted sponsor programme". The details of the programme will be developed with the education sector over the next couple of months. This is expected to come into effect on 6 April 2010, from which date:
• only Highly Trusted Sponsors will be able deliver NQF level 3 courses and
• only Highly Trusted Sponsors can deliver work placement courses below degree level.
• the government will also develop with partners a mandatory English language test for students coming to study below degree level which will demonstrate English language proficiency to the required standard (B1) and be officially approved by the UK Border Agency. The aim is to implement this by early Summer 2010.

Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, Pat McFadden, said:

"Genuine international students are welcome in the UK. They make a significant contribution to the academic and cultural life of the universities and colleges where they study and bring over £5.3 billion to our economy each year. But where there is abuse it undermines the position of genuine students as much as anyone else.

"It is important that we protect the reputation and quality of our institutions by ensuring only legitimate students are able to benefit from the courses they offer. This is why we will work closely with the education sector to implement the recommendations of the review."

In addition, today the UK Border Agency published proposed new fees for immigration and nationality services which are set at or below the cost of processing. The Tier 4 visa fee will rise from £145 to £199 with effect from 6 April 2010. Although international students are being asked to pay more, they continue to pay less than it costs to process a Tier 4 visa and this is in recognition of the importance of international students to the UK.

Notes for Editors

• The Implementation Plan for Tier 4 of the PBS can be found at UKBA website.
• The Prime Minister announced the review of Tier 4 on 12 November 2009. The review was conducted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the UK Border Agency. It looked at the case for and against policy changes and specifically the potential impact of raising the minimum level of study an adult may undertake in the UK, introducing English language test for those coming to the UK to study below degree level, restricting access to vocational courses (courses with work placements) and the work entitlements of students.
• Students wishing to learn English and who are at beginner level, will still be able to come to the UK to study for a maximum of six months under the student visitor route (not Tier 4). Student visitors will be able to study English language at levels below B1 with an education provider that is accredited by a UK Border Agency-approved accreditation body.
• Current guidance for Tier 4 student visa applications is available at UKBA website.
• The UK Border Agency publishes annual entry clearance statistics in August each year.
• Visa fees are reviewed every year. They are debated in Parliament and implemented at start of the new financial year when fee guidance will be issued to customers.

CIBIL-- JUST FOR KNOWLEDGE

Why You Need Credit Reports

A credit report provides lenders with an overall snapshot of your credit usage, and even potential employers are checking applicant's credit reports.

Checking your credit report can also help to prevent against fraud and identity theft, which are among the fastest growing crimes today. The best way to prevent fraud is by checking your free credit report for any suspicious activity on your bank accounts, credit cards and loans.

Why Credit Scores are Important

Everyone checks on credit scores these days, and with a higher credit score you can gain access to the best interest rates on school loans, cars, mortgages, credit card offers, insurance payments and so much more.

Credit scores are calculated based on data in your credit reports and can fluctuate depending on recent activity, so it's important that you are monitoring it on a daily basis.

Differences Between Credit Reports and Scores

A credit report is an analysis of when and where you applied for credit, the lenders borrowed from and who you still owe money to. Your credit reports also monitor how much debt you've paid off and whether or not you are current on your monthly payments.

A credit score is a number-grade assigned to you based on the information in your credit report. Companies, banks and lender

uk student visa ? what to do or not ! ! !

 from reddif




Studying in the UK might be a dream for many, but there are many pitfalls students (and their parents) should be aware of before they embark on their study abroad journey. This article is to help potential UK students who wish to consider UK as the country to study, live and work. In my experience, many students are not guided honestly in building their careers in the UK.

Often students run into agents who are commissioned by bogus, low-grade colleges in the UK for getting admissions and visa using 'short-cuts'. At most these students ask some of their friends already in the UK about the system. My advice to students is to use the British Council office in India to evaluate the institutions. Find out first if the college a private limited company and if it is, be careful that the college enjoys a good reputation and has been stable for years. The reason why I mention this is because the company and the owners are a separate legal entity. If the company that is your college is in trouble, you end up losing your money. You will be left helpless if you go to the UK to find the college is no more trading.

