Million Plus

The UK government will change the immigration rules to make it easier for overseas students and researchers to seek work in the country, in another signal of a shift to a more welcoming approach. The changes – which include plans to allow students to apply to switch to a skilled worker visa as soon as they complete their course rather than having to wait until their degree is awarded – were detailed in Budget documents published on 22 November.

Pam Tatlow, Chief Executive of MillionPlus, said:

“We welcome the interest of the Home Office and the government in improving the visa regulations for students, early career graduates and staff.

“However, the key to the future is reconciling issues around settled status of EU nationals in the UK at the time of Brexit, but also achieving a system that supports continuing mobility between the UK and the EU…This is why the Home Office needs to publish the White Paper, which would precede the immigration bill, as soon as possible.”

The full article can be read here.