heroshark:


Are you pretending not to know that the student route was abused?

What are the main criteria for a UK student visa?

1) You should have an accepted offer from an eligible institution and hold a CAS (30 points).
2) You should have sufficient funding to cover your tuition and living expenses (10 points).
The majority of people simply did not meet the second criterion and used fraudulent means to obtain it. That is abuse.


If we cut the number of students who use fraudulent POF, or those who sold and bought COS, the number of immigrants will drop drastically, and the UK government would not even need to curtail the visa regulations in the first place. According to data from home office, Nigerians has the highest number of students dependents, if you can answer honestly what percentage of those Nigerian students with dependents have complete fund to cover the tuition and living expenses without using fraudulent POF ?
How else do you define an abuse?

Let's not always try to shy away from the truth. The whole new visa regulations are because a particular set of people (mostly Indians and subcontinentals, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans) are using fraudulent means to obtain the visa, which increases the number to an unsustainable level. And the government have to respond, which is the duty of any government.

How they respond is now a different thing altogether.

As for POF, the university will withdraw such students if they are unable to complete their fees. People are learning how it's impossible to work and pay your tuition after arriving in the UK. Does stopping students from bringing dependants end fraudulent POF 100%? I'll guess NO. And UKVI should maybe do more to verify the availability of funds. I don't even see how fraudulent POF is connected to dependant visa. If anything, having a dependant makes life easier for the student as their dependant is allowed to work full-time and support them.

For your point on COS, wetin concern student with COS? Even UKVI has blocked students from switching visa before they complete their studies abi? Which I think is a great move.

Zahra29:


I've copied a comment from ReesheesuKnack which explains what some of the abuse was:

Guy, PSW was NEVER massively abused.
What was massively abused WAS the Tier-4 Student Visa. Where folks pay £2,000 deposit. Use fictitious PoF, get into the UK, then abandon their studies. Use the ‘balance’ of the school fees to BUY Health & Care (Carer route) visas.

Add to that the sham marriages to bring in fake spouses who have paid the MA to come in on their visa, and then they go their separate ways until it's time for visa renewal. Or where the arrangement is that the dependant assists with the school fees in return for the UK visa. Some then got to the UK, found a better arrangement/partner/care visa and reneged on the original arrangement. Not just with Nigerians, Bangladeshis and others were doing this as well.

Other examples abound of the abuse of the tier 4 visa route and why it's been clamped down.

People successfully bringing fake spouses in can show a flaw in the level visa review process. But in a case where it manages to happen, maybe a more obvious way to address your second point would be to restrict dependants from switching visa until their MA has completed their studies.

There are a lot of students in the UK without dependants (fake or real). There are also a lot of students moving out of the UK after their studies. Between February and now, I know 2 Indians on my street who left the UK because of the unavailability of professional work in their fields.

I believe the total close of dependant visa is bad for those who genuinely seek a better life abroad.

directonpc:

People successfully bringing fake spouses in can show a flaw in the level visa review process. But in a case where it manages to happen, maybe a more obvious way to address your second point would be to restrict dependants from switching visa until their MA has completed their studies.

There are a lot of students in the UK without dependants (fake or real). There are also a lot of students moving out of the UK after their studies. Between February and now, I know 2 Indians on my street who left the UK because of the unavailability of professional work in their fields.

I believe the total close of dependant visa is bad for those who genuinely seek a better life abroad.

Mind you the fake spouses would have presented "genuine" marriage certificates and other evidence which would have been received in good faith by the ECO.

The bolded is a good idea, but the UK government is too generous sometimes lol.

Yes I agree that closing the dependant route is unfortunate for genuine families, but that's the problem with high levels of abuse - the innocent also get caught up in the consequences.

directonpc:

As for POF, the university will withdraw such students if they are unable to complete their fees. People are learning how it's impossible to work and pay your tuition after arriving in the UK. Does stopping students from bringing dependants end fraudulent POF 100%? I'll guess NO. And UKVI should maybe do more to verify the availability of funds. I don't even see how fraudulent POF is connected to dependant visa. If anything, having a dependant makes life easier for the student as their dependant is allowed to work full-time and support them.

For your point on COS, wetin concern student with COS? Even UKVI has blocked students from switching visa before they complete their studies abi? Which I think is a great move.

