Indian professionals and students in the UK are struggling with increasing nervousness after the latest immigration overhaul by the British government, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week. The reforms, set out in a new Immigration White Paper, aim to make big changes to work, study, and family visa pathways — a move that has raised concerns among one of the UK’s biggest international communities.
A major Indian student concern is the move to shorten the length of the Graduate Route visa — a post-study work visa — from two years to 18 months. The route has been utilised largely by Indian graduates since its launch in 2021, with them looking to secure foreign experience and build careers in the UK.
Satyam Surana, a recent graduate from the London School of Economics, called the decision “tough” on international students. “Already the job market in UK is a crisis for students, particularly Indian students who have literally spent millions of rupees,” he said. “Earlier with the 2-year permit, students at least got some opportunity to look for a professional role that suits their qualifications and until then continue to live on either part-time jobs or semi-qualified jobs. With this change in rule, it becomes a do-or-die situation for students who’ve gone there with great expectations.”
Surana also touched on the mental health impact of such uncertainty. “Financial, emotional, and mental distress are quite common in students who are struck by this insecurity of landing a job immediately after graduating in a very competitive market like the UK. If not, the only option remains is to leave the country — and all doors are closed.”
While acknowledging misuse of previous immigration leniencies, he added, “When speaking of the rampant misuse of the unnecessarily liberal immigration policies of the UK government, it becomes evident that these loopholes are used by particular groups of immigrants to bring in dependents and exploit government resources. While such a reform was necessary from the UK’s perspective, it could have been better if genuine students were given some breathing period to look for a life and job there — with limitations and restrictions, such as non-allowance of dependents or limited access to subsidies.”
“I feel worried because 18 months is really short to find a good job here,” said Riya, a master’s student in London. “Many companies take time to recruit, and with less time, it will be stressful to settle down and start career.”
Arjun, who recently completed an engineering degree in the UK, echoed similar sentiments. “This change might make many prospective students to rethink coming to the UK at all. The longer work visa was a big reason I chose the UK over other countries,” he said.
While the Graduate Route has not been scrapped, student advocates are calling for clear communication on how and when the changes will take effect. Sanam Arora, Chairperson of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, acknowledged the decision but urged the government to proceed carefully.
“Although we are glad the Graduate Route has been kept, albeit for a shorter period of time, we strongly recommend that its implementation—as well as the broader reforms—be handled with caution, clarity, and cooperation,” Arora told PTI. She cautioned that failure to provide timely updates might create confusion and panic among existing and prospective students.
Outside of the Graduate Route, the White Paper also sets out stricter English language tests for dependents and a drastic change to the route to permanent settlement. The time needed to qualify for indefinite leave to remain will be increased from five to ten years — something anticipated to touch on large numbers of skilled Indian professionals already making contributions to areas of healthcare, education, and IT.
Neha, an Indian MBA student, was disappointed with the timing of the reforms. “I understand the UK wants to control immigration, but cutting the post-study work time means less chance to gain international experience. That experience is important for my resume and future growth,” she said.
The changes have also left research students uncertain about their future. Vikram, a PhD candidate, noted, “As a PhD student, the 3 years was a good benefit. Reducing it to 18 months is a big change. It makes it harder to continue research or find industry jobs related to my field after graduating.”
NISAU, while critical of parts of the policy, welcomed the government’s promise to better align immigration with the country’s skills needs and to improve transparency in international student recruitment practices. “We have made very clear requests for increased accountability and transparency in education agent practices, and we firmly support this movement,” Arora added.
Speaking from Downing Street, Prime Minister Starmer defended the new measures as essential to national interest. “We run the risk of becoming an island of strangers if we don’t follow these rules,” he said. “To give us more control, we will tighten up every aspect of the immigration system, including work, family, and education.”
As Indian students await official guidance on when the reforms will be rolled out, many are left weighing their options — and wondering whether the UK remains the promising destination it once was.
(Inputs from PTI)
