Indians may continue to top the tally of <keyword id="19987199" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="student-visa" source="keywords">student visa</keyword> grants. Still, they are beginning to show signs of being put off applying to <keyword id="20130484" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UK-universities" source="keywords">UK universities</keyword> amid greater migration curbs, the latest Home Office statistics revealed on Thursday. The Home Office data for the past year until June 2024 shows a 23% fall in <keyword id="19971660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-students" source="keywords">Indian students</keyword> coming to the UK for higher studies, even as they continue to represent the largest group granted leave to remain on the Graduate Route visa, which allows <keyword id="20301713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="foreign-students" source="keywords">foreign students</keyword> to work in Britain for two years after their degree. This fall in Indian student numbers is the first indication of the impact of tighter curbs on the right of most student visa holders to bring along dependent family members, which came into effect earlier this year. "There were 1,10,006 sponsored study <keyword id="22881943" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="visa-grants" source="keywords">visa grants</keyword> to main applicants who were Indian nationals in the year ending June 2024 (25% of the total), 32,687 fewer than the previous year," the Home Office statistics revealed. "Most of the increase in foreign students between 2019 and 2023 were from Indian and Nigerian nationals, but numbers for these nationalities have fallen in the latest year (by 23% and 46% respectively)," it notes. The India-UK Young Professionals Scheme, which involves a two-way flow of young graduates to live and work in either country for up to two years, brought in 2,234 Indian nationals since the first ballot was held in February last year - well below the annual 3,000 visa cap. "In the year ending June 2024, Indian nationals represented the largest group of students granted leave to remain on the Graduate Route (67,529), representing almost half (46%) of grants of Graduate Route extensions to main applicants," the data reveals. However, a gradual decline in student numbers will cause concern among UK universities as they struggle through financial pressures, and generally rely on the much higher fees paid by overseas students. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (<keyword id="21197900" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NISAU" source="keywords">NISAU</keyword>) UK fears a review launched into the Graduate Route visa last year, which concluded only in May to confirm it would not be abandoned, put many Indians off applying. "It is critical that we ensure that the chaos and uncertainty that the review of the Graduate Route had led to is now fully put to rest. NISAU has engaged with millions of students in India to spread the message that the UK remains a warm and welcoming destination for Indian students," said NISAU UK chair Sanam Arora. Meanwhile, Indians continued to top the travel charts for the past year, with 25 % of UK Visitor Visas granted, followed by Chinese nationals accounting for 24%. Under other work visa categories, the previous Conservative Party government raising the minimum annual income thresholds and clamping down on dependents under the Health and Care Visa - changes retained by the new Labour government - has led to a decline in foreign workers, including Indians, coming to the UK. The data reveals that the number of grants for 'Health and Care Worker' main applicants fell by 81% to 6,564 grants between April and June 2024, compared with the same period in 2023 when there were 35,470 grants. "The number of grants to main applicants on other routes in the 'Worker' category (which includes '<keyword id="20299093" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="skilled-worker" source="keywords">Skilled Worker</keyword>' visas) has increased by 79% since 2021, but in the latest year has fallen by 3%." It comes as the Home Office had earlier announced an independent review by its Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) into two specific job sectors of IT and engineering, to reduce the UK's reliance on foreign workers. Indian IT professionals, who make up a large chunk of these visas, are likely to be impacted once the MAC review is tabled in the coming months. "These sectors are vital to the UK's economic growth and national infrastructure. They should be drawing from a growing pool of homegrown talent," Seema Malhotra, Indian-origin minister for migration and citizenship in the Home Office, wrote in 'The Daily Telegraph' this week. "Lack of domestic training for occupations ranging from healthcare to IT meant employers having to increase their dependence on overseas recruits instead," she notes, criticising the previous Tory regime's handling of immigration - an issue which dominates the cross-party agenda amid pledges to bring down soaring numbers.