So before you buy your ticket to London [ Images ], take a look at some of the things you need to know:

• Is the college is a private limited company? Find out what if the company has a registration number. You can check if the company is trading or not by searching on www.companieshouse.gov.uk. Just enter the company name or registration number to check the status of the company. If you see that the company is dissolved, do not enrol. The quality of the education provider matters and will affect your career. So before applying to any college whose advertisement boasts about bright career prospects, make the effort of researching the institution before giving in to the excitement. Remember you want to come to the UK to build your career.
• If the college shows it has a MBA programme accredited by a UK university then find out directly from the university if the college is authorised to use their name. Some selfish business owners from Asia settled in the UK form companies and may use the name to show that they are associated with premier universities. They advertise heavily in Indian newspapers to attract maximum students. Every college is not like that, but I have seen several students suffer due to some unscrupulous elements.
• Try going directly through the college rather than the agent for visa or admissions as the criteria is academic merit and not the agent's name. No one can guarantee the visa for you. You do not need to have 80 per cent+ to get admission in the UK as applications depend on different criteria for different educational institutions. Some bogus colleges take anyone as long as they pay. To ensure that you are applying to a good institution make sure that the college or university has a sponsorship number or license. This is a new provision introduced by the Home office in the UK to clamp down on bogus colleges.
• Once you are convinced that you have found the right course, college or university apply honestly. These days you can do everything online. You can pay the registration fee directly online or by calling the institution. Make sure you get a receipt for your payment and it should clearly state the process in case of visa refusals. For instance, if the course costs GBP10,000 for an MBA, they may ask for GBP5,000 for registration to issue a non-conditional offer letter for admission. Before you pay make sure to ask how you will get a refund if your visa application is refused. There may be a reasonable admin charge.
• The admission letter then can be taken to Indian banks for educational loan application purposes. Banks have really come up in last few years to make the process of educational loans very easy. You can apply online. Try SBI [Get Quote ], OBC and others. Do not over borrow for laptops, mobile phones and other stuff that you may not need now. Why? This is because every pound you borrow increases loan repayments since the interest will be compounded. Thus, be reasonable and try to arrange as much as you can from other sources. Also, do not lose the desire to study in the UK just because you do not have solid financial backing. You may get scholarships or a loan if your family has a fixed asset that could be a collateral security against the loan. Do not rely only on what friends say about loan rates. Make a habit of finding out yourself by going to as many banks as possible. Many times students take short cuts and end up in a mess.
• During the visa process, fill the form honestly yourself. Be to the point. Do not lie if you have applied for a visa and have been refused one for any country. If they ask your household income be sure that you have facts to support your claims like bank statements, PAN card, income tax returns, pay slips, etc. The main foundation of the application is correct details and solid finances as the UK government will not allow you to enter the country if they perceive that you do not have the finances to study and live in the UK without depending on their public funds. If you are not sure about anything, visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk or ask the university where you seek admission.
• Once you have reviewed your application submit it and wait for the outcome. Once you get the visa prepare to come to the UK. No book or article can prepare you for the hardships of a student in the UK. It is a great experience to study in one of the best places in the world like London. You learn to grow 10 times quicker than what you experience in India as you don't have the comfort of your own home, with no pressure of paying rent or bills etc.
• Finding accommodations is challenging before you arrive in the UK. Thus my advice is research well in advance. Websites like www.gumtree.com , www.findaproperty.com are good places to start looking for a room. Most students share a house or flat. University-arranged accommodations will be much more expensive ranging from a minimum of GBP110 per week + bills depending on the area you will be living in. Do not pay the money to advertisers as there are fraudsters preying on innocent people. The best approach is to contact the person by email first. Ask for the full address and speak to them on the phone. Agree that you will give the deposit on arrival. Sometimes students pay in advance and may be disappointed as landlords specially are not too concerned about the welfare of students.
  
  Having said that, if you go through an estate agent it may become easier but will prove expensive. Again my suggestion is first visit the place, read the contract and then pay. Unfair contracts may be written so you can object if you do not agree with them. Contracts for tenancy vary from one month to one year depending on your need.
• Please make sure you look at the termination of contract rules too. Ask them if they will put the deposit in a special fund as many times students do not get refunds because landlords make excuses of unfair wear and tear in the property. It is normal to give a month's or one week's notice for leaving. Make sure you do not sign for your friends, like if you are three friends who want a three-bedroom house for say GBP900 per month inclusive of all bills. Please get a contract drafted where you are responsible for only your share of the rent that is GBP300.  If you sign as the responsible person for paying the full amount and your friends leave you will be liable to pay all GBP900.
  
