The UK government has said it is already reviewing English language assessments. (File)
London:
The UK’s Graduate Route programme, popular among Indian students as a post-study job offering, is safe for now as the government announced on Thursday that it will be kept “under review” as it puts forward proposals for crack down on student visas to ensure they are not used as a “gateway to immigration”.
The measures followed the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revelation of a 10 percent drop in net migration, welcomed by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the first official day of his campaign for the general election now scheduled for 4 July. and illegal, is among the Indian-British leader’s top priorities when presenting his case to the electorate.
“Since I became prime minister, the migration balance has fallen by 10 percent. The plan is working. We will persist,” he said.
The Home Office highlighted that ONS figures released this week do not take into account stricter visa rules for family dependents that were put in place earlier this year, pointing to a 25 percent drop in visa applications since then.
Under even tougher measures, it said it would regulate the recruitment of international students, “cracking down on rogue recruitment agents” who encourage people to apply to British universities, forcing universities to adhere to a “rigorous framework for agents”. for institutions recruiting foreign students will be introduced under which universities accepting international students who are unable to pass visa checks, enroll or complete their courses will risk losing their sponsor license.
“Applications are already falling sharply… but we must go further to ensure our immigration routes are not abused. That’s why we are cracking down on rogue international actors and, building on the work of the whole government, to ensure international students come here to study, not work,” said UK Home Secretary James Cleverly.
With reference to the Graduate Route, the Home Office has taken note of the warning from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), in a rapid review last week, that rogue recruitment agents pose a threat to the system, with poor practices Exploiting student and postgraduate visa holders who are “mis-sold” higher education in the UK.
As migrants on the Student Route move directly onto the Postgraduate Route, immediate action is needed, the Home Office said, adding that it also remains concerned that the scheme is not attracting “high earners more and contribute to our economy” following an analysis by the Tax Department.
“New proposals will further crack down on student visas, ensuring only genuine students can come to the UK; [Graduate] The route will be kept under review,” the Home Ministry added.
This implies that the path is secure at least until the elections, when a newly elected government will make a decision on its future direction.
“We are absolutely delighted and very relieved that the UK government has made the right decision to maintain the Graduate Route as this is critical for Indian students. We are also delighted that the focus will be on regulators” , said Sanam Arora, President of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, which has been lobbying for the post-study visa.
Among other planned measures, financial maintenance requirements will be increased, meaning international students will have to prove their financial self-sufficiency. The government said it is already reviewing English language assessments with the aim of standardizing independent assessments, ensuring that all international students are equipped with the skills needed to understand their course materials – or they should not expect a place at university from UK.
Restrictions on remote delivery will also ensure that all overseas students undertake predominantly face-to-face courses, the Home Office said.
The latest set of proposals is part of the Sunak-led government’s overall plan to reduce legal migration, which it says would mean 300,000 who arrived last year would not be able to do so under its stricter new rules.
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