WNSO launches e-petition at British PMO

Worldwide Nepalese Students' Organisation (WNSO)-an organisation of Nepali students around the world-has launched an e-petition at the official website of the British Prime Minister calling upon Gordon Brown to review and call off new immigration rules enforced by his government from 10th of February, this year.

"Foreign students contribute over five billion pounds to the British economy every year. But the Feb 10, 2010 regulations introduced by the UK Border Agency have tried to undermine their contributions," said the petition posted at 10 Downing Street's official website.

"We, therefore, would like to draw your attention to abrogate those rules and maintain status quo ante including ensuring right to work for all the foreign students for up to 20 hours per week during the term time and full time for their dependants," the organisation said.

WNSO has also called upon the British Prime Minister-- who must call general elections by May this year-- to make arrangements for transfer of visa to other college for students whose college's sponsor license has been suspended and/or canceled without any financial burden to student as long as they have valid visa and ensuring congenial environment for overseas students and their dependants to live, study and work in the UK.

WNSO has appealed everyone affected by the recent UK immigration rules, including Nepali students, members of the Nepali community and UK residents at large, to sign on the petition by visiting following link: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/overseas-student/

British Prime Minister's office responds to all on-line petitions after the number of petitioners crosses 500 mark. People who are British nationals or UK residents (including overseas students) can add their name in the petition, if they agree to its content. Their email and address are kept confidential by the Prime Minister's Office.

"Tens of thousands of overseas students, including Nepalese and other South Asian students, have been affected badly by the British government's recent decision to enforce strict immigration rules under the pretext of checking possible abuse of the system," said Sachin Shrestha, Vice President of WNSO.

"We call upon the British government to review its recent decision and maintain status quo as soon as possible. For a country that believes in rule of law, it is not appropriate to change the rules mid-way without consulting all the stakeholders," he added.

Solicitor Raju Thapa of Asghar & Co Solicitors-- who has been advising Nepali students on legal matters-- said, "The British Government's new rules have made life impossible for most of the overseas students, especially those whose colleges have been suspended or withdrawn.

The government must install a mechanism to limit the adverse impact suffered by students whose institution has been affected. Currently, the effect of a college's suspension is that the students, though they may continue studying, face uncertainty in that if the UK Border Agency proceeds to cancel / withdraw the college's licence, their entire study period is wasted. More importantly, they have to find substantial amount of money to secure a place at an alternative bona fide institution which presents students with a further financial burden through no fault of their own."

"The students before selecting their colleges have relied on the UK Border Agency's assessment of the suitability of the education establishment and sponsor licences which were granted to selected education providers. The government must take immediate measures to help students and ought not to penalise students for a matter which is beyond their control," solicitor Thapa added.

More than 100 people have already signed on the petition by Friday expressing their support to the campaign.

"UK is a democratic country, but we must be united to get our voices heard. Online petition is one of the most effective tools to draw attention of the British government regarding students' concerns and we must seize this initiative," said Bhoj Raj Baral, one of the campaigners.

The deadline to sign the petition is 9th of June. But WNSO aims to collect over 500 signatures by the end of April 2010, before parliamentary elections are held in the UK.

Earlier, the British government had temporarily stopped student visa applications from Nepal, Bangladesh and North India citing extraordinary surge in the applications. nepalnews.com