Cambridge ESOL, the UK's largest provider of English language tests, has warned that new visa rules for students from India and elsewhere announced by the Home Office this week may not reduce the number of bogus students, a release said.

Calling on the Home Office to ensure that only tried and tested systems with high levels of security and quality control are recognised for this purpose, Cambridge ESOL said those abusing the visa system are not necessarily those with low English language skills.

Cambridge ESOL CEO Michael Milanovic said: "We recognise the need for a well regulated student visa system, but there is little evidence to suggest that the people who are abusing the system are predominantly those with a very low level of English-language skills."

He added: "I am concerned that changes could prove unfair to a large number of genuine students, particularly those who are at an early stage in their language learning."

Cambridge ESOL, a department of the University of Cambridge, provides secure, fit-for purpose exams taken by over 3 million people every year.

It is committed to making a positive contribution to a fair, effective system for managing student migration so that bona fide students are able to gain visas while excluding bogus applicants.

Milanovic said, "Language assessment plays a key role in this process. Its effectiveness depends not only on the selection of appropriate tests, but on a rigorous end-to-end system for managing the assessment process."

Related Articles:

• 25 percent British babies born to Indians, Pakistanis
• UK promises major crackdown on immigration
• MP Keith Vaz slams UK's proposed immigration curbs
• British milkman masters Gujarati, Bengali for work
• Ethnic minorities to make up 20% of UK by 2051: Study
• Indian duo in Leicester arrested for burglaries
• NRIs to get voting rights
• Victory for English language schools against immigration curbs
• UK more crowded than India, China
• Protests against fee to surrender Indian passport
• India willing to give Naipaul a PIO card
• Hot demand for Indian food despite visa curbs
• Companies bringing in thousands of immigrants via intra-company transfer scheme
• Britain explains new visa rules for interim immigration cap
• Migrant workers bag majority of jobs in parts of London