  It is fair to get all names on the contract, clearly stating you are responsible for paying only for your room. Get proof of electricity, gas reading by taking a picture of meters on the day of arrival on your mobile phone. Thus when the bills come you will pay from the day you rented the property.
• If you live in places like East London which is just 20-25 minutes by London Underground to Central London where most good universities, are you may find a room for GBP65-90 per week including gas, electricity and internet. One more thing, full-time students are exempted from council tax so if anyone tries to charge you for that refuse to pay. To gain exemption on council tax you will need a letter from your employer.
• Make sure you spend time in making your resume neat, precise and improvised so that it fits the job you will be applying for. Do not cut, copy and paste your friend's resume to avoid disappointments. Make a good covering letter and state how you will add value to the employer. Merely saying 'I am confident, I can do anything' will not land you the job as there are millions of students and people looking for jobs in this recession. But do not lie. If you have not done it, don't make it up. Be honest and your sincerity will go a long way.
• National insurance: As a student you are allowed to work only 20 hrs per week and when the session is over you may be allowed to work full time as per home office rules. But please confirm this from www.homeoffice.gov.uk. You will need something called a NI number (National Insurance number) before you can start working. You can apply for this number on the phone once you arrive in the UK. You will get a date of appointment once you speak to an advisor on the phone. If you find work before this, let your employers know that you have applied for it as it may take a while till you get it. This number will look something like this: ST245763A, and will be on your pay slip. For more information on NI, visit www.directgov.uk.
• Finding a job is very hard and I make no assurances that it will be easy or you will get a job through a contact like in India. You should be prepared to do everything yourself. The sooner you realise this the better it will be for you. There are always jobs available for students here so apply properly. A typical example is instead of applying for 30 positions in a day where you just applied by sending your CV to 30 companies without a covering letter and understanding the job requirements send 10 good, well thought out applications. You will get positive results if you apply yourself qualitatively not quantatively. Be prepared to fill online job application forms. Jobs where most students can get jobs are in the retail sector. If you work in London you can expect to earn a minimum of GBP5.73 per hour to GBP12 per hour depending on the work you are doing. Good jobs sites are www.totaljobs.com,www.monster.co.uk.
• Health: Get registered at the nearest doctor in your area as soon as possible by visiting www.nhs.uk. You just type in your post code, eg SW16 6EY, and click search for GP, dentist and walk in clinic. It is advised that you do this as soon as possible, so that if you are unwell you know where to go. In case of an emergency, dial 999 and say ambulance if you are serious. Do not waste their time if you have a mild headache. The same number, 999, is for the police and fire brigade too. Also, 999 calls are free.
• For mobile phone deals use comparison sites like www.moneysupermarket.com. You may find good deals there. Try a SIM only deal without a long-term contract, for just GBP10 a month if you do not have a job.

For more insights on career development, business start-up advice, how to make a resume that stands out, how to become a professionally qualified accountant in the UK and more such features, watch this space.

time managment

Time Management  

Vijay lodha , MCOM,LLB,MBA(FIN.)LONDON

                         How many times did you hear the phrases “Excuse me, please, I don’t have the time for that”, or “I’m in a hurry”? As far as I remember, I heard that at least once a day over the past 30 years. Did you know that 30 years mean 10957 days? If you heard a thing 10957 times in your life, isn’t it already shaping your habits?

                          I’ve read the other day that it takes 20 days of practicing, in order to form a habit. If 20 days can form a habit, 10000 days can reshape a character. How do we fight this undesired modeling which tends to turn us into machines, to transform us into all kinds of freaks and workaholics, who hurry up their entire life, only to discover at the end that they reached a dip and it is too late to get out?

              Wherever a problem arises, there comes at least one expert who figures out a solution. And the solution for this rat race (any other animal would do here; don’t you think a snail is always in a hurry? Think again!) was called TIME MANAGEMENT.

Leaving time management experts aside, these are a few habits I’ve developed, which proved to work in helping me live at my own pace and still have (almost) everybody around me happy:

=Don’t wait until things become urgent

This very dear friend of mine who likes to think she’s a successful business woman (actually she really is, her business being amongst the top ten of its kind in Romania) is always in a hurry. She has a way of prioritizing things that would drive anybody crazy: “if it is not urgent, then it can wait”. The outcome? When things become urgent and need to be done, she enters a crazy race, spending nights at the office, thus forcing all her colleagues to adopt her pace. She finally does everything in a brilliant way, her clients are happy, but she is always tired and feeling that she doesn’t have enough time for herself, despite the fact that she goes jogging every morning, goes to massage every week, and her hair is always in perfect shape.

