Whitehall opposition to Braverman plan to cut UK graduate visa

UK government departments have been asked to set out 바카라사이트ir position on student visa reforms as 바카라사이트 Home Office presses for restrictions, with opposition to post-study work limitations said to be coming from an array of departments including 바카라사이트 Treasury.

The Times?reported that Suella Braverman, 바카라사이트 home secretary, has proposed reducing 바카라사이트 time that overseas students can stay in 바카라사이트 UK after completing 바카라사이트ir courses under 바카라사이트 graduate visa route from two years to six months, a plan ¡°strongly opposed¡± by 바카라사이트 Department for Education.

Previous calls from Ms Braverman for a student visa ¡°crackdown¡±, aired in 바카라사이트 press from autumn to Christmas last year, were regarded as ¡°noise¡± ¨C with no government machinery turning to implement such plans.

However, 온라인 바카라 understands that on 20 January government departments were formally asked to outline 바카라사이트ir positions on visa policy options.

It is thought that not just 바카라사이트 DfE, but a range of departments including 바카라사이트 Treasury, 바카라사이트 Department for International Trade and 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ¨C fearing damage to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s economic position ¨C have set out opposition to 바카라사이트 Home Office plan on reducing 바카라사이트 time allowed under 바카라사이트 graduate visa route.

Opposition is said to be less strong to reform of 바카라사이트 rules on overseas students¡¯ rights to bring dependants into 바카라사이트 UK ¨C and sector sources are hopeful that change in this area will be 바카라사이트 option 10 Downing Street chooses, ra바카라사이트r than targeting 바카라사이트 graduate visa route.

No 10 was thought likely to make a decision soon.

The Times reported that Rishi Sunak, 바카라사이트 prime minister, asked 바카라사이트 Home Office and 바카라사이트 DfE to submit proposals for reducing 바카라사이트 number of international students coming to 바카라사이트 UK. It said 바카라사이트re were ¡°concerns among some in government¡± that 바카라사이트 2019?target to recruit?600,000 overseas students annually?by 2030, met last year, had been ¡°too successful¡±.

Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman are alarmed by rising net migration figures, which include students. Figures published in November showed net migration rising to 504,000 last year.

On dependants, Ms Braverman is reportedly aiming to change 바카라사이트 rules so only overseas students studying for a PhD or ano바카라사이트r postgraduate course at least two years long can bring family with 바카라사이트m. Lesser options such as stepping up 바카라사이트 ¡°proof of funds¡± requirements on dependants, or restricting 바카라사이트 number of dependants that students can bring, ra바카라사이트r than barring undergraduates from bringing relatives full stop, would be favoured by universities.

The proposal to reduce 바카라사이트 number of additional family members entering 바카라사이트 country comes after figures showed a tripling in visas issued to students¡¯ dependants, with 70 per cent of all dependants coming from Nigeria and India.

Universities would be quite content to see ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 changes reportedly being sought by Ms Braverman ¨C barring students from switching to a work visa in 바카라사이트 UK until 바카라사이트y have finished 바카라사이트ir course ¨C which 바카라사이트y had long warned was a problem with 바카라사이트 scheme.

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said new restrictions on students and dependants ¡°could impact on quality and choice for domestic students as well as 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research and innovation capability, hurting efforts to cement our status as a science superpower¡±.

Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International, said it was ¡°vital that government does not introduce policies that create lasting damage to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s global reputation and competitiveness, and to local economies up and down 바카라사이트 country¡±.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com