ICOS responds to proposed new immigration regime for full-time non-EEA students

ICOS' key recommendations from the full submission include:

• that Level 6 and not Level 7 be recognised as the beginning of higher education
• that proven progression should determine a non-EEA student’s right to remain in the state as a student and if a time limit is to be applied it should be for a maximum aggregate of 6 years rather than 5 as proposed
• that all persons have the right to be united with members of their family; this is a basic human right and students should not be treated differently from other citizens in this respect.
• that the social and educational dimensions of the student work concession should be included in future review criteria
• that any statutory code of practice for institutions should be broad-ranging and, in this context, full advantage should be taken of the standards and guidelines on the Provision of Education to International Students as set out in the recently released Irish Higher Education Quality Network (IHEQN) document
• that 6 months rather than 3 months should be the exemption period for the proposed introduction of a visa requirement for all students from 1 January 2011
• that non-EEA children who attend Irish schools may often choose to continue their education in Ireland by progressing to Level 7 and above and should be encouraged to do so

Background:

The Proposed New Immigration Regime for Full Time Non-EEA Students contained more than 20 specific proposals, including capping the length of time a person can spend in Ireland as a student, introducing a two tier system "to facilitate the targeting of incentives towards the upper end of the academic spectrum", a tighter inspection regime, possible changes in respect of visas and new guidelines on work placement or internship. Some transitional measures are set out for those already in the system.