Graduate Visa
According to a report by The Guardian, the United Kingdom’s Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has expressed concerns about the possibility of international students utilizing the country’s graduate route visa as a convenient pathway to secure work permits.
Cleverly emphasized the need to ensure that the Graduate route is not being exploited, particularly to fulfill immigration objectives rather than educational pursuits.
In a letter addressed to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), he called for a comprehensive review of the graduate route visa system.
Under the UK’s current regulations, foreign nationals can remain in the country without a job offer from a UK employer by obtaining a graduate visa, which grants them the right to reside in the UK for a minimum of two years.
The evaluation initiated by Cleverly aims to investigate potential instances of misuse of graduate route visas. He cautioned that any evidence of immigration abuse or visa manipulation could tarnish the reputation of UK universities.
Cleverly pointed to data from the MAC’s annual report, which indicated a notable increase in the proportion of international students enrolled at lower-tier institutions, reaching 32% in 2021/22.
Expressing concern over this trend, Cleverly raised questions about whether individuals are enrolling in such courses as a strategic means to secure long-term employment opportunities in the UK.
In a significant policy move, the UK government announced in May 2023 its decision to prohibit postgraduate master’s students from bringing dependents to the country.
Cleverly has requested the MAC to conduct a thorough review of the graduate route visa system and submit its findings by May 14.
The review will encompass an examination of potential instances of visa misuse and will analyze statistical trends regarding international students obtaining study visas and subsequently entering the UK job market via the graduate route.