You are missing the whole point, the student visa is not an immigrant visa. Most people that park their family on a student visa are traveling with migration intent hence they use the student visa as a route.

Stopping students from bringing dependents will drastically cut the number of families traveling with immigration intent, which is what the government wanted. To reduce net immigration.

Those that wants to study can come and study after 1year they return back to their family or work to skill worker visa and bring their families.

I am not saying that what the government did is the best solution, my point is that the government response is in reaction to the abuse of the system.

heroshark:


You are missing the whole point, the student visa is not an immigrant visa. Most people that park their family on a student visa are traveling with migration intent hence they use the student visa as a route.

Stopping students from bringing dependents will drastically cut the number of families traveling with immigration intent, which is what the government wanted. To reduce net immigration.

Those that wants to study can come and study after 1year they return back to their family or work to skill worker visa and bring their families.

I am not saying that what the government did is the best solution, my point is that the government response is in reaction to the abuse of the system.

If someone cones to the UK via the student visa, abandon their studies and switch, you can call that using it for immigration. But if one comes to the UK, completes their studies, does post-study visa, hopes to get a skilled worker visa and eventually gets it, how's that abuse? Even the UKVI doesn't think that's abuse.

Education is mostly an investment. And people want return on their investment. It's OK if the expectation people have for coming to study in Europe is to use their new degree to work and live there legally. Even the universities here understand that most of their customers want that return on their investment, hence why the recent report mentions that the government should reassure students that they're not taking the PSW away. They're already dealing with decline in applications due to those that cannot stay apart from their dependants for 3 years not coming.

I don't know what the solution to the immigration crisis in the UK is, but not everything about the dependant visa is abuse. Even these Nigerians (ourselves) we paint bad, plenty single Nigerians are here without any fake or real dependants.

Opinions needed

Which is a better approach to financial freedom

1) Paying excess mortgage with 'spare' money to reduce the mortgage tenure
2) Save the 'spare' money instead and buy a BTL property

Also are there any other ideas to use 'spare' money for in the housing sector apart from the two mentioned above?

Passed my driving Test today 1st attempt. I am so ecstatic, having to unlearn all my naija driving bad habits and picking up the disciplined defensive driving in the Uk has been mind wrecking.. Thank God am through that stage now. Tips and recommendations from this thread were very help. All people that pasted youtube reommendations..Daalu.

Having said that I would like to sound a note of warning to people like me that have coconut head like me, wey no dey hear word. Despite all the warnings from Lexusgs430 and other elders in house about not driving unsupervised with provisional license. I went and bought a car earlier this year and entered road. First day I took the car out, I got stopped by the police and got 3 points on my provisional (talk about bad luck), I was lucky the car was not impounded, they police guy just pity me small. What gave me mind was seeing lots of people driving on provisional without issue. E reach my turn, dem catch me. Please if you are driving on provisional, book that driving test today abeg. Do not be like me, Do not have coconut head.

I did 24 sessions in total , across three tutors till I found the one that was good, one naija driving tutor was the absolute worst. He just kept shouting on top my head and derailing my confidence. When I crunched the numbers , I spent £1040 in total for sessions and using tutors car for the test.

Congrats!!!

Santa2:
Passed my driving Test today 1st attempt. I am so ecstatic, having to unlearn all my naija driving bad habits and picking up the disciplined defensive driving in the Uk has been mind wrecking.. Thank God am through that stage now. Tips and recommendations from this thread were very help. All people that pasted youtube reommendations..Daalu.

Having said that I would like to sound a note of warning to people like me that have coconut head like me, wey no dey hear word. Despite all the warnings from Lexusgs430 and other elders in house about not driving unsupervised with provisional license. I went and bought a car earlier this year and entered road. First day I took the car out, I got stopped by the police and got 3 points on my provisional (talk about bad luck), I was lucky the car was not impounded, they police guy just pity me small. What gave me mind was seeing lots of people driving on provisional without issue. E reach my turn, dem catch me. Please if you are driving on provisional, book that driving test today abeg. Do not be like me, Do not have coconut head.

I did 24 sessions in total , across three tutors till I found the one that was good, one naija driving tutor was the absolute worst. He just kept shouting on top my head and derailing my confidence. When I crunched the numbers , I spent £1040 in total for sessions and using tutors car for the test.

