The Migration Advisory Committee of the United Kingdom has proposed potential restrictions on foreign students holding two-year graduate visas if they do not attain high academic performance.
The move, aimed at curbing record-high net migration by 300,000 individuals, could prevent students with lower grades from extending their stay in the UK.
According to The Telegraph, James Cleverly, the UK Home Secretary, was urged to assess the graduate visa program within a comprehensive plan to manage immigration levels. Statistics reveal a significant rise, with over 98,000 students securing two-year visas after graduating in June 2023, marking a staggering 74 percent increase from the previous year.
The concern raised is that this visa route might be misused for easy access to work, particularly in low-skilled positions, or merely for an extended stay without any job commitment.
MAC Chairman, Prof. Brian Bell, emphasized the absence of grade or achievement prerequisites, prompting a review to consider whether setting specific academic benchmarks is necessary for visa extension.
Prof. Bell hinted at potential considerations, including limiting visa eligibility based on university attended, specific courses completed, or job types undertaken. Presently, there are no constraints on activities during this period, allowing individuals to stay idle, take minimum-wage jobs, or engage in high-paying employment.
Also, the former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the former immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, pushed to scrap or overhaul the graduate visa amid concerns it was fuelling immigration and was open to abuse.