UK announces new visa rules for foreign students

The British government would allow foreign students studying at universities in the United Kingdom to remain for two years after graduating to find work, under new proposals announced by the Home Office.

The announcement reverses a decision made by Theresa May, as home secretary in 2012, which forced foreign students to leave the country within four months after finishing a degree. That move was blamed for a drop in international student enrollments.

Under the new policy, the work visas would have no cap on numbers and would allow graduates to apply for jobs regardless of their skills or the subject they studied. The government said one aim was to recruit talented graduates in disciplines such as math, engineering and technology.

The changes will apply to students who start courses in the 2020-21 school year at undergraduate level or above. The Guardian newspaper reported that last year UK universities educated around 460,000 foreign students, not including those from other European Union members. It said the government aims to grow the number to 600,000 over the next 10 years.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the change would "mean talented international students ... can study in the UK and then gain valuable work experience as they go on to build successful careers."

"It demonstrates our global outlook and will ensure that we continue to attract the best and brightest."

Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said the announcement was "very positive news". Its members are braced for falling numbers of students from the EU in the event of Brexit.

"Evidence shows that international students bring significant positive social outcomes to the UK as well as 26 billion pounds ($32 billion) in economic contributions, but for too long the lack of post-study work opportunities in the UK has put us at a competitive disadvantage in attracting those students.

"The introduction of a two-year post-study work visa is something Universities UK has long campaigned for and we strongly welcome this policy change.

"Not only will a wide range of employers now have access to talented graduates from around the world, these students hold lifelong links."

However, Alp Mehmet, chairman of think tank Migration Watch UK, said the step would "likely lead to foreign graduates staying on to stack shelves, as happened before".

"Our universities are attracting a record number of overseas students, so there is no need to devalue a study visa by turning it into a backdoor route for working here."

jonathan@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily 09/12/2019 page12)