UK to launch major review of graduate visa (PSW) due to fears of abuse by foreign students

LONDON March 11: Home Secretary James Cleverly is launching a major review of graduate visas amid fears they are being abused by foreign nationals.

He will ask independent body the Migration Advisory Committee to revisit the graduate route, according to reports.

Writing exclusively Dail Mail yesterday, he says this will ensure the visa – which currently allows foreign students to stay in the UK for up to two years after their courses end – is ‘not being driven by a desire for immigration over education’.

This comes after numbers staying in Britain under the scheme surged by 57 per cent last year to more than 114,000.

There are also fears that courses with the lowest UCAS entry requirements are being targeted as a way into the UK.

‘We must prevent abuse of this route; protect the integrity and quality of our higher education; and ensure it works in our best interests,’ the Home Secretary says. This comes as restrictions on legal migration come into force.

While James Cleverly has not explicitly stated that he will cut down the post-study work visa from two years to six months, the review of the graduate visa scheme and the broader aim to reduce immigration levels in the UK suggest that changes to the current system may be implemented.

While the exact outcomes of the review are yet to be determined, there is a possibility that changes will be made to the Graduate route. Some potential adjustments could include reducing the visa duration from two years to six months, or implementing stricter requirements for eligibility.

What is Graduate visa

A Graduate Visa, also known as a post-study work visa, is a type of visa that allows international students who have completed a degree in the UK to remain in the country for a specified period of time after their studies. The graduate visa is designed to give graduates the opportunity to gain work experience in the UK or look for a job without needing an employer to sponsor their visa.

The duration of the graduate visa depends on the level of the degree completed. Students who have completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree can apply for a 2-year graduate visa, while PhD graduates can apply for a 3-year visa. During this period, graduates can work in any sector and at any skill level without any minimum salary requirements or restrictions on visa sponsorship.

Until the review is completed and any official announcements are made, it’s difficult to predict the exact changes that will be made to the graduate visa scheme.