LS Legal News Bulletin
Post-Study visa. Graduates, rejoice! ...maybe?
Monday 3rd February 2020
On 11 September 2019, the UK Government announced the creation of a new immigration route. It promises a return to days of the Tier 1 (Post Study Worker) visa: a two-year permit for students that allows them to remain in the UK after they have completed their studies and work in any job they want! This will ease their access to careers in the UK and will, in turn, boost the country's appeal to the foreign student market.
Since the release of a handy Home Office factsheet, we have more details regarding the new "Graduate Immigration Route" and can take a closer look at the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to applying for this visa.
• It will only be available to graduates who have a Tier 4 student visa and who will successfully complete their degree-level course at a qualifying institution in the summer of 2021 or after;
• The visa will last for two years, during which the holder can take any kind of employment at any skill level;
• The route is non-extendable and does not count towards settlement;
• Students will not need a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to apply under this route.
Let's unpack this.
First of all, and most importantly, what on earth comes under the category of a "qualifying institution"?
This refers to a new regulatory regime for universities and colleges that sponsor international students, granting those with a "track record of compliance" greater privileges for them and their students. According to the Home Office guidance, a track record of compliance means showing a history of "immigration compliance". This involves sponsors registering with the Office for Students, passing a series of compliance assessments over a four-year period in order to gain the status of Higher Education Provider.
This information is something that a prospective student will have little knowledge of, and students already enrolled at university will have little or no involvement in this. So as we can see, meeting the requirements of the Graduate visa is not entirely within the Applicant's control. Therefore students might not be eligible to apply under the Graduate visa route for mistakes not of their own making.
At LS Legal, we have a team of expert solicitors who are here to help you with any type of immigration application. Our solicitors will guide you through the process, making sure you are not left in the dark.
Get in touch with our team at info@lslegaluk.com or 07535959450/02081445588 and book your consultation now!