Visa figures reveal Indian students being put off applying to UK universities

London: Universities and student groups on Tuesday urgently lobbied British Prime Minister <keyword id="19906889" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rishi-Sunak" source="keywords">Rishi Sunak</keyword> to safeguard the country's <keyword id="21659184" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="post-study-visa" source="keywords">post-study visa</keyword> offer, which has been dominated by Indians to gain work experience for around two years at the end of their university degree. Amid reports that Sunak is considering either restricting or ending the <keyword id="20616105" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Graduate-Route" source="keywords">Graduate Route</keyword> to curtail soaring migration statistics ahead of a general election, a group of nearly 30 university vice-chancellors and the <keyword id="21760521" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-indian-students-and-alumni-association" source="keywords">National Indian Students and Alumni Association</keyword> (NISAU) UK have issued detailed letters of appeal to 10 Downing Street. They list a series of factors in favour of keeping the Graduate visa scheme unchanged, including the benefits that international students bring to the UK economy in a competitive global higher education marketplace. "Modelling by consultancy London Economics shows that a single cohort has a net economic benefit of GBP 37 billion to the UK economy; as well as through the soft power that Britain's international graduates generate for the country over time, including through furthering ties of trade and diplomacy," reads the NISAU UK letter addressed to Sunak. "Indeed, 70 per cent of <keyword id="19971660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-students" source="keywords">Indian students</keyword> have told us that the ability to gain meaningful work experience is a critical element in their decision to choose between competing international destinations, of which the UK is one... the Graduate Route allows the opportunity to gain this work experience for a temporary period. It is non-extendable and does not count towards permanent settlement. This means that neither students nor Graduate visa holders should be considered 'immigrants' in the context of the long-term picture of migration," it notes. Their appeal comes a week after the influential <keyword id="20609895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Migration-Advisory-Committee" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Migration Advisory Committee" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Migration Advisory Committee">Migration Advisory Committee</keyword> (MAC) advised the government to let the scheme continue as it found no abuse of this post-study work offer. It also confirmed that Indians topped its tally, accounting for 89,200 visas between 2021 and 2023, or 42 per cent of the overall grants, and were likely to be "most affected by any restriction on the Graduate Route". In their letter to Sunak, universities in the north of England — from Sunderland to Sheffield, Leeds to Lancaster, Liverpool to Teesside, Bradford to Huddersfield, and York to Newcastle — said they will all be harmed by the removal or reduction of this visa as it is an "intrinsic part of the educational offer that has made the UK so attractive to brilliant students from all around the world". "The Graduate Visa Route is regarded by students in key markets like India as an integral part of their educational experience. The MAC review made clear that the removal of this route would make the UK less attractive and thus would cause considerable financial detriment to universities around the country," reads their joint letter. "International student tuition fee income has long cross-subsidised underfunded research and has increasingly become critical to cross-subsidise the teaching of UK undergraduate students because of the frozen tuition fee. Universities cannot continue to absorb the costs of teaching UK undergraduates without some form of alternative funding source," they caution. On top of their visa fees, international students who find work and start businesses contribute billions of pounds in income tax, national insurance and VAT annually. The university chiefs point out that they are also usually net contributors to the National Health Service (NHS) through the NHS surcharge. The Russell Group of the UK's leading universities issued its appeal over the weekend, with CEO Tim Bradshaw warning that there has already been a 10 per cent decline in international applications for post-graduate courses starting this September in the wake of the clampdown on students being able to bring dependant family members. "A further restriction on international students would not only be unnecessary — as numbers are already falling — but also damaging, resulting in less spending in local communities, fewer opportunities for domestic students and less UK research," he noted in a letter to Sunak. Members of his own Cabinet are believed to be opposed to any changes to the Graduate scheme, but the British Prime Minister is having to balance pressures from the right of the governing Conservatives who are single-minded in their demands to curb all forms of legal as well as illegal migration levels ahead of an election later this year.

