After an impartial quick overview of the student card road by the UK government’s immigration advisers published on Tuesday, international student official bodies in India breathed a sigh of relief. The visa, which allows foreign students to work or look for work in the UK for two years after graduating, should not be eliminated.
Following a separate statement by two Tory MPs that was published last week on a think tank’s website, the path was axed in order to lower net migration figures.
There was no conclusive evidence of significant route abuse, according to the Migration Advisory Committee ( MAC ), but concerns were raised about mis-selling of UK higher education by some foreign recruitment agencies.
India accounted for 42 % of the 114, 000 graduate visas issued in 2023, making them the largest cohort.
The UK government-commissioned report found that limits placed in place in January 2024 that forbid those enrolling in taught master’s programs from bringing dependents “have now significantly reduced international student enrollment for September 2024.” In earlier 2019, there are rumors that there will be a 63 % drop in payments made for the Sept. 2024 intake of international postgraduate programs. Indian payments have decreased by 69 %.
According to the report, the existing route should be followed because the skilled worker visa’s salary thresholds, which were introduced in April, may cause the numbers to continue to decline.
It warned that if the route is closed or there are additional restrictions, “many universities will be in financial danger,” leading to job losses, course closures, research reductions, and universities that rely on foreign student fees to cross-submit private students and research.
It recommends that the government build a mandated registration system for worldwide recruitment agencies, that universities be required to report on their spending on for agents and the number of students hired through such channels, and that universities provide the house office with the class of degree obtained.
Govt stated that it would take the assessment into account and respond promptly.
Vignesh Karthik, mind of thought leadership at National Indian Students and Alumni Union, said:” The doubt caused by the assessment has been chaotic. We urge the administration to take the MAC’s results”.
The assessment “emphasizes data over rhetoric,” according to Amit Tiwari, chairman of the Indian National Kids Association UK.
