UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the return of the two-year post-study work visa for international students in a move that will impact thousands of Indian students.
Currently, most international students reading bachelor’s and master’s degrees can stay and work for only four months and those at 27 Universities on a pilot scheme get six months.
The new immigration route means Indian graduates in any subject will once again be able to stay in the UK for two years to find work after they graduate. Currently, most international students reading bachelor’s and master’s degrees can stay and work for only four months and those at 27 universities on a pilot scheme get six months.
The new route will be available to International students who have successfully completed a course in any subject at undergraduate level or higher level at a Higher education provider which has a proven track record in upholding immigration checks and other rules on studying in the UK. Students will need to have Tier4 leave at the point the route is introduced. This includes students who start courses in 2020/21 at undergraduate level or above.
In 2011 Theresa May, when home secretary abolished the two-year post- study work visa that had made Britain an attractive place for Indian students.
That led to a 55 percent drop in Indian student numbers coming to Britain from 51,218 in 2010-2011 to 22,757 in 2011-2012. It went down further to 15,388 in 2017-2018. Las year it increased to 21,881.
Sanam Arora, founder and chairperson of National Indian students & Alumni union UK said. “we are absolutely delighted the two-year post study work visa has been reinstated, we have been campaigning for this for six years and express our gratitude to Boris Johnson, Priti Patel and Jo Johnson.”