Universities, student groups lobby PM Sunak to keep UK's post-study visa scheme unchanged

Industry and student groups in Britain have welcomed the new UK-India Young Professionals Scheme launched by Prime Minister <keyword id="221875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rishi-sunak" source="Orion">Rishi Sunak</keyword>, calling it a great step in ensuring the smooth movement of top talent between markets. The scheme launched on Wednesday will be up and running from early next year to offer up to 3,000 visas annually to Indian students and professionals aged between 18 and 30 to live and work in the <keyword id="6354868" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uk" source="Orion">UK</keyword> for 24 months, with British nationals granted a similar offer for <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. The Lord Mayor of London, who represents the financial hub of the City of London globally, welcomed the announcement from the G20 Summit in Bali and called for enhanced exchanges between the two countries in other areas too. "International trade requires the removal of barriers and <keyword id="6359421" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="visa" source="Orion">visa</keyword> schemes like this are a great step in ensuring we allow top talent to move smoothly between markets," said Lord Mayor Nicholas <keyword id="14138982" type="DOMAIN" weightage="20" keywordseo="lyons" botkeyword="" source="ET" sourcekeytype="COMPANY" meta.keywordsubtype="EQ" meta.aliasname="lyons" meta.entityname="Lyons Industrial Enterprises Ltd." meta.entityid="7579" meta.seoname="lyons-industrial-enterprises-ltd">Lyons</keyword>. "India is home to the fastest growing economy in the world and one of the UK's historic partners. With trade negotiations ongoing, firms will also want to see a greater focus on enabling smoother digital trade and the free flow of data. Delivering on these priorities will in turn unlock opportunities and growth for businesses across the UK," he said. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) dubbed the new scheme an "opportunity of a lifetime" for young professionals from both countries and a sign of the strength of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership (MMP) signed last year. "This will give the brightest young minds from both the countries to live and work in the other country. This will be an opportunity of a lifetime for these young professionals. The announcement also highlights the strength of the UK-India Migration and Mobility Partnership agreed last year," said FICCI Director General Arun Chawla. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, which campaigns for streamlined provisions for Indian students studying in the UK, said the new scheme marked an "important moment" in the UK-India relationship to address critical skill shortages as it awaits the operational details to see it come to life next year. "I hope that the scheme does not prioritise only one talent area over another though and the 3,000 spaces should be diversified across STEM, humanities etc," said NISAU UK Chair Sanam Arora. "I have no doubts that the scheme will be oversubscribed from India's perspective, but I do hope that as many young Brits as possible are also encouraged to take up this scheme to go to India because this has the potential to be a truly wonderful way of educating Britain's youth about contemporary India," she said. "This scheme will further help strengthen the living bridge of young Indian and British talent enriching the other country, just as our Indian students who we are honouring through the India UK Achievers Honours, have done for centuries," she added. The scheme will be open to degree-educated young professionals aged under 30, with a detailed application criteria expected to be laid out in the coming weeks. The UK Home Office guidance states that further updates would be added once the first Indian ballot is announced. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/indian-national-jailed-in-singapore-for-bank-fraud/articleshow/95570626.cms">Indian national jailed in Singapore for bank fraud</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/do-extremely-hardcore-work-or-leave-musk-tells-twitter-staff/articleshow/95571090.cms">Do 'extremely hardcore' work or leave, Musk tells Twitter staff</a>

Rishi Sunak's UK-India visa scheme hailed by industry, student groups

Mumbai, May 10 () An Air India flight landed here from London at 1.30 am on Sunday carrying 239 Indians from the UK who were stranded there due to suspension of commercial passenger air services and the subsequent lockdown, an official statement said. In addition to this, two more repatriation flights -- one each from Singapore and Manila ( Philippines) -- are expected to arrive in Mumbai on Sunday, it said. While the flight from Singapore (AI 343) will be carrying 243 passengers, the Manila-Mumbai flight (AI 387) would bring back 241 Indian nationals from the South East Asian country, as per the statement. "1st flight 2 #Mumbai landed- crew interaction less with the passengers. Protective kit was given 2 all-along with snack n meal kept on the seat beforehand. Next #quarantine. Watch the space," tweeted a passenger on the flight. "Reached Mumbai safely from UK. Thank you so much to @airindiain @HCI_London, @NISAU_UK, @MEAIndia," another passenger tweeted. The Mumbai airport authorities, in a statement on Saturday, said the arriving passengers with symptoms will be moved to isolation centres. Asymptomatic passengers residing in Mumbai will be moved to quarantine facilities like hotels, while those from outside the city will be transported by the state to their respective district headquarters, it said. IAS ABMABM

