NEW POINTS-BASED SYSTEM FOR STUDENT VISA TO UK

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- The British government is streamlining the student visa application process through the new points-based system effective end of this month, acting British High Commissioner here Patrick Moody said Tuesday.

As such, he said, Malaysian students looking to study in the United Kingdom
can apply for their visa through the new system beginning March 31.

He said that under the new system, students would need to prove that they
had been accepted into a course run by UK Border Agency (UKBA) licensed
education institutions, prove that they had the means to support themselves and
supply their biometric details at their local visa application centre.

"These changes will allow students to check whether they are eligible for a
visa before they even apply, making the whole system more straightforward," he
said in a statement here.

Moody also said that through this new regulation, students were allowed to
undertake part-time work of up to 20 hours per week during term time, full-time
work during the holiday, and any course-related work placements.

Meanwhile, in the same statement, UKBA announced its new maintenance funds
required by those applying for a General Student visa starting this month.
Details on the funds can be retrieved at the UKBA official website at
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/studyingintheuk/.

-- BERNAMA