The Post-study Work visa
This visa has now replaced The International Graduate Scheme and Fresh Talent visas in the UK.
Overview
The Post-study Work visa allows all international students completing a UK degree qualification to apply for a visa to stay on and look for work in the UK for up to 2 years.
With this visa, you do not need an employer to sponsor a work visa for you.
With this visa you can take any form of employment.
Time spent on this visa does not count towards the 5 years working in the UK required for permanent residency.
International students have 12 months from when their degree qualification is awarded to them in the UK before they need to apply for this visa. It is possible to return home after graduation and apply for this visa from outside the UK (within 12 months of it being awarded).
What has changed?
- The visa is now for 2 years as opposed to 1 year.
- There is now a points requirement - you need to score 50 points to qualify.
- There is a minimum funds requirement - you need to have minimum amount of funds available to support your application.
- This visa may not be straightforward for all international students - see the Q&A below for law students.
Getting help
It is vital to seek all available help when making visa applications as each application costs time and money. You are also advised to clarify when the 12 months to apply period begins.
The International Advice Team has advice pages for Post-study Work visas:
The UK Border Agency website has the official guidance notes:
Common questions
Which employers will employ people under the Post-study Work Visa (PSW)?
After Post-study Work- what next?
I am a postgraduate student and want to return home after finishing my studies. Can I return to the UK on my student visa to get my results/attend graduation and to apply for Post-study Work Visa?
I am training to be a solicitor/barrister, can I use the Post-study Work Visa for my training contract/pupillage with an employer?
Which employers will employ me under the Post-study work visa (PSW)?
There is no restriction upon the type of employment or employer that you can apply for under PSW. It can include fixed contract work, permanent positions or agency work.
However, some prospective employers may not have heard about PSW. You may wish to explain to them about PSW and that you can work for 2 years under the programme, in your covering letter.
Employers advertising graduate training programmes, who are looking to train and develop you for a number of years, may be reluctant to accept applicants who are on the PSW scheme. This is because the scheme is only for 2 years and they are looking at long term hiring.
However, some employers may be willing to sponsor a work visa application for you to stay in this role during your visa, in order to continue employing you legally in the UK afterwards. The employer will still have to advertise the job and provide details of how they selected you against other UK or EEA applicants. (Note the possible exemption expected in November, 2008.)
Alternatively, you could consider your eligibility to apply for the Highly Skilled (Tier 1 General) visa. You are strongly encouraged to seek advice if you think this applies to you to ensure you plan ahead to ensure your visas do not expire and you are not in the country illegally. Visa applications can take time.
After Post-study Work - what next?
During your PSW visa, it is possible for an employer to sponsor a work visa application for you if you are applying for other jobs.
Alternatively, you could consider your eligibility to apply for the Highly Skilled (Tier 1 General) visa.
Otherwise you will need to leave the UK after the 2 years. International Student Advisers at this University can provide more information.
I am a postgraduate student and want to return home after finishing my studies. Can I return to the UK on my student visa to get my results/attend graduation and to apply for Post-study Work Visa?
You can travel back to the UK using your student visa as long as it has not expired and you can show that you need to return for an academic reason. You need to make sure you have certain documents with you to show to the immigration officer at the airport.
You can find further information on the international careers blog, where the University's International Student Adviser has written a guest post on what you need to provide when re-entering the UK for graduation.
I am training to be a solicitor/barrister, can I use the Post-study Work Visa for my training contract/pupillage with an employer?
The LPC and the BVC is currently not included in the list of eligible courses for the Post-study work visa. As a result you will need to apply using your UK degree qualification (either a Bachelors degree or Masters degree in the UK, eg. LLM, LLB, BA, MSc)
You will have 12 months within which to apply for this visa, so if you apply towards the end of this time (whilst on your LPC or BVC) then it is likely that you will still have at least 18 months of your Post-study work visa remaining when you begin your training contract or pupillage.
If you are converting to law and doing the GDL, it is not yet confirmed whether the GDL qualifies for the Post-study Work Visa. You may need to apply using your UK degree qualification prior to the GDL. If you apply towards the end of your GDL when the 12 months application time is coming to an end, you should still have around 12 months of your work visa left after completing your LPC/BVC qualification with which to complete your training contract/pupillage.
Check out the latest on this issue with the International Advice Team at The University.
However, our experience of law firms in the UK is that the employer is more likely to sponsor a work visa for your applicant than ask you to use your -year Post-study work visa if you are an international graduate.
I have been offered a graduate job with an employer, subject to me obtaining a post-study work visa. Can I start working for them after I've finished my course, until my student visa expires, or do I need to wait until I have obtained a tier 1 visa?
You must not start a permanent full-time contract until your Tier 1 or Tier 2 permission has been granted.
You are permitted to work for a maximum of 4 months on completion of your studies. But you cannot take on work as an entertainer, sportsperson or pursue a career by starting a permanent full-time job.
Employers could offer you a fixed term contract for 4 months and after this a permanent full-time contract without a probationary period as long as you are granted Post-study Work or Tier 2.
Next: Highly Skilled Visa