Row over foreign students as Home Secretary Suella Braverman pushes for visa change that would force them out of the UK if they haven't got a 'skilled job' six months after graduating

Currently those travelling to study in Britain can stay on for two years afterwards
Department for Education resisting plan to cut that period to just six months
Home Office said visa abused by people on short courses at low-ranking unis
By DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 05:42 EST, 25 January 2023 | UPDATED: 05:55 EST, 25 January 2023


Home Secretary Suella Braverman is at the center of a new row over foreign students after moving to cut the amount of time they can stay in the UK after graduating.

Currently those travelling to study in Britain can stay on for two years after completing their courses.

But the Department for Education is said to be resisting Ms Braverman's plan to cut that to just six months, after which they have to have a skilled job that makes them eligible for a work visa, or leave the UK.

It is the latest twist in a long-running row over foreign student numbers. Ms Braverman has committed to cut immigration and 'substantially reduce' the number of unskilled foreign workers coming to Britain, from 239,000 to the 'tens of thousands'.

As part of that she wants to reduce the numbers of international students who can apply for a graduate post-study work visa, which allows any student who has passed their degree to remain and work in the UK for at least two years.

But education officials fear this will make the UK less attractive to foreign students, who pay far more than UK students for their courses and are a major source of income for universities.

The Department for Education is said to be resisting Ms Braverman's plan to cut that to just six months, after which they have to have a skilled job that makes them eligible for a work visa, or leave the UK.

The Department for Education is said to be resisting Ms Braverman's plan to cut that to just six months, after which they have to have a skilled job that makes them eligible for a work visa, or leave the UK.

It is the latest twist in a long-running row over foreign student numbers. Ms Braverman has committed to cut immigration and 'substantially reduce' the number of unskilled foreign workers coming to Britain, from 239,000 to the 'tens of thousands'.

It is the latest twist in a long-running row over foreign student numbers. Ms Braverman has committed to cut immigration and 'substantially reduce' the number of unskilled foreign workers coming to Britain, from 239,000 to the 'tens of thousands'.

Figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency last week showed that there were almost 680,000 foreign students in 2021-22 academic year - with non-EU outnumbering EU students by almost five-fold.

Figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency last week showed that there were almost 680,000 foreign students in 2021-22 academic year - with non-EU outnumbering EU students by almost five-fold.

Documents seen by the Times argue that the two-year visa is in line with most of the UK's competitors, apart from the US, which offers a year-long visa.

But a Home Office source told the paper the route was being used as 'a backdoor immigration route' by people taking short courses at 'less respectable universities'.

Figures released by the Higher Education Statistics Agency last week showed that there were almost 680,000 foreign students in 2021-22 academic year - with non-EU outnumbering EU students by almost five-fold.

It means it has already met a target of attracting 600,000 a year by 2030, set in 2019.

Among other measures being considered by the Home Office is restricting visa applications only to those who have completed studied in high-demand subject areas, such as engineering.

University bosses have hit out at plans to throttle numbers, saying it sent a message 'that the UK is unwelcoming and hostile to international students' who make bring £25.9 billion per year to the UK economy through fees and spending

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11674689/Foreign-student-row-Suella-Braverman-tries-force-UK-six-months-graduating.html

Child of an Immigrant doing all this , Nawa

ednut1:
Child of an Immigrant doing all this , Nawa

No suprises. Same way Nigerians beneficiaries of liberal immigration policies almost immediately start embracing right wing ideology.

It called fk you I got mine

GloriousGbola:


No suprises. Same way Nigerians beneficiaries of liberal immigration policies almost immediately start embracing right wing ideology.

It called fk you I got mine

Even in Canada, some 9ja Canadians are now anti immigration.

ednut1:
Even in Canada, some 9ja Canadians are now anti immigration.

Why? It is not enough to just say they are anti immigration.

pocohantas:


Why? It is not enough to just say they are anti immigration.

during the second to the last elections in Canada, some Nigerians online and real life said they were going to vote the party against mass immigration. As too much Nigerians in a country is bad.

ednut1:
during the second to the last elections in Canada, some Nigerians online and real life said they were going to vote the party against mass immigration. As too much Nigerians in a country is bad.

Did they lie? Check out all the countries with lax immigration processes that have been infiltrated by Nigerians. Do you think it is a coincidence that every country keeps sending us back to Nigeria with molue?

pocohantas:


Did they lie? Check out all the countries with lax immigration processes that have been infiltrated by Nigerians. Do you think it is a coincidence that every country keeps sending us back to Nigeria with molue?

Canada immigration is designed to take the best of Nigerians. People with careers not just any kind person like those who go to cyprus, Dubai, Malaysia. South africa and co

If the education secretary wins this battle, it’s a loss loss for everyone.

pocohantas:


Did they lie? Check out all the countries with lax immigration processes that have been infiltrated by Nigerians. Do you think it is a coincidence that every country keeps sending us back to Nigeria with molue?

You don’t want Nigerians… this thing dey baffle me. Indians want as much Indians as possible, Arabs too… but we Africans?

Canada and UK is not Dubai where any Jack and Harry can travel to.