Santa2:
Passed my driving Test today 1st attempt. I am so ecstatic, having to unlearn all my naija driving bad habits and picking up the disciplined defensive driving in the Uk has been mind wrecking.. Thank God am through that stage now. Tips and recommendations from this thread were very help. All people that pasted youtube reommendations..Daalu.

Having said that I would like to sound a note of warning to people like me that have coconut head like me, wey no dey hear word. Despite all the warnings from Lexusgs430 and other elders in house about not driving unsupervised with provisional license. I went and bought a car earlier this year and entered road. First day I took the car out, I got stopped by the police and got 3 points on my provisional (talk about bad luck), I was lucky the car was not impounded, they police guy just pity me small. What gave me mind was seeing lots of people driving on provisional without issue. E reach my turn, dem catch me. Please if you are driving on provisional, book that driving test today abeg. Do not be like me, Do not have coconut head.

I did 24 sessions in total , across three tutors till I found the one that was good, one naija driving tutor was the absolute worst. He just kept shouting on top my head and derailing my confidence. When I crunched the numbers , I spent £1040 in total for sessions and using tutors car for the test.

Congratulations...... You be Medway pickin.......🎉🤣

Lexusgs, please I need IPTV plug
Make I join the league of smart boys

luqken:
Lexusgs, please I need IPTV plug
Make I join the league of smart boys

Send me a WhatsApp message.......

lavida001:


I have a question.

How do we replicate this Youna brilliant insights in Nigeria.

Its a difficult one but in my experience, we struggle with a number of things. Two main ones being accountability which is evident across board and secondly building resilient systems.

Kano state at the turn of the century eliminated the token (less than 200 I believe) pregnant women pay for maternity services and that alone increased the number of pregnant ladies attending hospitals by several tens of thousands with a good drop in mortality. The cost at the time was stated to be less than what it would have cost to build a bridge. Affordable and qualitative healthcare is one way states should drive things.

Zahra29:

....

And yes, I'm speaking from experience. I have heard several people discuss on how they have the right to a full MOT on demand because they've paid for the IHS and should use it, and advise how to fake symptoms so they are given the tests. I had to caution that that's not what the NHS is for - it can't cater to everyone who wants a full body check (unless you are in an identified risk group) because they heard so and so dropped dead unexpectedly. That's what private checkups are for.

I wonder how you decide what the NHS is for and not. They paid for it through taxes, IHS and talent and deserve any suitable service on offer.

Even if every immigrant in my county turns up requesting an MOT review (whatever that means), thats at most a few days work. I'd rather spend my afternoon discussing someones concern around prostate cancer e.t.c thank deal with most of the entitlement I see.
Entitlement is calling the ambulance out over 100 times a year aside numerous interventions by other services and turning around to say they are useless and have done nothing. Its 20 yr olds asking for a clinical visit because they can be fussed to get a taxi. It is the person who frequents the pub looking to be registered as 'housebound' so they can get home visits..It is calling 111 by 4am because youve sh*t yourself and want 'these people wipe up folks' to be sent to your house at 4:30am and when asked about your daughter that lives 5 mins away, you reply oh.. I wouldn't want my daughter to do such. It is the fact that admissions into paediatric wars for mental health associated issues now rival acute medical issues. Or 5 people being paid for all day to force feed a child that has refused to eat. I can go on and on. It is not about immigrants who barely know the service. Its interesting the number of immigrants (including those working in the NHS) who have not even registered at a GP several years in.

Lastly, I find it intriguing that while you appear in the forefront of disparaging immigrants, oddly, you are also keen to convince same folks that they wouldn't fare better elsewhere. Its like an abusive person looking to convince their partner not to leave as the next person might be worse. Very interesting.

fatima04:


Even this US sef, I dont trust the data joor. I know people say high salary, low taxes etc. but it also depends on the sector and you can be laid off with nothing to fall back on.
Just the other day, i googled and saw that min wage in houston was 7.52 dollar/hr, my friend there said it doesnt matter jare but then whats is the metric for measuring the living standrad if we dont start with min wage. I now get why tipping culture is a big thing, because how person wan take survive on that.

