Home secretary Alan Johnson (Britain) has announced new measures intended to cut the number of student visas issued abroad. The statement came days after Britain suspended issuing of student visas in north India.

Johnson said Britain will continue to welcome genuine foreign students, but will come down heavily on those who use student visas to come to Britain mainly to work and exploit the system.

He said the country will remain open to those foreign students who want to come to the U.K for genuine study. But those who are interested in coming here to work, should be in no doubt that they will get a chance to come to U.K.

Under the new rules, successful applicants from countries outside the European Union will have to meet a higher bar on English language requirement, and students taking courses below degree level will be allowed to work only for 10 hours a week, instead of 20 hours as at present.

Those on courses below 6 months will not be allowed to bring dependents into the country, while the dependents of students on courses below degree level will not be allowed to work.

Student visas for courses below degree level will be granted only on the condition that the institutions they attend are on a new register.

Britain has suspended issuing student visas in north India, Nepal and Bangladesh.