In a span of three months from April to June this year, 49.1 per cent of applications from Indian students for UK Universities were rejected due to strict visa regulations and increasing cases of fake documents produced by applicants.

The students are a worried lot as the dates of admission to varsities cannot be extended due to delay in the visa approvals.

Vidya Rao (name changed on request) has enrolled for a post graduate programme in International Relations in a UK varsity, whose visa has been rejected. Vidya says, “The reasons for rejection is not known, but I have reapplied for the visa. The date to report at the varsity for the course is by next week, and I’m hoping that visa would be approved by then. It is depressing as other arrangements for the course have been made, while the visa approval is still uncertain.”

Vidya is one among the many students whose visa has been delayed and is unable to extend the date of admission to college. The UK introduced the tier-IV visa rules in March 2009.

According to the new rules, students aspiring to work in UK and not to study would be deterred and the regulations would also keep a check on the fake colleges from conning international students.

Stringent measure

Naresh Gulati, chief executive officer, Oceanic Consultants, pointed out that the new UK visa regulations are transparent and definitely a stringent measure to check fake documents and to permit genuine students to continue studies abroad.

Gulati said: “Fake documents produced by students is becoming an increasing menace. At least 15 students who have been conned by fake agencies or who do not have the original or right documents approach us every week. Earlier, the number of cases with fake documents was less than five.”

The fraud ranges from fake financial documentation such as bank loans or bank statements, fake marriages certificates and also fake documents related to educational qualification. In some cases, students opt for the use of fraudulent documentation with the help of fake and unauthorised agencies.

Administrative review

“In most cases, students would have produced fake documents making way for the rejection of visa application. However, when students reapply for visa, their doubts can be clarified in the administrative review. And even after this procedure, if the visa application is rejected again, a 10-year ban would be imposed on the candidates,”.