UK's Visa and Immigration department has taken steps to tighten screening of students applying for the UK visas. It is now mandatory that students have to face video interviews with the authorities of the visa and immigration department of UK.
This compulsory teleconference measure (or, procedure), which was introduced recently, replaces a system in which the student applicants were interviewed face-to-face. This change was announced by the regional Head-South Asia, VFS Global, Vishal Jairath.
VFS Global is the UK partner for visa processing. It is serving nearly 45 governments in visa processing, data mining and biometric enrolment solutions for consulates and diplomatic missions across the globe.
After the students apply for a visa, they will have to face an interview conference on that stage itself. Currently, there are 2 video conference booths that are linked to the hub in the UK. This video conference interview is not only for Indians, and genuine candidates do not have to be frightened by this process.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Chennai, Bharat Joshi said this initiative is aimed at preventing deceivers from entering into the UK as students. This video interview will basically test a student’s proficiency in English language and his/her awareness about the prospects and courses in the UK. Out of every ten applicants, nine of will be allowed, he announced.
He said, there is no proposal to extend this selection procedure to any other visa category.
This stringent process comes into effect when less Indian students are showing their interest in entering the K for study. Over the past year, there is an increase in the number of immigrants by 5%, however there has been a decline in the number of students’ visas. There is a drop in the number of student applicants even before the video interview process has been launched. This may also be because of a lot of factors, including competition from other countries, which is also to be taken into account.
