Graduate Visa

The Home Secretary’s plans on reducing number of International Students who can stay on Graduate Visa:

The Secretary of State for the Home Department, Suella Braverman, is planning on reducing the number of international graduates who can stay in the United Kingdom after completing their studies. Suella Braverman is also considering placing a cap on number of dependents a student can bring with them to the UK.

The dependents are defined as the following: husband, wife or civil partner, unmarried partner, and child under 18 years. Students who wish to bring their dependents to the UK must be in full time education or studying at postgraduate level that lasts 9 months or more or be Doctorate Extension Scheme students. These proposals have been brought about to help reduce net migration

The Graduate Visa also known as the post study visa was introduced to help boost the UK economy. It has been reported that international students, contribute billions to the UK economy annually.

The Graduate Visa was introduced to international students on student visas who have successfully completed a degree at undergraduate level or above at a Higher Education provider with a track record of compliance whilst they were in the UK to remain in the UK for 2 years after graduation. If a student has a PHD or other doctoral qualification, they will be able to remain in the UK for 3 years.

The student will need to have completed the course in the UK, apart from permitted study abroad programmes or remote study due to COVID-19, for which specific concessions have been agreed.

The Graduate route does not require a student to demonstrate English language ability (this will be demonstrated upon the completion of their course) or funds to support themselves.

Students on this visa will be able to work in any sector and at any level without any minimum salary requirements or the need for visa sponsorship.

To be eligible for the Graduate visa the following requirements must be met.

• the applicant must be in the UK
• the applicants current visa is a student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

(Not all courses are eligible for student visa sponsorship and therefore will not be eligible for the Graduate route. Students are advised to consult with an immigration advisor.)

• the applicant studied a UK bachelor’s degree, postgraduate degree or other eligible course for a minimum period of time with your student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa

(Advanced Diploma, and other non-degree awarding qualifications except the PGCE, are not eligible to apply for a Graduate visa).

• The higher education provider must inform the Home Office that the student/applicant has completed the course

A student is considered to have successfully completed their degree for the purpose of applying for the Graduate visa once they have received their results and their record is updated with the Home Office to reflect completion. For PhD students’ completion is unconditional approval, which is normally the submission of the hardbound thesis.

• have studied for a minimum period of time in the UK on a Tier 4 or Student visa.

The minimum period of study for the Graduate visa is at least 12 months OR the full length of your course, whichever is shorter. 

Those Students with dependant family members in the UK who already have immigration permission as a Tier 4 or Student dependant can make an application to stay as a dependant under the Graduate route.

If you have any questions, or would like any further information, feel free to contact us on info@biscoes-law.co.uk, or on 02392 660261.