UK's new student visa rules exclude India

According to latest Office of National Statistics (ONS) data, India is among the top three countries from where overseas students come in to study at UK universities, after China and the US. The UK government has caused major outrage with its decision to exclude Indian students from a new list of countries considered low risk in order to facilitate an easier visa application process to UK universities. Excluding India from the list damages its relations with the UK and snatches away a lot of easy education opportunities for hopeful Indian students. In changes to its immigration policy tabled in the Parliament yesterday, the UK Home Office announced a relaxation of the Tier 4 visa category for overseas students from around 25 countries. On a list covering countries like the US, Canada and New Zealand, the Home Office has added countries like China, Bahrain and Serbia, where students would face reduced checks on educational, financial and English language skill requirements to study at British universities.