Loophole on fake students to be closed

Bogus students who evade immigration controls by enrolling on fake language courses are to be kept out of Britain under new rules revealed today.

Ministers are to close a loophole which lets foreigners gain visas by paying fees to fake colleges - giving them the right to live and work in Britain for a year.

Thousands are suspected of remaining in the UK illegally. The scandal was exposed more than a year ago by an Evening Standard investigation into the collapse of Evendine College.

The plans will be revealed today after an immigration summit at No 10 - the second in a series planned by Tony Blair.

All English language colleges must register with an accreditation scheme within two years, will be subject to inspections and will be put on a "safe list" given to British embassies.

Up to 1,100 colleges are currently not part of an existing voluntary accreditation scheme.