02, Nov 2011

Stricter visa norms are being imposed on Indian students aspiring to study in the UK. Britain has published a list of nearly 1,900 banks in India whose financial statements will not be accepted for student visa purposes––a move that is set to affect thousands of Indian students wanting to study in the UK. The new list has the names of only 85 banks operating in India whose statements will be accepted for the purpose of obtaining student visas.

While applying for UK student visas, it is imperative for applicants to furnish evidence of possessing the necessary funds to pursue a course of study and live in the UK for the duration of the course. From November 24 onwards, if an applicant provides bank statements from any of the listed unauthorized Indian banks showing they have the necessary funds, the application will not be accepted.

The list of banks whose statements will not be accepted are categorized as “Cooperative banks scheduled urban cooperative banks” and “Cooperative banks, non-scheduled urban cooperative banks”. According to official sources, visa officers will accept only those financial statements that are issued by “international banks, or national banks with a UK private banking presence, or regulated national/state banks that provide a core banking service”.

The Home Office also published a list of 85 banks operating in India whose statements will be accepted for the purpose of obtaining student visas. This list of approved banks includes “Scheduled commercial banks”.

With the drawing up of the lists of approved and non-approved Indian financial institutions for obtaining a student visa, it is now mandatory for applicants to hold an account in any of the 85 banks mentioned in the approved list before applying for the student visas.

This measure is clearly aimed at deterring applicants from producing false documentations. In 2010, Britain had suspended visa issuance to students of north India and Pakistan citing large-scale abuse of the visa system. The approved list will be kept under review, and additions or deletions will be made as appropriate. A similar list of approved/disapproved financial institutions in Pakistan and the Philippines was published by the Home Office.