An important body representing Indian students in the United Kingdom has launched a campaign with a letter to British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, calling on him to make sure that the recent announcement of two-year post-study work visa is offered to all international students currently studying in Britain. NISAU-UK has said that the decision has caused confusion in students for the upcoming academic year.

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Significant unrest & confusion

The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) say the idea to make new Graduate Visa route, announced by the Brtish government last week, valid from the year 2020-21 group of students had resulted in “significant unrest and confusion” among student in the process of beginning the 2019-20 year this month.

"We strongly recommend that international students with valid Tier 4 student leave at the point of the announcement of the scheme i.e. on September 10, 2019, and afterward, be eligible for the Graduate visa," notes the NISAU UK’s letter issued to Downing Street on Sunday.

The letter also said that the union understood the details of the Graduate visa route may still be under development and further information will be made available soon. It may seem that students who have started their course before September 2020 will be left out of this benefit. This has led to significant unrest and confusion amongst current and prospective students who are arriving from this month academic year. 

As one of the student organizations who actively campaigned for the post-study visa to be re-launched, the NISAU UK welcomed the British Government's announcement of a new Graduate visa which permits eligible students to work or actively look for work in any career or position of their choice for two years after completion of course. Nevertheless, they advised caution about how the incoming batch of students were concerned about the possible dangers of discrimination they might face from organizations who have option to offer a job to someone with two years leave to remain in the country as compared to the current permission of four months. 

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History of Indian Students in the UK

NISAU-UK affirms that the latest hike of 42% in the number of Indian students applying to the UK universities was a result of anticipation that post-study work visa will be re-instated. The organization further said that as the bridge between the two great nations, the Indian student and alumni community plays an important role in the bilateral relationship and the Graduate visa will only contribute further to this special partnership. Britain earlier had ended its post-study work visa during erstwhile Theresa May's term as British Home Secretary in 2012 who widely blamed for a major drop in student numbers from countries like India coming to the UK. Several university chiefs have widely welcomed the initiative to reenact the policy. 

Vivienne Stern, Director, Universities UK International said that: 82 per-cent Indian graduates are satisfied with their careers with the profession they are working in and know that they value the opportunity to spend some of their time in the UK working after completion of their degree. The visa will make it easier for them to do that.

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(With inputs from PTI)