Also same houston or texas generally have cheaper houses but high property tax that run through the tenure of your mortgage

Hehe. You are beginning to sound like a professor who told me not to leave Nigeria because I had a 'permanent and pensionable' civil service job and the grass was not greener in the UK. I told him Sir, we would find out. When I got my first UK job, I was so scared of 'taxes' that I called a colleague and asked hiw far? This thing go balance so? Chap told me oboi forget wetin dem write for motor enter motor. Ultimately, it was not a conversation to be had. Few months later, I looked at my reasoning process and laughed


I dont want to delve into boring details about comparing the UK to the US. A recent FT article did a good job of that. In financial terms, comparing both is like comparing the UK to Lithuania. Folks can succeed anywhere (even in the Sahara) but yes, the grass is some times greener elsewhere.

A very detailed write-up about the NHS ...... If I had my thinking cap on, i would say this was a letter from the government to it's citizenry.......


Britain’s NHS Black Hole Is Devouring the Whole Country https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-01-24/britain-s-nhs-crisis-could-devour-the-entire-country

jedisco:


I wonder how you decide what the NHS is for and not. They paid for it through taxes, IHS and talent and deserve any suitable service on offer.

Even if every immigrant in my county turns up requesting an MOT review (whatever that means), thats at most a few days work. I'd rather spend my afternoon discussing someones concern around prostate cancer e.t.c thank deal with most of the entitlement I see.
Entitlement is calling the ambulance out over 100 times a year aside numerous interventions by other services and turning around to say they are useless and have done nothing. Its 20 yr olds asking for a clinical visit because they can be fussed to get a taxi. It is the person who frequents the pub looking to be registered as 'housebound' so they can get home visits..It is calling 111 by 4am because youve sh*t yourself and want 'these people wipe up folks' to be sent to your house at 4:30am and when asked about your daughter that lives 5 mins away, you reply oh.. I wouldn't want my daughter to do such. It is the fact that admissions into paediatric wars for mental health associated issues now rival acute medical issues. Or 5 people being paid for all day to force feed a child that has refused to eat. I can go on and on. It is not about immigrants who barely know the service. Its interesting the number of immigrants (including those working in the NHS) who have not even registered at a GP several years in.

Lastly, I find it intriguing that while you appear in the forefront of disparaging immigrants, oddly, you are also keen to convince same folks that they wouldn't fare better elsewhere. Its like an abusive person looking to convince their partner not to leave as the next person might be worse. Very interesting.

Oh please.

You shared your own view that the request for a CT scan by Lexus for his young son, who had been seen by A&E for a head injury, was basically inappropriate use of NHS resources. You disparage Brits and Britain all the time, so it's a bit rich coming from you lol

And as to the bolded, you are very mistaken if you think I'm trying to convince "folks" to remain in the UK. Of what value is it to me? Do they pay taxes or other benefits to me? Do I run a care agency?🙄 I have stated several times that "bon voyage, all the best" to anyone who bashes the UK and thinks the US or Nigeria or anywhere is better, but as per usual you're very selective in your reading.

Lexusgs430:


Banana dey spoil, people dey say e dey ripe........

When it gets to a point where SAGA is quoting one for insurance, it's time to relax ........😁

The battle is the lord's........😂😁🤣

Mi o gbo English

lavida001:

Mi o gbo English

Make I try ......

Ogede bajẹ won lo pon .......😁🤣

jedisco:


Hehe. You are beginning to sound like a professor who told me not to leave Nigeria because I had a 'permanent and pensionable' civil service job and the grass was not greener in the UK. I told him Sir, we would find out. When I got my first UK job, I was so scared of 'taxes' that I called a colleague and asked hiw far? This thing go balance so? Chap told me oboi forget wetin dem write for motor enter motor. Ultimately, it was not a conversation to be had. Few months later, I looked at my reasoning process and laughed


I dont want to delve into boring details about comparing the UK to the US. A recent FT article did a good job of that. In financial terms, comparing both is like comparing the UK to Lithuania. Folks can succeed anywhere (even in the Sahara) but yes, the grass is some times greener elsewhere.

The GDP of Uk is just a quarter of that of the states. I will pick the states over Uk but na just the gun violence dey discourage me.

lavida001:

The GDP of Uk is just a quarter of that of the states. I will pick the states over Uk but na just the gun violence dey discourage me.

Something must kill a man...... 😁

Lexusgs430:
A very detailed about the NHS ...... If I had my thinking cap on, i would say this was a letter from the government to it's citizenry.......


