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Bilston Community College loses UK Border Agency licence Bilston Community College loses UK Border Agency licence
(35 minutes later)
The UK Border Agency has revoked the licence of a Black Country college, meaning dozens of international students may no longer be eligible to study there.The UK Border Agency has revoked the licence of a Black Country college, meaning dozens of international students may no longer be eligible to study there.
Agency officials said the action had been taken as Bilston Community College was "not fulfilling [its] duties".Agency officials said the action had been taken as Bilston Community College was "not fulfilling [its] duties".
They said the college's "Tier 4 Visa" licence was revoked on 26 October with immediate effect. They said the college's "Tier 4 Visa" licence was revoked on 26 October, with immediate effect.
A college director said he had been told there would be an appeal.A college director said he had been told there would be an appeal.
Kuldeep Singh from the college, which is currently closed for half term, said all students had been informed of the situation. In order to sponsor overseas students, any institution must qualify for the UK Border Agency's "Highly Trusted Status".
Phil Page, a Wolverhampton city councillor for Bilston North, who also acts as a director for the college, said he had been told the college was appealing against the decision. Kuldeep Singh, from the college, which is currently closed for half term, said all students had been informed of the situation.
Closure fearsClosure fears
He said a judicial review about the college's visa status would be held on 20 December. Phil Page, a Wolverhampton city councillor for Bilston North, who also acts as a director for the college, said he had been told the college was appealing against the decision.
He said an application for a judicial review about the college's visa status would be held on 20 December.
He said he had been told by college officials that, until then, all current students could remain at the college but it could not take on any new ones.He said he had been told by college officials that, until then, all current students could remain at the college but it could not take on any new ones.
Mr Page said after the court case it would be clear if the college would have to close.Mr Page said after the court case it would be clear if the college would have to close.
To qualify for "highly-trusted" status, a college has to ensure students attend classes regularly, that its teaching is of sufficient quality, and that it adheres to a range of other factors.
Students 'primary concern'
Mr Page, who said he was first made aware of the situation when he was contacted by the BBC on Thursday, said he believed the issue concerned how many students had been refused for visas in the past.
He said making sure the college now ensured its students were protected was his "primary concern".
Mr Page said he had been told students were given information about when to report back for classes.
In a statement, the UK Border Agency said: "Where we find evidence that sponsors are not fulfilling their duties we will suspend or remove their licence.In a statement, the UK Border Agency said: "Where we find evidence that sponsors are not fulfilling their duties we will suspend or remove their licence.
"We can confirm that Bilston Community College had its Tier 4 licence revoked on 26 October with immediate effect." "We can confirm that Bilston Community College had its Tier 4 licence revoked on 26 October, with immediate effect."