There is a principle in NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) that says “the map is not the territory”. It means that our vision about the reality is not the reality. If we look at a bee, the beekeeper will see “his baby”, an allergic person will see “a potential danger” and other person may see a breakfast with bread, butter and honey. You don’t need more time, you just need the belief that the time you have is enough for everything you want to do. At the end of the day, it’s your personal map which matters.

= Make a to do list

Humans forget. Some of them quite a lot. Are they to blame for that? No way! Try this for 20 days: every morning, try to sit and think your day ahead. Write down the things you wish/need/think to do that day. Your brain will kiss you for that. If you spend no more than 10 minutes every other hour thinking of what are the things that need to be done, by the end of the day you’ve had spent about one hour on the activities planning process. The longest to do list can be done in less than 10 minutes. You can always spend the other 50 playing with your child.

= Dare to break the to do list

                           Be flexible. You are your most valuable asset, so don’t stress yourself. If by noon your list becomes out of age, don’t be afraid to change it. The “noon” you may be a different person from the “morning you”. What I want to say here: priorities may change as the day/life goes on. Don’t be afraid to change with them. On a smaller scale of things, if let’s say I have on my to do list to write this article and I notice I’ve got so well into this writing mood, I’d always cancel some other things on the list for writing two more articles. Doing things when you are in the mood saves you a lot of time. Please don’t tell me that you cannot cut anything from that list. Are you a housewife? Then you are supposed to have some cooking on the list. Why not cut it and take your family out for dinner tonight? If you don’t wait until things get urgent, you’ll always find something to cut from the list.

=When things tend to get out of control, don’t blame anybody (including yourself), but look for solutions

                              No matter how much we like to think that we are in control, there are times in life when things take an unexpected course. It is very easy to screw up a project, or a marriage, or a trip. A lot of people try to seek out the guilty, wasting their time to collect evidences, to playback the failure over and over, to match the punishment with the guilt. If you recognize yourself in these words, at least for once in your life, please try to leave behind all this guilt-punishment mechanism, and focus your energy on what to do next. Seek for solutions. Think for future, not for the past. Think “how?”, “not why?”. Don’t you see how much more constructive this approach can be? It can save you a lot of time, believe me. Not to mention that your peers will love you for that.

5. Know when to quit

Don’t continue doing something just because you started. Life is not a competition. If you don’t find a reason anymore, just quit and start something new, be it a career, a family or a hobby. In Seth Godin On The Fine Art Of Quitting, Steve Olson says:

I must admit, I have quit all my big ventures in the dip. But I don’t feel bad about quitting, because each time they were strategic decisions. The only regret I have is not quitting earlier.

= Don’t look back in anger

                        Another very good friend of mine spends perhaps half of her time thinking of the past, re-playing over and over all the sad moments she lived, feeling frustrated now because 4 years ago somebody broke by mistake her favourite glass. Only try to make her see how she’s wasting her time! The answer comes immediately: “what do you know about that? Nobody broke your favourite glass, so you don’t know how I feel”. Or: “I just hate my former employer for his behaviour and I hope all future secretaries will quit their job as fast as I had to quit mine”. And she keeps on asking me if I still keep in touch with former colleagues, not to forget to ask them about the secretaries in that company. Does it really matter? It is true, that employer’s attitude was far from professional. However, my time is so valuable, that I don’t want to waste it on digging past shit.

= If you delegate things, assume the outcome may not be what you imagined

                There aren’t two identical people in the world. Then, why would you pretend that somebody thinks and acts exactly your way? If we are partners and you ask me to redecorate the office by myself because you are busy, please don’t come later to tell me that you hate the outcome. If redecoration was so important to you, you should have come with me and have your say then. Why do you come now and ask me to call the plumber again because you would have liked the sink to be mounted two inches lower? Of course I won’t move a finger, so you’ll have to do it by yourself, and you’ll waste your time doing again things for which I’ve also spent my time on. If you are a detailed person, at least look better who you delegate: I barely notice the kitchen sink when I pass by, and you want me to estimate how high it should be mounted?

