去年，英國內政部公布了將對更多簽證申請者進行面試，其中包括申請第四層級學生簽證的申請者。在中國，這將于今年4月29日開始試行，申請第四層級學生簽證的申請者在簽證申請中心遞交材料的同時將有可能被要求面試。參加面試的申請者將隨機選取，真正的學生不需要擔心。面試將由英國簽證官通過視頻進行。
這個新的面試體系將使整個簽證流程更加完善，并防止學生簽證體系被濫用。這將保護真正的學生和院校，確保英國繼續吸引優秀的中國學生。面試過程不會耽誤學生太多時間，并將更好地幫助學生申請簽證。
英國繼續歡迎中國的優秀學生赴英留學!2012年，英國內政部在中國簽發了超過57,000份學生簽證，比 2011年增長約9%。在中國，因為高質量的學生申請不斷上升，拒簽率從2010年的14%下降到2012年的2%。從上述這么低的拒簽率可以看出，赴英留學的中國學生質量很高，所以相信該措施對中國學生影響不大。
非常感謝各位一直以來對英國教育和簽證的大力支持。請大家放心，這并不是為學生設置障礙，而是英國政府希望在不斷提高簽證效率的同時，防止對移民體系的濫用。英國將一如既往地歡迎真正的中國學生。再次感謝大家的理解和幫助。
英領館通知原文如下：
Dear UK representatives and agents，
The UK Home Office announced last year that it will be interviewing more visa applicants, including Tier 4 students. As part of the initial roll out in China from April 29 students who apply for a Tier 4 visa in China may be required to be interviewed at the visa application centre when they submit their application. Selection for interview will be random and genuine students will have no need to be concerned about the process. The interviews will be conducted by visa officers in the UK via a video link.
This new system will improve the integrity of the visa decision making process and act as a safety net to filter out any remaining abuse. It will also protect genuine students and institutions from those seeking to abuse the immigration system and ensure the UK continues to attract the brightest and best students from China. The interviews will not require much time and will better facilitate the application process for students.
The UK continues to welcome genuine students from China. In 2012, the UK Home Office issued over 57,000 student visas, with an increase of around 9% compared to 2011. With increased quality applicants for student visas in China, refusal rates have dropped from 14% in 2010 down to 2% in 2012. As you can see from the very low refusal rates, there should be very little impact for China as we already have very high quality students applying to the UK.
We highly appreciate your continued support for UK education and our visas procedures. Students should rest assured that this is not an added barrier but a continued effort to improve the efficiency of the visa process, while preventing abuse of the immigration system. It is the UK’s intention to continue to welcome genuine students. We are grateful for everyone’s understanding and assistance with this matter.
Best wishes，
Education Marketing
Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy