LETTERS: Balancing the books | Auckland Opinion | Local Voices from Auckland, New Zealand

I have international students already approved for a PhD programme here in New Zealand, and applying for a visa to New Zealand takes them sometimes six or more months.
In one case, the application has already run since October 2009, and this student may have decided recently to go to another country.
I have many emails of international students telling me about the problems or even irregularities they are experiencing when dealing with the New Zealand visa process. The students also tell me cases such as the following:
"One more thing, a friend of mine who already is studying in Italy and he became disappointed to obtain NZ visa, chatted to me yesterday. Fourteen months after his initial application, the IPG contacted and informed him that they decided to reject him.
"They mentioned that his PhD program may be used for mass destruction weapons!
"As far as I know, according to the advice of his supervisor in Canterbury (not based on his request), his PhD proposal was to study about a special kind of fish that produces electricity.
"As he told me, he was to study  the cells/atoms of such fishes with a microscope."
Of course, I cannot verify whether this is true. But I can hardly see any reasons in a visa approval process why to put those young people in difficult situations for more than six months, leading to financial challenges for them, problems in their families and so forth, and also a big disappointment about the way New Zealand is handling the visa applications of expected PhD students.
These students would  prefer having  a negative answer fast rather than being on a waiting list for ever.
Reinhard Klette
Kohimarama

I was interested to read the article on international students and the itemised benefits from their ample wallets and purses.
It does strike me, however, that there are some downsides to the industry that are not mentioned.
One is the effect on everyday education for our children as time is spent in classrooms helping those with English as a second language.
I do realise most schools provide extra tutelage for the international guests, but the concern remains.
Also, one must consider the balance of international moneyed students versus our local children.
Too many guests could result in their becoming immune to integration and remaining in isolated groups.
I understand most schools have an upper limit of 10 per cent international students for this reason.
Whilst the benefits from these higher fee-paying students, and the world views and cultures they bring to the classrooms, are well and good, there are also other impacts that merit consideration.
C Brigham
Avondale