Lockdown: Air India flight brings home 239 Indians from UK

The <keyword id="160935" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="UK-Home-Office">UK Home Office</keyword> on Thursday formally opened its new post-study work visa for international students, which would offer overseas graduates from <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> and other destinations the option to apply for the right to stay on for job experience at the end of their university courses. The <keyword id="23976" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="graduate">Graduate</keyword> route visa, announced last year by UK Home Secretary <keyword id="132666" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Priti-Patel">Priti Patel</keyword>, is now open for applications from this week and is expected to particularly benefit Indian students, who are known to choose their degree courses based on the prospect of work experience. The Graduate route is designed for international graduates who have been awarded their degree from a recognised UK university to stay on and look for work for at least two years. "To put it into some context, last year more than 56,000 Indian nationals were granted a student visa, that's a 13 per cent increase on the previous year, and that is almost now a quarter of all student visas issued by the UK," Patel told . "When you think about those numbers, think about the totality in terms of how this route will benefit India, it's a very, very big move. And, we will continue to work with the various academic institutions on making this route viable," she said. For the new route, international graduates must have completed an eligible course at a UK higher education provider with a track record of compliance with the government's immigration requirements. It is unsponsored, meaning applicants do not need a job offer to apply and crucially they can use a two-year period to stay on and look for a job. There are no minimum salary requirements or caps on numbers, allowing graduates on the route to work flexibly, switch jobs and develop their career as required. "As we build back better, it is vital that the UK continues to be a beacon for talented young people across the globe who want to make a difference. The new Graduate route does just that, giving the best and brightest graduates the opportunity to continue contributing to the UK's prosperity and the freedom to kickstart their careers in the UK," said Patel. A coronavirus concession on the date by which students must enter the UK to qualify for the route, if they started courses in 2020 and are unable to travel due to the pandemic, was recently extended. Applicants who began their studies in autumn 2020 or in spring 2021 will need to be in the UK on a student visa by September 27 this year. Students beginning their course later this year or early next year will need to be in the UK by April 6, 2022. This has been welcomed by Indian student groups in the UK, concerned about India's categorisation under the red list of countries from where travel currently remains banned, making it compulsory for Indian students to quarantine at considerably additional expense. "Many other countries do not offer that microcosm, foundation of diaspora community, natural heritage, all the cultural links, all the values that we share between our two countries. That puts us in a very strong position, both for Indian students coming here and securing their future opportunities in the workplace," Patel said. The new route, part of the <keyword id="3444934" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="post-brexit">post-Brexit</keyword> points-based immigration system, is pegged as part of the UK's Global Britain message of attracting the best talent from around the world and covers all parts of the United Kingdom. "International students are a vital part of our society, and those who graduate from our world-leading universities should have the opportunity to stay and build meaningful careers here in the UK," said Universities Minister Michelle Donelan. "That is why we are introducing this new route for international graduates, enabling British businesses to attract and retain some of the brightest, most talented graduates across the globe, and helping this nation build back better from the pandemic," she said. Anne Marie Graham, Chief Executive of UK Council for International Student Affairs, said: "We know that employability is a priority for international students coming to study in the UK. "International students who are able to access this route will have the flexibility to apply for work in any sector or role that fits their skills profile, including self-employment without the need for employer sponsorship." To apply under the new Graduate route, international students must have completed an eligible course at a recognised UK higher education provider at undergraduate or higher level. Students on the route will be able to work or look for work after their studies for a maximum period of two years, or three years for Doctoral PhD students. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) was among the groups that actively lobbied the UK government for such a post-study visa route. "Genuine Indian applicants with demonstrable skills should considerably benefit," it added. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/twitter-is-giving-away-140-free-nfts-to-followers-and-theyre-not-available-any-other-way/articleshow/84010546.cms">Twitter is giving away 140 free NFTs to followers — and they’re not available any other way</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/new-technology-is-putting-conventional-jobs-out-of-business-msme-exchange-panelists-highlight-on-how-it-helps-in-the-long-run/articleshow/84013275.cms">New technology is putting conventional jobs out of business -- MSME Exchange panelists highlight on how it helps in the long run</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/swiggy-coo-vivek-sunder-will-be-exiting-the-company-by-october/articleshow/84010468.cms">Swiggy COO Vivek Sunder will be exiting the company by October, CEO Sriharsha Majety may take over</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/vodafone-idea-stocks-tank-after-march-quarter-results/articleshow/84010118.cms">Vodafone Idea shares in deep red as an uncertain future looms</a>

