LONDON: An estimated 150
Indian students out of a total of 600 impacted in some form could be in
danger of immediate deportation from Britain after the immigration
authority, the United Kingdom Border Agency, revoked London Metropolitan University's licence to admit or teach anyone from outside the European Union.Legal experts believe LMU, the first British university to be stripped of its right to sponsor foreign student visas , is bound to challenge UKBA's order in court. Its chancellor Malcolm Gillies confirmed the university has sought legal advice on the matter.
However, pupils who did not possess valid student visas will be served with orders to leave Britain immediately.
A UKBA enforcement team thinks up to 500 of the nearly 3,000 overseas students affected by the action against LMU fall into the category of having no right to be enrolled at this university. A UKBA source told media, "They either have lapsed student visas, the wrong type of visas that don't allow them to study here or are studying without any visas."
The source warned, "Some will be raided, detained and removed, others will be firmly asked to leave or risk being thrown out." It is also unclear whether LMU will refund fees to the de-recognised students. It is said to be consulting lawyers on how much it is obliged to pay.
Students who don't fall foul of the visa regime have been granted 60 days to find places at other British universities . Gillies said LMU would lose nearly £30 million in tuition fees without non-EU students.
The diplomatic mission has posted an advisory on its website — www.hcilondon .in — asking concerned students to get in touch for assistance . It reiterated to TOI it is ready to take up cudgels for those who have done nothing wrong.
