PSW UPDATE: The UK ought to maintain the two-year UK graduate visa.The review finds no proof that international students are misusing UK graduate visas.
UK graduate visa Updates: Despite Tory’s accusations that the route is being misused, the Migration Advisory Committee states that the hazards are minimal.
Despite repeated assertions from prominent Conservatives that the UK’s graduate visa route is being abused to access the labour market, the government’s immigration advisers have decided that there is no evidence of widespread abuse.
The graduate visa entitlement, which permits overseas students to work for two or three years after graduating, should be preserved, according to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Participants stated that the likelihood of misuse was minimal and “not undermining” the standards and integrity of university education.
Vice-chancellors, who had cautioned that the elimination of the graduate visa would cause financial instability for the industry, expressed relief at the decision. Leaders in higher education, however, expressed continued concern that No 10 will use selected parts of the study to support an even harsher crackdown.
James Cleverly, the home secretary, ordered the review in response to mounting criticism within Tory circles regarding the misuse of graduate visas for work purposes.
The graduate visa should be eliminated, according to a paper released last week by the Centre for Policy Studies think tank and former immigration minister Robert Jenrick. Jenrick claimed that the graduate visa “allowed people to come and work in the gig economy and on very low wages.”
“Our review recommends the graduate route should remain as it is, and is not undermining the quality and integrity of the UK’s higher education system,” Prof. Brian Bell, the chair of the group, responded bluntly.
One of the main incentives we provide to overseas students to come study in the UK is the graduate programme. Universities use the fees these students pay to offset the costs of conducting research and teaching British students. Many universities would have to close, and less research would be done, without their students.
The committee declared:
- No evidence of pervasive abuse, particularly with regard to the graduate path, exists. Because there aren’t many requirements on the route, there isn’t much chance of misuse.
- Though this is not the same as abusing the graduate route regulations, there are worries about the possible exploitation of holders of both student and graduate visas as a result of dishonest actions by some agents who enrol students in courses and might be misrepresenting UK higher education.
- In 2023, 114,000 graduate route visas were awarded to primary applicants, while an additional 30,000 were granted to dependents.
- Four nationalities make up the majority of those who take the graduate route: India, Nigeria, China, and Pakistan account for more than 40% of all graduate visas, while the other three make up the remaining 70%.
- The majority of individuals who followed the graduate path finished teaching postgraduate courses.
According to the survey, graduate visa holders are initially “overrepresented in lower-paid work,” but their prospects gradually improve.
Due to a lack of Home Office data, the MAC evaluation was unable to evaluate the risk of overstaying.
“We urge the government to swiftly confirm they will follow their experts’ recommendation that the graduate visa be retained in its current form, and commit afresh to working with the education sector to maximise the benefits that international students bring,” stated Alex Proudfoot, chief executive of the representative body Independent Higher Education.
“The overall message from the MAC is that the graduate route is achieving its objectives as set out by the government,” stated Tim Bradshaw, CEO of the Russell Group of prestigious research universities. Therefore, we implore ministers to put an end to the ambiguity and make it official as soon as possible that the road would remain open in its entirety.
Following claims of “bad practice” by agents enlisting international students, Universities UK (UUK) said in February that it will review its procedures for admitting international students.
To “help protect the integrity” of the UK higher education system, the MAC has suggested that the government set up a system of mandatory registration for foreign recruitment brokers and that universities be forced to disclose information about their use of agents.
Cleverly gave the committee, which provides independent advice to the government, instructions in March to look into “any evidence of abuse” of the graduate route, “including the route not being fit for purpose,” and to determine which universities were producing graduates who took this route. This led to the start of the review.
“The MAC’s recommendation that the graduate route should remain on its current terms is extremely important and welcome,” stated Vivienne Stern, Chief Executive of UUK.
“The decision to review the visa has created toxic uncertainty,” the speaker stated. “We hope and anticipate that the government takes heed of the advice they have received and gives unequivocal assurance that the graduate visa will remain in place.”
“The home secretary commissioned an independent review of the graduate route because we are committed to attracting the best and brightest to study at our world-class universities while preventing abuse of our immigration system,” a government official stated.
“Our plans are working, as evidenced by the 24% decrease in visa applications across key routes in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year. We have already taken decisive action to address unsustainable levels of migration.”
“We are closely examining the review’s findings and will provide a thorough response when the time is right.”
Post study Work Visa Updates : What To Expect In May 20th PSW Review
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