26497
2003-04
74
Impact Of Visa Charges On International Students
David Davis
2003-11-26
That this House notes with concern the new charges of up to ú250 which were introduced by the Home Office on 1st August to process applications to extend permission to stay in the United Kingdom; further notes that all non-European Union international students will be subject to this charge each time they apply to extend their stay in the United Kingdom; condemns the Government for the way in which these charges were introduced with no consultation with universities, colleges or student organisations and with only 21 days' notice given; notes that the charges will not result in an improved service, with the Home Office still aiming to process applications within a maximum of 13 weeks; is concerned that these charges will hit many international students studying in the United Kingdom, many of whom are still unaware of the change and who will have to pay the charge up to four or five times during their studies; believes the new charges run the risk of damaging the United Kingdom's long tradition of attracting students from across the world to colleges and universities and therefore runs contrary to the government's stated policy of attracting increased numbers of international students into the United Kingdom; congratulates the Edinburgh University Students' Association along with the many other student organisations across the country for their campaigns seeking a reversal in this damaging policy and a full review of the way student visa applications are handled by the Home Office; further notes with concern the damaging effect of these charges on overseas pupils attending boarding schools in the United Kingdom; and regrets the damage which may be done to an important market worth over ú240 million annually.
David Davis
2003-11-26
Proposed
Haltemprice & Howden
Conservative
Nick Hawkins
2003-11-26
Signed
Surrey Heath
Conservative
Tim Boswell
2003-11-26
Signed
Daventry
Conservative
Dominic Grieve
2003-11-26
Signed
Beaconsfield
Conservative
Chris Grayling
2003-11-26
Signed
Epsom & Ewell
Conservative
Alan Duncan
2003-11-26
Signed
Rutland & Melton
Conservative
Jonathan Djanogly
2003-11-26
Signed
Huntingdon
Conservative
James Paice
2003-11-26
Signed
South East Cambridgeshire
Conservative
Humfrey Malins
2003-11-26
Signed
Woking
Conservative
Peter Luff
2003-11-26
Signed
Mid Worcestershire
Conservative
Oliver Letwin
2003-11-26
Signed
West Dorset
Conservative
Simon Burns
2003-11-26
Signed
West Chelmsford
Conservative
Philip Hammond
2003-11-27
Signed
Runnymede & Weybridge
Conservative
David Wilshire
2003-11-27
Signed
Spelthorne
Conservative
Angela Watkinson
2003-11-27
Signed
Upminster
Conservative
Simon Thomas
2003-11-27
Signed
Ceredigion
Plaid Cymru
Tony Baldry
2003-11-27
Signed
Banbury
Conservative
Peter Ainsworth
2003-11-27
Signed
East Surrey
Conservative
Edward Garnier
2003-11-27
Signed
Harborough
Conservative
Mark Francois
2003-11-27
Signed
Rayleigh
Conservative
Mark Field
2003-11-27
Signed
Cities of London & Westminster
Conservative
Jacqui Lait
2003-11-27
Signed
Beckenham
Conservative
John Randall
2003-11-27
Signed
Uxbridge
Conservative
Derek Conway
2003-12-01
Signed
Old Bexley & Sidcup
Conservative
Nigel Evans
2003-12-01
Signed
Ribble Valley
Conservative
Tim Yeo
2003-12-01
Signed
South Suffolk
Conservative
James Gray
2003-12-02
Signed
North Wiltshire
Conservative
Michael Fabricant
2003-12-02
Signed
Lichfield
Conservative
Peter Duncan
2003-12-02
Signed
Galloway & Upper Nithsdale
Conservative
Malcolm Moss
2003-12-02
Signed
North East Cambridgeshire
Conservative
Robert Key
2003-12-02
Signed
Salisbury
Conservative
Andrew Hunter
2003-12-02
Signed
Basingstoke
Independent Conservative
Tim Loughton
2003-12-02
Signed
East Worthing & Shoreham
Conservative
Julian Brazier
2003-12-03
Signed
Canterbury
Conservative
David Amess
2003-12-03
Signed
Southend West
Conservative
Andrew Rosindell
2003-12-04
Signed
Romford
Conservative
Bob Spink
2003-12-04
Signed
Castle Point
Conservative
Julian Lewis
2003-12-04
Signed
New Forest East
Conservative
Roy Beggs
2003-12-04
Signed
East Antrim
UUP
Caroline Spelman
2003-12-08
Signed
Meriden
Conservative
Lady Hermon
2003-12-08
Signed
North Down
UUP
Howard Flight
2003-12-09
Signed
Arundel & South Downs
Conservative
Bill Wiggin
2003-12-10
Signed
Leominster
Conservative
Anne McIntosh
2003-12-10
Signed
Vale of York
Conservative
Oliver Heald
2003-12-10
Signed
North East Hertfordshire
Conservative
Patrick Mercer
2003-12-16
Signed
Newark
Conservative
Andrew Selous
2003-12-18
Signed
South West Bedfordshire
Conservative
Jonathan Sayeed
2004-01-05
Signed
Mid Bedfordshire
Conservative
Adrian Flook
2004-01-05
Signed
Taunton
Conservative
David Maclean
2004-01-07
Signed
Penrith & The Border
Conservative
Cheryl Gillan
2004-01-07
Signed
Chesham & Amersham
Conservative
Andrew Murrison
2004-01-08
Signed
Westbury
Conservative
Hugo Swire
2004-01-26
Signed
East Devon
Conservative
Julie Kirkbride
2004-01-27
Signed
Bromsgrove
Conservative
George Osborne
2004-02-10
Signed
Tatton
Conservative
Eric Pickles
2004-03-11
Signed
Brentwood & Ongar
Conservative
Charles Hendry
2004-05-05
Signed
Wealden
Conservative
John Bercow
2004-05-26
Signed
Buckingham
Conservative