Britain’s NHS Black Hole Is Devouring the Whole Country https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-01-24/britain-s-nhs-crisis-could-devour-the-entire-country

"In the face of endlessly escalating funding demands, one orthopedic consultant joked darkly that the UK would soon turn into a small economy with a big health service attached."

What to do? Bring out our checkbooks with the incoming labour govt? Is there a solution to this NHS crisis?

deept:


"In the face of endlessly escalating funding demands, one orthopedic consultant joked darkly that the UK would soon turn into a small economy with a big health service attached."

What to do? Bring out our checkbooks with the incoming labour govt? Is there a solution to this NHS crisis?

The only solution is to go private or introduce a funding element ........ But i dare any politician........

Do you know how many #NOF operations are conducted in a month + #TKR........ Let's only pick on this 2 orthopedic operations........ This is part of what that consultant is joking about.........

Lexusgs430:


The only solution is to go private or introduce a funding element ........ But i dare any politician........

Do you know how many #NOF operations are conducted in a month + #TKR........ Let's only pick on this 2 orthopedic operations........ This is part of what that consultant is joking about.........

I had to Google what nof and tkr are.

What about those who cannot afford to go private? Did we get sicker as humans or what? Or because the care is 'free' we do not take care of ourselves?

What about the people who cannot afford to go private? Did we get sicker as humans?

deept:


I had to Google what nof and tkr are.

What about those who cannot afford to go private? Did we get sicker as humans or what? Or because the care is 'free' we do not take care of ourselves?

What about the people who cannot afford to go private? Did we get sicker as humans?

This your last question, I cannot pretend to answer, for fear of been accused of been insensitive.........😁🤣

Lexusgs430:


This your last question, I cannot pretend to answer, for fear of been accused of been insensitive.........😁🤣

Lol, you dey fear?

Until we make the hard decisions and people take responsibility, these problems will persist.

deept:


Lol, you dey fear?

Until we make the hard decisions and people take responsibility, these problems will persist.

Before I get accused of wetin I no know (again).......😁🤣

Lexusgs430:


Make I try ......

Ogede bajẹ won lo pon .......😁🤣

O n la ti pon to make dodo ikire

What is far left ideology? Labour used to be democratic socialism till it moved to the centre where it now sits. It's never been far left.

DEI is creating a society where every single person can fully be themselves within the bounds of the law because it takes all sorts to make a society. Surely there is nothing wrong with that?

Zahra29:


Lol at the system in Japan, but definitely food for thought (pardon the pun 🙈)...the Japanese culture as a whole is more disciplined (and respectful) than here.

I agree that the Tories have a more reasonable stance when it comes to education and gender issues (compared to Labour who I fear will pander to every far left ideology). If only we could blend the 2 main parties together....

Where does the reform party stand on immigrants? You want to go doorknocking with skinheads and white nationalists?

fatima04:


Lol because we like freedom of speech and food . We honestly need a hard stance on so many things but no one wants to be named the government that did a radical thing except it is aimed at Migrants.
Perhaps reform party will be better, but they are all the same at the end of the day.

You have voiced my major concern about this labour party, I liken them to US Democrats

You are asking a pertinent question. Why should a parent miss a day in their childs life because you want to look tough for elections?

directonpc:

What is wrong with someone who applied to school in the UK, and can afford the fee bringing their immediate family for the duration of their stay in the UK?

I remember as a child, my entire family had to move to a new town within Nigeria so that my mother could further her education. I know this is slightly different when the movement is across countries, but in this second case, its even more important to allow people bring their dependants.

It will be interesting to know what the abuse is and why its only allowing people to come to the UK without their family that is the solution.

The US was founded on squarely secular foundations. Infact they were so against religion that it was written into their constitution.

You already know what I think of Trump. Hopefully, the campaign funds trial puts him away for a while

Zahra29:


💯

Republican policies are typically more rational and more aligned with the US's conservative/moral background, but they get a bad rap for not having a compassionate front (and leaders like Trump don't help the brand much) but I daresay behind the personality (and I'm not a fan of his), perhaps his policies are better for America's interests in the long run.

Greetings All.
Please, I need clarification, and want to learn...

I am on a COS visa, and my sponsor have not given a shift since I arrived, but I have been doing my supplementary 20 hours with an agency and my tax code is 1257L.

Someone told me a few days ago that the tax code the agency is using for me is wrong as they are not my main employers.

I want to know the implications of this please.