MPs warn over testing risks for student immigration system

Systems must be tested, say MPs

Any failure by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) to test a major IT programme underpinning the points-based system for immigration could have "potentially dramatic" consequences for the reputation and finances of UK businesses and education, say MPs.

The Sponsorship Management System will be a database with records of immigration applicants to study in the UK that records which universities have sponsored them.

But giving evidence to the Home Affairs Committee a spokesman for UK Universities said: "We remain concerned about a lack of time for testing by universities by the autumn. The student route will have to cope with large volumes of transactions in a very short period of time so it is essential that thorough testing by universities and UKBA takes place both in the UK and overseas."

The UK Border Agency has recently decided to phase implementation of the system for the higher education sector and involve the sector in its design.

The Home Affairs Committee welcomes this development but warned: "The government must still ensure that the system is thoroughly tested in the UK and abroad, and that pilots are run with universities in advance of the implementation date of autumn 2009, which will fall during the peak period for university enrolment."

The report also found that the requirement for applicants to provide biometrics in person is slowing the visa application process.

The challenge with providing biometrics is especially acute for migrants in certain parts of the world where biometric collection centres are few and far between, such as certain African countries.

"We recommend that the government should as a matter of urgency establish more biometric collection points, including the provision of mobile biometric collection centres," says the report.

There have been concerns in the past that overseas students apply to UK universities then fail to turn up after entering the country, thereby invalidating their visa.