§ Chris GraylingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government has changed its policy on assessing visa applications from Chinese students. [184880]
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§ Mr. MullinI have been asked to reply.
There has been no change in the policy on assessing applications from Chinese students although procedures for processing applications have been revised.
Our visa teams across China are working hard to ensure a proper balance between the facilitation of genuine student applications and effective immigration control. They have now developed better mechanisms to identify the increasing problem of visa and document abuse. Visa sections in China have also altered the procedures covering the assessment of student applications. This has streamlined the process and provided a more convenient service to the applicant, whilst reflecting increased concerns over the level of visa abuse, relating to the student market in China.