Students looking to immigrate to UK can now start applying for the new post-study work visa route

By Aditi Khanna London, May 7 () UK universities have urged distressed Indian students, whether still in Britain or in India, to get in touch with their varsity support services if they need help or guidance during the coronavirus related lockdown. On Monday, the Indian government announced plans to begin phased repatriation of its citizens stranded abroad from May 7.Air India will operate 64 flights from May 7 to May 13 to bring back around 15,000 Indian nationals stranded abroad amid the COVID-19-induced lockdown, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in New Delhi on Tuesday. As the Indian government's first phase of repatriations from the UK to India begins from Thursday, many Indian students in the UK still face a long wait before they can fly home. The UK universities said they wanted them to know that the support continues to be available."We are aware that many Indian students are concerned about money and accommodation, are missing their families and are understandably distressed to be far from home during this global pandemic. My message to those students is: please, please speak to your university," said Vivienne Stern, Director of Universities UK international, which represents 143 UK university leaders. "We may not be able to fix everything, but there are people on hand who will do everything they can to make things easier for you. Universities are providing support in the form of funding, food, accommodation and advice and guidance. We are in this together, please don't struggle alone," she said. Universities UK said that support offered by universities includes delivering food to students, providing hardship funds for students in financial difficulty, waiving accommodation fees or moving international students into accommodation where they can look after them by providing cleaning, security and catering. Universities are also providing pastoral and mental health support. Jaspreet Singh, an Indian student at Birmingham City University (BCU), had some advice for his fellow BCU students: "I know being an international student how worried our parents can be. I send them regular updates and say I'm safe here. Make sure you are in touch with your lecturers and the amazing support team which BCU has got – make sure you use them."Universities UK also highlighted a range of specific steps taken by a snapshot of universities around the UK to support international students who may feel stranded as a result of the coronavirus crisis and need support. The University of Bath has moved all students in university owned accommodation around the city into campus accommodation and is providing three free meals a day to all students who remain on campus. It has also enhanced the availability of financial assistance to students who find themselves in hardship. Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland has implemented a dedicated helpline for students, which operates seven days a week, and has introduced a fund to support students through the COVID-19 crisis as well as waived rent for April and May. Solent University and the University of Bangor have been supporting students stuck in the UK to access hardship funding.Indians make up one of the largest groups of international students from outside the European Union (EU) studying at universities in Britain, after Chinese students. Thousands of these Indian students have found themselves stranded as India imposed a ban on international flights in the middle of March. Indian students' representative groups such as the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU-UK) and Indian National Students Association (INSA) have issued advisories and have been organising food deliveries and other assistance through the lockdown. The UK Home Office had confirmed that any foreign students or professionals on visas that had expired or expiring would be given an extension at least until May 31. Many of the stranded students, from different parts of India including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, expressed their relief at that extension but remain concerned about the limited resources at their disposal. A ticket on one of the initial seven Air India repatriation flights organised by the Indian government are set to cost around Rs 50,000, which combined with the cost of quarantine to be borne by the passenger on landing in India, is a new cause for worry among this group as they await their turn to be flown back to India. AK MRJ MRJ

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Visa figures reveal Indian students being put off applying to UK universities

PTI

Universities, student groups lobby PM Sunak to keep UK's post-study visa scheme unchanged

PTI

Rishi Sunak's UK-India visa scheme hailed by industry, student groups

PTI

Lockdown: Air India flight brings home 239 Indians from UK

PTI

Students looking to immigrate to UK can now start applying for the new post-study work visa route

PTI

UK universities reach out to Indian students for COVID-19 support

PTI