Only one institution with student visa irregularities: sources

Sources said only one institution is experiencing an issue with a student who has overstayed his visa while continuing his studies, whereas other institutions reportedly do not have any such cases.

This comes after a mainland Chinese undergraduate at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) was said to be detained by immigration authorities last year on suspicion of overstaying a student visa. It was also reported that the institution's 934 non-local students had failed to submit their student visa records.

It is understood that student visas are submitted by the school, which acts as the guarantor for the students. These visas are generally issued for the entire duration of the degree program, thereby minimizing the risk of overstays.

Overstayers typically include individuals whose passport validity does not cover the full length of the program when they enroll. This situation can arise when a student applies for a four-year program but their passport is only valid for three years, or if they are repeating grades.

Students pursuing further studies -- such as master's or doctoral degrees -- have the option to renew their visas before they expire.

As for whether students have submitted their visa records to the school, sources indicate that it falls under the school's responsibility and that the Immigration Department will not get involved in the matter.