Pay a Visit to Downing Street - Wednesday, December 10th

2008-12-02T13:56:00.000-08:00

Join the delegation to No. 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, December 10th!

A group of students, staff, faculty and concerned community members will be delivering a petition to the Prime Minister's office in order to express our opposition to these changes. Meet us there at 2pm with banners and noisemakers as we let the government now that over 1600 students, staff, faculty and concerned community members OPPOSE the proposed changes!

Where: 10 Downing Street, London, UK
When: Wednesday, December 10th at 2pm

For more information, or to let us know that you or your union, association, or group will be joining us, please contact: UnionInternational@kent.ac.uk

Organizing Against the Proposed Changes to Student Work & Study VISAs

2008-12-02T13:40:00.000-08:00

There is still time to stop these proposed changes, so get involved!

BACKGROUND

Do you know about the PROPOSED CHANGES TO STUDENT WORK & STUDY VISAS?

i) Increased financial requirements

New international students will need provide evidence that they have sufficient funds upfront (i.e. in their bank account) to cover full international tuition fees for the first year, plus up to £9,600 for living expenses - so almost £20,000 in total.

ii) Academics as Immigration Police

Academic staff will be asked to report students who miss class, fail to hand in assignments or whose "circumstances change" to the UK Border Agency. The Home Office will use "spot checks" to ensure universities are complying with the new rules.

iii) Monitoring Students' Research

Since 2007, non-UK/EU postgrad students studying science/technology must have their studies approved by the UK Border Agency as a supposed "counter-terrorism measure."

iv) Tracking Identification

All non UK/EU students will require a Bio-Metric Identification Card, as the cost of £30. Students wishing to renew their VISAS will have to supply their bio-metrics to the Home Office. Failure to keep your details up to date on the card could result in a fine of £1000.

WHAT DO THESE PROPOSED RULES MEAN?

For many, these proposed rules will:

a) discriminate against non-EU national students;

b) serve to exclude students from disadvantaged backgrounds from access to UK education;

c) dramatically reduce the number of overseas students who can attend university in the UK

d) undermine the academic freedom of the institution of universities;

e) undermine the trust that is such a vital part of the relationship between staff and students;

f) require university staff to police the activities of students on behalf of the UK Border Agency and act as Immigration Officers

WHAT CAN YOU DO?:

1) Join the delegation to No 10 Downing Street

A group of students and staff will be delivering the petition to the Prime Minister's office and will be expressing our opposition to these changes. Meet us there at 2pm with banners and noisemakers. Let's make sure they know how we feel about these changes!

2) Spread the word
- raise the issue wherever you are...if you're at a university talk to your head of department, other students and staff, and bring it up in your seminars and classes

3) Express your views

-sign the petition online: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Overseasstudent

-Write to your Member of Parliament

-Write to your embassy or overseas office

-Write to your local paper

-Contact your student union or staff union

4) Come to the next Action with UNIVERSITIES WITHOUT BORDERS
Check back here soon...

universities without borders

Pay a Visit to Downing Street - Wednesday, December 10th

Organizing Against the Proposed Changes to Student Work & Study VISAs