New Delhi: The UK’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman is planning to shorten the length of stay allowed for international students under the post-study visa route. mint Based on a leaked report published by a British media house.
International students graduating in the UK are now allowed to stay in the UK for up to two years after completing their degree while seeking skilled employment. However, in Braverman’s proposed plan, he wants to shorten this period to six months. According to Braverman’s proposed reforms to the UK’s postgraduate visa route, if students are unable to find skilled work and obtain a work visa during the six months mentioned above, they will have to leave the country.
A British media house report, citing supporters of Braverman’s plan, said the postgraduate visa route was being “abused by students enrolling in short courses at ‘not-so-reputable universities’.” “It is being used as a back door immigration route,” media reports quoted government sources as saying.
According to reports, the UK Ministry of Education is “trying to block the changes, fearing they will undermine the UK’s attractiveness to international students”. According to the Ministry of Education, her two-year post-study visa in the UK is in line with most of her UK competitors, and the duration is not just the US offering her one-year post-study visa.
Indian students would be most affected if Braverman’s plan were to be carried out. Indians overtook Chinese as the largest cohort of international students last year, according to the latest statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS). is dominated by Indians, who make up 41% of
Braverman’s proposal is one of several proposed by the UK Home Office and Education Ministry after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for plans to reduce the number of international students coming to the UK. According to the latest statistics, there are 6,80,000 international students in the UK. The UK Government’s 2019 Higher Education Strategy includes a target of 600,000 students by 2030, already met by 2022.
The UK government is also considering allowing international students to bring dependents only if they are taking a postgraduate research-based course such as a PhD or a postgraduate course of at least two years .
However, while refusing to comment on the leaked report, a government spokesperson said: It enhances your academic reputation and helps maintain your university’s competitiveness on the world stage. We constantly review all immigration policies to ensure they best serve our country and reflect the priorities of our people. ”
Braverman’s proposal comes at a time when India and the UK are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA). In December 2022, his six rounds of FTA negotiations will conclude. Meanwhile, UK Trade Minister Kemi Badenoch reiterated on Sunday 22 January that the FTA would not include an increase in the number of free movement visas offered to Indians. Australia’s FTA allows Australians under the age of 35 to live and work in the UK for up to three years.
