The 2021 regulations regarding the Graduate Route visa provided international students in the UK with a promising opportunity. As per the chance, international students can stay and work in the country for two years post-graduation without the requirement of employer sponsorship. This flexibility allowed students to seek sponsorship during this period, enabling them to apply for a skilled worker visa to extend their stay in the UK.
However, recent government adjustments have raised the income threshold for foreign workers to be eligible for the skilled worker visa from £26,200 to £38,000. This change, slated to take effect in spring 2024, carries significant implications. It coincides with findings from the Higher Education Statistics Agency indicating that a substantial majority of individuals in the UK earn salaries falling within the £24,000 to £26,999 range around 15 months after completing their studies.
Despite the issuance of over 100,000 visas through the graduate route by September 2023, international students encounter challenges. The challenges that an individual encounters are in securing employment in the UK due to widespread unawareness and a lack of understanding about this visa pathway. A study by the Higher Education Policy Institute revealed that a mere 3% of employers had utilised this route, with over half being unaware of its existence.
Addressing concerns regarding potential visa misuse, the UK government has announced plans to conduct a review of the graduate route in September 2024. The primary goal is to prevent perceived abuses of the visa system. However, there’s apprehension that these policy changes might inadvertently hinder efforts aimed at educating companies about the benefits of hiring international graduates, potentially posing obstacles to initiatives intended to enhance awareness and utilization of this valuable visa pathway.
