New Graduate Students Rule

Hi,

I have recently stumbled across a new scheme on the workpermit pages regarding graduate students :-

Information about Science and Engineering Graduates Scheme.

It has been on there for quite a while now and I was wondering if anyone knows any more details about it: How easy would it be for such people to switch to normal WP employment after the 12 month period? What would be the procedure for extending ones leave after studies under that category? When could this be done?

Also, if someone eligible for that category was to be sponsored for a work permit straight away, rather than going via the above route, would it make any difference?

Thanks!

p.s. great forum

1. The government has not yet provided any further detail on the scheme. Given the furore about potential abuse of employment visas for certain East European nationals coupled with the high profile immigration is currently getting on the political scene and an expected 'flood' of labour into the UK when 10 countries join the EU on 1st May the scheme is IMHO likley to be delayed.

2. Being on the scheme does not give you an added advantage for obtaining a WP apart from the fact that you are in the UK labour market so employers may be more certain/assured of your work experience and thus more likely to sponsor your WP. Success would still be based on you and the sponsoring employer meeting the criteria for the WP scheme.

3. The application to join the scheme would have to be after succesful completion of your course as evidenced by the submission of a degree and likley transcripts. The Home Office/ British Diplomatic Posts are nowadays issuing student visas valid to October of the year your course ends or alternativley two months after the end of your course. I expect applications to join the scheme would fall in this window.

4. An employer can apply for a WP for you at any time even whilst still at university - however as per point 2 you and the employer must meet the criteria in relation to qualifications and work experience for you and them being a bonafide UK operation under the country's laws as evidenced by the payment of taxes amongst other things.

Thanks for the reply Kayalami.

As per your 4th point, I had an internship with a company last summer who is currently in the process of obtaining a work permit for me for a full time position beginning this summer. They are a large and multi-national and said that they deal with many work permits every year and have a dedicated legal team. They have assured me that I will get a 5 year long WP (as that is what they usually apply for) and there shouldn't be any major problems.

My previous post was regarding them perhaps having any issues because of HO asking why I don't just work for the first 12 months without WP and then see how it goes. Furthermore, does having a (well recognised) UK degree and just one summer of experience (with the same company, and some part time elsewhere before that) count enough towards experience + education.

Thanks

HO will not ask them about the duration of the internship - employer can apply for WP any time even where you have never interned for them. That your internship employer has decided to apply for a WP emphasises my comment in 2 that you are better known and the employer is willing to take a chance - you must have impressed them. Also the fact that they are a large and presumably reputable multi-national with a history of WP applications via a dedicated legal team stands you in good stead as they will at least have someone who knows what they are doing.

To qualify for the grant of a WP the job must EITHER require one of the following qualifications:

1. A UK equivalent degree level qualification.

2. A Higher National Diploma (HND) level qualification which is relevant to the post on offer.

3. A HND level qualification, which is not relevant to the post on offer plus one year of relevant full time work experience at National/Scottish Vocational Qualification (N/SVQ) level 3 or above.

OR the job must require the following skills:

3 years full time experience of using specialist skills acquired through doing the type of job for which the permit is sought. This should be at N/SVQ level 3 or above.

These are the minimum criteria you need to meet - the major requirement will be to proove that there is no one in the resident labour market qualified for the job if it is a Tier 2 application by way of no one responding to extensive advertising of the job over a qualifying period (I think its about 3-4 weeks). Tier 1 applications do not require this evidence and include occupations for which there is a shortage of workers in the UK e.g. nurses, doctors. It also includes high level board posts and investment positions but this do not appear to apply to you. The resident labour pool is any EU/EEA national including British Citizens and any one with indefinite leave to remain.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that! Helped a lot

Please can anyone advise WHEN the tiers system will be implemented?Does it tighten the opportunities that the foreign UK graduates have in the UK?

It says a masters student has to get a job with £18000 salary and all - the employers again must be willing to sponsor-this is really a drag-why don't we have like 2 years after graduation/qualification to work in the UK - after all ACCA requires practical experiences to gain the membership! Most employers will pay on average of £14000 per annum for accounts trainee (fresh graduates) in manchester - how they can put the salary that high?

Most employers are unwilling to handle work permit cases and sometimes their advert are not right; for instance this employer clearly stated in the website they won't sponsor non-EU;Similarly Ernst & Young, PWC etc.

http://www.howardworth.co.uk/

Under tiers system, tier 2, there is claimed to be access of employers to non-shortage foreign UK graduates. How? Almost all recruitment agencies in the UK won't help - how can you survive if you are a foreign student. not to mention wanting to stay in the UK after has been attached to it after nearly 9 years with all these qualifications?

help

rani x

Why have you activated this old topic? Anyone reading it needs to also read the dates of the previous postings .... 2004!

Please can anyone advise WHEN the tiers system will be implemented?

It is very clear .... 2007 ... full details still to emerge.