To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 19 May 2009, Official Report, column 1293W, on entry clearances: overseas students, whether in circumstances where overseas students pay accommodation and other fees in advance greater than the required monthly minimum, they are required to demonstrate additional funds. (277884)

Tier 4 applicants are required to demonstrate that they hold sufficient funds to cover both (1) their course fees for their first year of study and (2) to satisfy the maintenance test.

Where an applicant has paid money towards their course fees and/or accommodation before they submit their application, this money can be offset from the total amount of funds the applicant must demonstrate, provided that they submit the specified evidence.

Where a migrant has demonstrated that they have paid their full course fees before they submit their application, the applicant will not have to show any further funds for course fees. Equally should the moneys paid to the education provider for accommodation equal or exceed the amount the applicant is required to demonstrate for maintenance, the applicant will not be required to show any further funds for maintenance.

Where the payments made for either course fees or accommodation fall short of the full amount required, the applicant must demonstrate that they hold sufficient funds to cover the shortfall.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of the UK Border Agency based in the UK are partly or wholly responsible for examining student visa applications. (271369)

Applications from those outside the UK for student visas are considered by UKBA staff in visa sections at the relevant post abroad.

The only exception is for visa applications made in Algeria which are currently processed in London. This operation has six full time staff based in the UK whose work load includes student applications.