UK eases rules, gives students more flexibility for work visas

International students in the UK will soon enjoy more
flexibility in switching over to work visas, with new immigration
rules set to be introduced from January 11.

As per the new rules, foreign students can switch over to Tier-2
visa (or skilled worker visa) as soon as they complete their
course. According to current norms, they must wait until they
obtain a degree to apply for the Tier-2 visa. This gave students
only a small time frame to find a job while still in the UK. For
example, students opting for higher education, such as a PG degree,
had to wait for their thesis to be marked or a degree to be awarded
after completing their course before they could apply for a work
visa.

“The new rule will enable them to apply for a Tier-2 visa a few
months earlier than what would otherwise have been possible,”
explains a newsletter by EY-UK, one of the big 4 business
consultancies.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has advocated a new category of
post-study work visas. In his blueprint paper—’Immigration, a
future approach’, Khan had pointed to dwindling international
student numbers. His suggestion was that a post-study work visa
should be distinct from the Tier-2 route and should enable students
to work in the UK for 12-24 months after graduation.

Relief result of talks between UK univs, govt However, for now,
international students will have to make do with a slight
relaxation in the rules.

According to immigration experts, this change is the result of a
prolonged dialogue between UK universities and the government. As
student visas, known as Tier-4 visas, are granted for the duration
of the course plus a few months, it hampered the ability of
international students to look for jobs in the UK. For instance, a
Tier-4 visa for a long-term study course (more than 12 months) is
granted for the course duration-plus four months. If international
students are unable to find a job within the window, they had to
return to their home country. Thus, currently, many students
holding a Tier-4 visa are unable to switch to a Tier-2 visa because
they have not yet obtained their degree and their student visa is
about to expire.

Culled: economictimes

International students in the UK will soon enjoy more
flexibility in switching over to work visas, with new immigration
rules set to be introduced from January 11.

As per the new rules, foreign students can switch over to Tier-2
visa (or skilled worker visa) as soon as they complete their
course. According to current norms, they must wait until they
obtain a degree to apply for the Tier-2 visa. This gave students
only a small time frame to find a job while still in the UK. For
example, students opting for higher education, such as a PG degree,
had to wait for their thesis to be marked or a degree to be awarded
after completing their course before they could apply for a work
visa.

“The new rule will enable them to apply for a Tier-2 visa a few
months earlier than what would otherwise have been possible,”
explains a newsletter by EY-UK, one of the big 4 business
consultancies.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has advocated a new category of
post-study work visas. In his blueprint paper—’Immigration, a
future approach’, Khan had pointed to dwindling international
student numbers. His suggestion was that a post-study work visa
should be distinct from the Tier-2 route and should enable students
to work in the UK for 12-24 months after graduation.

Relief result of talks between UK univs, govt However, for now,
international students will have to make do with a slight
relaxation in the rules.

According to immigration experts, this change is the result of a
prolonged dialogue between UK universities and the government. As
student visas, known as Tier-4 visas, are granted for the duration
of the course plus a few months, it hampered the ability of
international students to look for jobs in the UK. For instance, a
Tier-4 visa for a long-term study course (more than 12 months) is
granted for the course duration-plus four months. If international
students are unable to find a job within the window, they had to
return to their home country. Thus, currently, many students
holding a Tier-4 visa are unable to switch to a Tier-2 visa because
they have not yet obtained their degree and their student visa is
about to expire.

Culled: economictimes