The Petition of residents of Sheffield,

Declares that international students are a great social, cultural and economic asset and a key contributor to British Higher Education; that international students bring billions of pounds to the British economy, help forge vital business contacts and are important ambassadors for British culture globally; that the Petitioners do not agree with labelling international students as “immigrants” as they reside in the UK temporarily, make significant contributions and are in no way a burden to the country; that the petitioners believe that the proposed measures in the Home Office consultation on student immigration would restrict the freedom of choice of international students and would significantly damage their university experience; and that international students should retain their rights to find work experience in the UK for up to two years, to work while studying, bring their dependants to the UK, to apply for visa for a new course within the UK, and to study a second course of the same qualification.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government not to accept the changes proposed in the Home Office consultation on the current student immigration system.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000910]