ID cards to go ahead for international students

Biometric identity cards are being issued this month to overseas students applying for UK visas.

The Government had initially planned to issue biometric ID cards to airport and airside workers. The reasoning being that they need to know the details of anyone who has access to planes and could potentially commit an act of terrorism.

However, this is to be extended first to overseas (non-EU) students and those here on marriage visas. The first cards are being issued to these groups this month with them being offered on a voluntary basis to young people by 2010 and to the whole population by 2012.

The scheme will be phased in over three years and anyone coming to UK or extending their visa will have to get one.

The biometric cards will hold sensitive information such as photographs, fingerprints and signatures. There were discussions on including iris scans, as these are more reliable than fingerprints, but these have been dropped, primarily due to budget concerns.

The reasoning behind issuing these cards to foreign nationals here on student or marriage visas is because they are the most likely to abuse or overstay their visas.

Some EU nations already have compulsory ID cards, such as Germany, and in Italy the police can ask to see cards at any time.

Max Bräger, a German third year Engineering student, said he found these cards “useful, especially if there is an accident.” He went on to say that this allows people to prove who they are and “saves the police hassle.” However, he felt that issuing them to overseas students here in the UK was “a bit over the top” and pointless.

While Bräger, as an EU national, would not have to have an ID card, at least not under this inital plan, his sentiments were shared by others for whom ID cards are soon becoming a reality. “It makes you feel like a criminal before even entering the country,” he went on to say.

Most overseas students questioned reacted negatively to the prospect of having to have ID cards. “Its ridiculous,” said Arjun Sakhuja, a second year Economics student from India. He, like others, did not see the need for the cards. When asked whether having ID cards in the UK would have changed his decision to study and live in the UK he answered, “if it had been implemented and people had been complaining, definitely.”

However, others did not have such strong feelings saying that having ID cards would not affect their choice of the UK as a destination for study.

Charges for ID cards were an issue with students, a group without much money to spend. The costs were estimated at £29 but looks set to rise. Peter Dunn, Universityw Press Officer, said that the costs of visas will not be affected.

Other students did not have strong feelings about the cards but were put off by the cost and the effort and time required to get the cards.

The process of obtaining the biometric data will be incorporated into visa applications.

Even so, many questioned why it was necessary and the time needed to process visas would most probably lengthen.

None were eager to get one, despite Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s claims that she often had people coming up to her and asking to get one as soon as possible. The group NO 2 ID, an organisation which is campaigning against the implementation of ID cards, claimed that Smith’s comments were exaggerated and that most people do not want them.

The ID cards for those working in airports are being piloted at two airports. Airport workers have also voiced concern about the cards, wondering why they are necessary and questioning what new security measure they would add.

As in all issues dealing with security and personal freedoms, it is an extremely subjective and sensitive issue. One argument frequently employed by those in support of ID cards is that those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear. One Italian student agreed with this sentiment, explaining that in Italy it is the norm and saying that to “give up a bit of your liberty” is a fair trade for secuwrity.

The security of the state is obviously of prime concern to the government, but the security of personal information is of equal importance to individual citizens. And while the government may be protecting itself from potential threat, individuals may fear just how secure the Government databases are.

Last year the personal and financial information of about 25 million was lost when two Government Revenue and Customs CD were misplaced en route.

An MI5, the British secret service, agent left a briefcase with highly sensitive information on the London Underground.

Instances like these have left many of those who before supported the idea of ID cards wondering if they can trust government agencies which such sensitive information.

Others have raised concerns on losing cards and what could happen if someone else has your biometric ID card.

Having one’s address in the UK and their home country has been contentious and, if put on, would make the cards very valuable.

Although ID cards are beginning to be implemented this month, much depends on the next elections. Both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats disagree with the scheme and call for it to be abandoned.

Those applying for a British passport in 2010/11 will have to provide fingerprints.

The Biometric Assurance Group (BAG), an independent watchdog, has raised concerns over the difficulty of ensuring fingerprints are accurate.

It remains to be seen what effect these new cards will have, if indeed they will help the government with security measures and ensure people respect their visas or be a waste of government funds. As does whether these ID cards make getting visas and organising papers for non-EU students applying to UK universities.