= “No” is also an answer

          Please take a moment and do this test with a friend: in the middle of the conversation, pretend to drop something on the floor. Watch your friend’s reaction. I believe it is somehow in the human nature to help others. Was your friend trying to take that item from the floor and give it back to you? It is nice to help the others, but if 100 people just drop an item on the floor in the same time, I could possibly pick up only one or two. The other 98 or 99 people will have to understand that “no” is also an answer, and this does not make me mean. It’s just my resources are limited. Learn how to say no, and you’ll better manage your time.

=Take 30 minutes of day dreaming every day

                      This is good for motivation. If it is true that motivated people work faster, then re-gaining your motivation from time to time may make you a more efficient person.

=Remember that “all roads lead to Rome”

                          Each of us does things in a unique, personal way. Don’t waste your time in trying to convert the other persons to your beliefs, or to make them see life your way. Don’t look all the time at each other. Take each other by the hand and try to look in the same direction, the direction of your common goals, for this is your Rome. I remember a saying (I forgot where I heard it): in life, one should not bother with the details. And they all are details.

This article is my entry for the newest group writing project hosted by Inspiration Bit, Time Management. I want to invite you all to have your say in this group project, as time is the only limited resource we have. In front of time, beggars and millionaires are equal. Nobody can have more than 24 hours in a day. But some of us can manage it better, and this is what I hope to achieve at the end of this group project.

Getting started on photography is not difficult anymore. All you need is a digital camera of your own. You can save the images in your pad until you find a studio with printers.

No related posts.

DANGEROUS WORDS IN BUSINESS……….

VIJAY LODHA

MCOM,LLB,MBA(FIN.)LONDON

At least we all recognize it when we hear it.

The really nasty language in business consists of normal words with abnormal meanings. Here are 12 words that should get any alert manager’s bullish*t detector working overtime.

Just

This is used to make a huge request or error seem trivial, as in, “Could you just do this (500-page) document by Monday?” -- a request best made late on a Friday afternoon.

But

Remember, whatever is said before but is b*****ks, as in, “That was a great presentation, but...” or, “I would like to help, but...”.

From

From is much loved by advertisers, as in “Fly to Rome from £10″ -- excluding £100 of taxes and other “optional” extras for a flight leaving at 4 AM and going to an airport about 100kn away from Rome, and only if you book the ticket one year in advance.

Might (and any other conditional verb)

Might is used to achieve two thing. First, it sets up a negotiating position, as in, “I might be able to do that if...” Second, it lays the groundwork for excusing failure later on: “I would have done it, if only...”

Only

Closely related to just, this is an attempt to make a big request or problem seem small. “It was only a small error.... We only dropped one nuclear bomb over London...”.

Important (and urgent)

This is used to puff up any presentation: “This important new product/initiative...”. Important to whom? And why? Maybe it is important to the speaker, but why is it important to me?

Strategic

Important, with bells on. See Strategic Human Capital Division, formerly known as the Personnel Department. It's alternatively used to justify something that has no financial justification at all: “This strategic IT investment (which costs £100 million and has no identifiable payback) is essential to the survival of the business.”

Rightsize, downsize, best shore, offshore, outsource, optimise, redeploy, downshift, re-engineer

How many ways are there to avoid saying straight up: "We are going to lay off staff"?

Thank you

Normally, thank you is good -- except when used by automated voices at call centres saying, “Thank you for calling; we value your call... (and we have so much contempt for our customers that we can't be bothered to answer your call promptly, so we will put you on hold until you give up and try to use our impenetrable and useless online help instead).”

Interesting

Fear this word. When your lawyer uses it, you are doomed. When your doctor uses it, check that your will is up to date. The recession is certainly interesting. A slightly less interesting time would be preferable.

Opportunity

Because the word problem has been banned in business-speak, all problems have become opportunities. This means many opportunities are problems. There is a limit to how many opportunities I can solve. Interesting and strategic opportunities really scare me.

Investment

Investment was first hijacked by the British government to justify wild and uncontrolled public sector spending. Spending is bad, but investment is good, so it simply reclassified all its spending as investment in the health, education, and future of the country. The businesses that followed the government’s lead by going on a spending/investment splurge are now going bust -- unlike the government, they can't print money or raise taxes.