Indian students launch ‘Fair Visas, Fair Opportunities’ campaign in UK

An organization representing Indian students in the UK has launched a campaign for the continuation of a graduate pathway visa, which would allow people to work there after completing their studies. The campaign launched on Thursday is called “Fair Visas, Fair Opportunities”.

This graduate pathway visa allows international graduates to work in the UK for two years after completing their degree. The UK government is reviewing the process.

The National Indian Students and Alumni Association (Nisau) in the UK initially pushed for the visa to allow international graduates to work for two years after gaining their degree, but fears an ongoing review could undo progress made.

Home Secretary James Cleverly tasked independents with Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) review of postgraduate route visas to ensure it remains “fit for purpose”.

Lord Callan Bilimoria said: “The ability to work for two years after graduation can help international students earn money to pay for their degree and enable some to gain valuable work experience and continue to build strong links with the UK.” International Co-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Student Issues (APPG) and Patron of NISAU UK.

According to reports, If Indian students in UK can’t find jobs within six months of graduation, they may have to end their stay. The UK plans to shorten post-study visa periods for foreign students.

Financial contribution of international students

Bilimoria also warned that reducing postgraduate routes could harm the UK, with international students contributing £42 billion (GBP) to the UK economy.

“Britain will shoot itself in the foot,” Bilimoria said.

“We are in a global competition and must offer attractive post-study job opportunities in competition with countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia. Concerns over the cancellation of two-year post-study job opportunities and work visas are sending unnecessary jobs around the world , damaging negative information, the university has seen a significant decline in international student applications,” he added.

Since the reintroduction of postgraduate route visas for international students in 2020-21, the UK Home Office has issued a total of 213,250 postgraduate route visas.

“It is extremely regrettable that just a few years after the UK reintroduced post-study work, we are once again having to make the case to defend it. Postgraduate visas are a key requirement for Indian students and an important requirement for Indian students. UK International An important part of the higher education system,” said Sanam Arora, Chairman of NISAU UK and a member of the UK Council for International Higher Education.

Postgraduate route visa defense

According to PTI, Indians have been the largest group of recipients of residence permits, accounting for 43% of the total number of residence permits granted last year.

Arora worries that without this pathway, university finances could collapse, impacting both international and domestic students.

NISAU UK has been invited to provide evidence to the MAC and plans to share insights from its annual Indo-UK Achievers Honors programme.

The latest figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show that Indian applications to UK universities fell by 4%.

However, the Home Office pointed out that MAC analysis showed that the number of international postgraduate students studying at institutions with the lowest UCAS entry requirements increased by more than 250% between 2018 and 2022, reflecting its slogan of attracting “the brightest and best”. ” ask a question.

The MAC’s annual report was completed ahead of the review and published in parliament late last year.

“More fundamentally, we suggest that the government needs to decide what the purpose of the postgraduate route is. Whether its main aim is to improve access to international students who choose to study in the UK, and thereby increase the number of international students in higher education, then it seems It was a huge success,” MAC said.