The UK government has announced a further “crackdown” on student visas as part of its efforts to manage immigration. However, the changes are less drastic than initially speculated, particularly concerning the graduate visa route.
Initially, there were discussions about significantly restricting or even abolishing the graduate visa, which allows international students to stay in the UK for two years post-graduation. However, the government has decided to keep the visa “under review” rather than making immediate drastic changes.
Instead, the Home Office plans to tighten regulations on recruitment agents and enforce stricter compliance standards for higher education institutions.
Key proposals include:
- – Implementing a stringent new mandatory framework for universities that use recruitment agents encouraging applications to British institutions.
- – Raising financial thresholds to ensure international students can prove their self-sufficiency.
- – Risking the sponsor licence for institutions that accept students who fail to pass visa checks or complete their courses.
- – Restricting remote teaching to ensure foreign students primarily engage in face-to-face learning.
The graduate visa will remain unchanged until at least after the general election on July 4.
These reforms reflect recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which highlighted “poor practices” by some recruitment agents exploiting student visa holders.
Home Secretary James Cleverly emphasized the importance of cracking down on rogue agents to ensure immigration routes are not misused. He noted a significant drop in applications on key routes, indicating the impact of previous measures.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan highlighted the need to balance immigration control while maintaining the UK’s status as a premier destination for international students.
These measures are part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce legal migration. The changes aim to support the integrity of the UK’s immigration system while still attracting top talent from around the world.
UK universities have reported a decline in applications from foreign students following new restrictions on master’s students bringing family members. This has raised concerns about potential job losses in the higher education sector, with some institutions, like South Bank University, facing significant redundancies.
Provisional Home Office figures up to April 2024 show a decline in visa applications from overseas students and foreign care workers, though skilled worker visa applications have increased by 50% compared to the same period in 2023.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper criticized the government’s handling of immigration, calling for a more effective system under a potential Labour government. In contrast, Mr. Cleverly defended the current administration’s policies, positioning them as essential for controlling immigration.
The Migration Observatory’s director, Madeleine Sumption, noted that high net migration levels have multiple causes and suggested a potential decline later in 2024 due to recent policy changes.
Net migration to the UK has fluctuated significantly in recent years, with the most recent estimate for 2023 suggesting a possible downward trend, though it remains too early to confirm this as a definitive pattern.
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