UK further tightens student visa rules, keeps graduate route ‘for now’

Further measures will focus on regulating the recruitment of international students, targeting “rogue recruitment agents” who promote British universities to non-genuine students.

The UK’s Graduate Route scheme, a popular post-study work option for international students, particularly from Nigeria and India, remains secure for now. The government announced on Thursday that it will keep the scheme “under review” as it sets out new proposals aimed at tightening student visa regulations to prevent them from being misused as a “gateway to immigration.”

These measures come in the wake of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting a 10 percent drop in net migration, a development welcomed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak, who has prioritised curbing both legal and illegal migration, highlighted this achievement on the first official day of his general election campaign, scheduled for July 4, reports The Economic Times.

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“Since I became Prime Minister, net migration has fallen by 10 percent. The plan is working. Let’s stick with it,” Sunak said.

The Home Office noted that the recent ONS figures do not account for the stricter visa rules on family dependents implemented earlier this year, which have led to a 25 percent drop in visa applications.

Further measures will focus on regulating the recruitment of international students, targeting “rogue recruitment agents” who promote British universities to non-genuine students. Universities will be required to adhere to a stringent framework for recruitment agents. Additionally, institutions that fail to ensure their international students pass visa checks, enroll, or complete their courses risk losing their sponsor licences.

“Applications are already falling sharply… but we must go further to make sure our immigration routes aren’t abused. That’s why we are cracking down on rogue international agents and ensuring international students are coming here to study, not work,” said UK Home Secretary James Cleverly.

The Home Office referenced the independent Migration Advisory Committee’s (MAC) recent review, which warned that rogue recruitment agents exploit student and graduate visa holders through poor practices. The Graduate Route, which allows students to transition directly from the student route, is also under scrutiny, with concerns that it may not be attracting the “highest earners who contribute to our economy,” according to tax department analysis.

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The Home Office stated, “New proposals will further crack down on student visas, ensuring only genuine students can come to the UK; the Graduate Route will be kept under review.” This suggests that the scheme will remain in place at least until the election, after which the newly elected government will decide its future.

“We are absolutely delighted and very relieved that the UK government has taken the right decision to keep the Graduate Route as this is critical for Indian students. We are very pleased also that the focus will instead be on regulating agents,” said Sanam Arora, Chair of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, which has been advocating for the post-study visa.

Additional planned measures include raising financial maintenance requirements, ensuring international students can prove financial self-sufficiency. The government is also reviewing English language assessments to standardise independent evaluations, ensuring all international students possess the necessary skills to understand their course materials.

Restrictions on remote delivery will mandate that all overseas students primarily undertake face-to-face courses, the Home Office added.

These proposals are part of the Sunak-led government’s broader strategy to reduce legal migration, potentially affecting the 300,000 individuals who arrived last year under the current rules.

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