An increase in the number of adult students coming to Britain for “short courses” has left the British student visa system vulnerable to abuse by “economic migrants and those people with more dangerous intentions,” the Washington Post reports. Changes in the British visa system will take place immediately, to prevent people from “flouting the rules”:

“Under the new rules, those from outside the European Union who come to Britain for short courses - less than six months - can no longer bring their dependents. [Home Secretary Alan] Johnson said the number of hours foreign students will be able to work will also be cut from 20 hours a week to 10, and that a higher standard of English will be required.”

The New York Times reports that while anyone outside the EU is included in these new standards, “the primary focus appeared likely to be the Indian subcontinent and countries in the Arab and Muslim world, both because of the large numbers of allegedly fake applicants who originate there and because of concerns about combating terrorism by Islamic extremists.” The change comes in part from pressure from American officials who want a “tougher British approach to combating terrorist threats,” particularly after the Christmas-day bombing attempt, the Times says.

Genuine foreign students make up about 30% of all the people coming to Britain, and Johnson is quoted in the Post as saying they are “still welcome.”