The UK government is reportedly set to conduct a review of its graduate route visa, allowing overseas students a two-year post-study work option.
Speaking in the House of Commons, British Home Secretary James Cleverly said international students were part of the “robust action” the government has announced through a five-point plan on immigration.
The proposed review will analyse its effectiveness in retaining high-skilled talent, particularly as it is significantly utilised by Indian students, according to a new independent report on migration.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), advising the UK government on visa policies, awaits a formal Home Office commission following Cleverly’s announcement in Parliament. The review aims to prevent abuse and safeguard the integrity and quality of UK higher education.
This visa was announced in September 2019 and enforced by former Home Secretary Priti Patel in July 2021.
Since then, 42 percent of the 176,000 students granted a graduate route visa were Indian nationals, which means any changes to this category will have a significant impact on Indians, PTI reported.
“I wouldn’t like to get into exactly what they (Home Office) are going to ask us to look at but there are a range of options there,” MAC Chair Professor Brian Bell told reporters in a virtual media briefing.
In its annual report, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) stated that “the government needs to decide what the purpose of the graduate route is. If the objective is to attract talented students who will subsequently work in high-skilled graduate jobs, then we are sceptical that it adds much to the skilled worker route which was already available to switch into after graduation, and we expect that at least a significant fraction of the graduate route will comprise low-wage workers,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the government will now be taking strict actions to reduce the number of immigrants in the country, and a ban on dependent visas for all international students, except research students, will be one of the measures taken for it.
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