UK Govt Report: Indians Form the Largest Cohort of Skilled Worker/Student Visa Holders

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Cyril Zachariah
Updated on May 26, 2023 01:24 PM IST

Recent data from ONS has revealed India as the nationality with the highest number of worker visas and students working under the Graduate Route visa. After weeks of uncertainty following several announcements curbing the movement of foreign nationals to the UK, the data may bring some relief.

UK Govt Report: Indians Form the Largest Cohort of Skilled Worker/Student Visa Holders

The marathon to become among the top study-abroad destinations for students and workers alike has made several countries spruce up their immigration policies. Countries like the UK have recognised the importance of foreign national skilled workers and international students and have made changes to their immigration systems accordingly.

Recent data reveals that Indians make up the largest cohort of students with a Graduate post-study work visa with the cohort accounting for 41% of the total. The data had been taken from official immigration statistics, the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Indians make up the top nationality for cross-sector skilled work such as specifically targeted healthcare visas that helped fill up the staff shortages in the National Health Service (NHS). Indians also made up the largest student cohort with the new Graduate Route visas.

Also Read: Canada Adopts New Method to Process Work Permits for Temporary Workers

In its analysis notes, the Home Office highlighted that Indians comprised one-third of the worker visa category, while also being the top nationality for “Skilled Worker” and “Skilled Worker - Health and Care” visas.

The Home Office also highlighted that 92,951 Graduate Route extensions had been issued to students previously, in the year ending March 2023. According to reports, a rise of 63% had been witnessed in the number of skilled worker visas granted in the last two years. Numerically, the current data was calculated to be around 21,837 in 2022-23, which is a significant increase from the 2021-22 data which was calculated to be around 13,390.

In the year 2022-23, Indians also received 138,532 sponsored study visas which was a 63% (53,429) rise over the 2021-22 data, making it the largest number of study visas granted to any nationality. The notes highlighted the rise in student visa grants for Indian nationals since 2019, which has grown seven times.

Also Read: UK Planning to Limit International Student Dependent Visas on Account of Net Migration Figures

However, while data reveals the attractiveness of the UK among prospective international students and skilled workers, the UK has been taking steps to curb the number of migrants to the country. Recently, the UK announced a clampdown on the right of international students to bring dependents along with them while they complete their studies in the country.

Expert opinions, however, warn of the effects of including international students in the overall net migration statistics, calling it a flawed approach. Lord Karan Bilimoria stated that there is a need to exclude international students from the net migration figures and to see international students as temporary migrants. By including them in the figures, an unnecessary fear is being created since most international students end up returning to their home countries after graduation.

Source: NDTV

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