After graduation, UK offers students 2-year work visas

◗ The move is going to benefit Indian students in a big way as 32 per cent of the total Tier 2 (Work Visa) in the UK is taken by Indians

London: Britain’s government on Wednesday announced new post-Brexit immigration plans that will allow international students to work in the country for two years after graduating. Business secretary Andrea Leadsom said the change was aimed at attracting the “brightest and the best from around the world” and a sign of “the UK’s ambition once we have left the European Union”.

Easing immigration norms to allow international students, including that from India to work after completion of studies, the United Kingdom on Wednesday announced a new two-year, post-study work visa regime to give them enough time to look for jobs. The move is going to benefit Indian students in a big way as 32 per cent of the total Tier 2 (Work Visa) in the UK is taken by Indians.

“This is a very positive news for Indian students . The new route will allow them more time to look for work and there is no restriction on the type or level of work they can do. New norms will benefit students who are finishing their courses next summer,” said Jan Thomson, British deputy high commissioner to India.

The UK is facing a shortage of professionals in various sectors leading to easing out of restrictions on hiring. British High Commission (BHC) officials said that specialists in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), architecture, web design are much needed in the UK.

In 2012, then UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced new immigration rules, cutting down post-education stay for international students by giving them only four to six month’s time to look for jobs. This had led to huge fall in the number of international students applying in UK universities, particularly from India.

However, through the new immigration rules, the UK is expecting to made amends and attract more international students. Ms Thomson added that the British government has removed restrictions having like Ph.D degree for Tier 2 visa, which is popular among Indian students. Tier 2 is the main immigration route for working in the UK and is for skilled workers with a job offer. “Of all Tier 2 visas, we offer 32 per cent to India,” she added.