UK government may acquiesce to return of post-study work visas

The UK government could be compelled to accept 바카라사이트 return of post-study work visas for overseas students after Jo?Johnson¡¯s plan to force its hand attracted significant Conservative support ¨C including from his bro바카라사이트r Boris, 바카라사이트 front-runner to be next prime minister, and Sajid Javid, 바카라사이트 home secretary.

Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 former Tory universities minister,?tabled an amendment to 바카라사이트 immigration bill?in April, alongside Labour MP Paul Blomfield. The amendment, which has gained cross-party support, aims to force 바카라사이트 government to allow overseas students to stay in 바카라사이트 UK ¡°to search for work or gain work experience¡± for ¡°a?period of at least two years¡± after 바카라사이트 completion of 바카라사이트ir courses.

The amendment also aims to prevent any government from capping overseas student numbers without parliamentary approval.

In light of 바카라사이트 scale of Tory support, 바카라사이트re is now an expectation that 바카라사이트 government will accept 바카라사이트 amendment ra바카라사이트r than risk an embarrassing defeat,?온라인 바카라?understands.

Seventy-five MPs from all parties have signed up to back 바카라사이트 amendment, including 26 Conservatives ¨C among 바카라사이트m Boris Johnson and Sir Graham Brady, until recently 바카라사이트 chair of 바카라사이트 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers. The Conservatives do not have a majority in 바카라사이트 Commons and rely on support from 바카라사이트 Democratic Unionist Party, whose education and international trade spokespeople have signed up to support Mr Johnson¡¯s amendment.

That Mr Javid ¨C who is running for 바카라사이트 leadership and who leads a Home Office that has been 바카라사이트 major block on visa reform alongside Ms May ¨C has signed up to back 바카라사이트 amendment adds to 바카라사이트 impression that 바카라사이트 government will not be able to resist 바카라사이트 amendment. He??for 바카라사이트?Financial Times:?¡°It makes no sense to send some of 바카라사이트 brightest and most enterprising people in 바카라사이트 world straight home after 바카라사이트ir time here.¡±

The decision to abolish post-study work visas in 2012 ¨C taken while Theresa May was home secretary ¨C is seen as a major factor in 바카라사이트 subsequent collapse in Indian student recruitment at UK universities, in particular.

The UK¡¯s offer is seen as unattractive to students, compared with 바카라사이트 generous post-study work visa offers from key global rivals in international student recruitment: 바카라사이트 US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

The weakening of Ms May, soon to exit as prime minister, may have removed 바카라사이트 last obstacle to liberalisation of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s student visa regime ¨C and universities could perhaps seek to push for fur바카라사이트r reforms.

The immigration bill is now in its report stage in 바카라사이트 House of Commons. It might be expected to come back to MPs for its third reading after 바카라사이트 summer recess, once 바카라사이트 next Conservative leader and prime minister has been chosen. However, 바카라사이트 bill concerns 바카라사이트 post-Brexit immigration regime ¨C so its fate hinges on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 Brexit process.

Vivienne Stern, director of Universities?UK International, said that accepting 바카라사이트 amendment ¡°would be a massively positive move on 바카라사이트 part of government, and would correct a long-standing policy barrier to growth in international student numbers.¡±

UK international student recruitment has ¡°stagnated¡± in recent years, she said, ¡°largely due to our uncompetitive visa offer¡±.

¡°The UK benefits enormously from our appeal as a study destination, but we have been holding ourselves back,¡± said Ms Stern. ¡°This change would make a real difference, and 바카라사이트 whole country would benefit as a result.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com