Visa victory?

Reports suggest universities might get the outcome they want on graduate visas

It is with cautious optimism that vice-chancellors will greet a report published by the Financial Times last night speculating that prime minister Rishi Sunak is “backing away” from a crackdown on the graduate route visa. With what could be politically damaging net migration data out tomorrow, there was widespread concern that ministers were planning to restrict or abolish the graduate route in order to appear tough on immigration.

However, according to the FT report, the government is set to announce tomorrow that the post-study visa scheme is to be retained in its current form—as was recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee last week.