UK visas - Post Study Work category to be scrapped

The changes keep on coming in UK immigration !

Following on from the recent announcements on Investors and Entrepreneurs, the government have now announced a series of changes to Student visas.

The main changes see the scrapping of the 2 year Post Study Work visa route after April 2012. New, tougher requirements to speak English will also be introduced for student visas.

Working rights for students are to be curtailed except for those at universities and other publicly funded institutions.

Only students on postgraduate courses are allowed to bring dependents to the UK.

These are major changes and we have reprinted from the Home Office website to ensure the exact positions is clarified to all clients.

For those of you, who need assistance with UK visas applications, please contact us through our website;

http://www.commonwealthimmigration.com/immigration-advice-uk.htm

From April 2012, any institution wanting to sponsor students will need to be classed as a Highly Trusted sponsor, and will need to become accredited by a statutory education inspection body by the end of 2012. The current system does not require this, and has allowed too many poor-quality colleges to become sponsors.

Students coming to study at degree level will need to speak English at an 'upper intermediate' (B2) level, rather than the current 'lower intermediate' (B1) requirement.

UK Border Agency staff will be able to refuse entry to students who cannot speak English without an interpreter, and who therefore clearly do not meet the minimum standard.

Students at universities and publicly funded further education colleges will retain their current work rights, but all other students will have no right to work. We will place restrictions on work placements in courses outside universities.

Only postgraduate students at universities and government-sponsored students will be able to bring their dependants. At the moment, all students on longer courses can bring their dependants.

We will limit the overall time that can be spent on a student visa to 3 years at lower levels (as it is now) and 5 years at higher levels. At present, there is no time limit for study at or above degree level.

We will close the Tier 1 (Post-study work) route, which allows students 2 years to seek employment after their course ends. Only graduates who have an offer of a skilled job from a sponsoring employer under Tier 2 of the points-based system will be able to stay to work.