Overview

In January the Government held a consultation exercise over proposed changes to the student visa regime. Now, following closure of the consultation period on 31 January 2011 and after receiving more than 30,000 responses to the consultation document, Home Secretary, Theresa May, has formally announced the Government’s new student immigration policy.

The new policy marks a significant tightening of the rules governing the eligibility of students to come and study in the UK, the duration for which they can remain in the UK, what they can do when they get here and their options after completing their studies.

Whilst many of the changes are “as expected”, there are significant additional provisions which depart from the proposals set out in the consultation document. The policy shift will impact most obviously and significantly on students and educational institutions in the UK. However, the impact on employers of international students during their studies and those who recruit international students upon completion of their course should not be underestimated.

All employers, and particularly those dealing with large numbers of international graduates, will need to consider their recruitment strategy and policies in light of these changes.

Eversheds highlight the key policy changes which will be of interest to all employers.

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