International Students: A group of international students in the United Kingdom, falsely accused of cheating on English language tests required for visa renewal, has initiated legal action against the UK Home Office. These students seek compensation for wrongful detention and financial losses incurred.
While the government has compensated some individuals, legal representatives assert that the Home Office is hesitant to establish a standardized compensation scheme.
International Students..
According to reports from The Guardian, law firm Bindmans is representing 23 students who successfully challenged immigration decisions revoking their visas over cheating allegations.
The firm has asked the Home Office to take this as a collective action to make resolution. The students seek compensation for wrongful arrest, loss of earnings during contested immigration status, and psychological distress.
Allegations stem from actions taken a decade ago when the Home Office revoked visas for around 35K international students following a BBC documentary exposing cheating in some test centres.
Despite evidence of malpractice in specific centres, many students argue that the department unfairly branded 97% of test-takers as potential cheaters.
In 2 years between 2020 to 2022, Bindmans filed 23 claims, with only one settled so far. Lawyers proposed a compensation scheme similar to the Windrush model for expedited resolution, which the Home Office declined.
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