No Plans For Return Of Tier 1 Post-Study Work Visa

The Home Office confirmed to the Scottish Government today that there are no plans to bring back the Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) visa scheme, despite cross-party support from Members of the Scottish Parliament calling for its reintroduction.

The Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) visa allowed international students to remain and work after graduation in Scotland for a limited time without a work permit (called a Tier 2 Certificate of Sponsorship) and closed to new applicants from 6 April 2012.

Humza Yousaf, Chair of the MSP cross-party steering group that had written to immigration minister James Brokenshire supporting the scheme’s reintroduction highlighted that “Scotland has different immigration needs to the rest the UK and by ruling out a return of the post study route the UK government is ignoring this and Scotland’s best interests, as well as the recommendations of the Smith Commission“.

However, a Home office spokesman confirmed that there were “no plans” to reintroduce the visa scheme, citing that the system “undermined the UK’s work migration routes and damaged the reputation of our education system”.