UK Government rejects demands for re-introduction of work visa

The UK government has rejected demands for the re-introduction of the post-study work visa that was popular between Indian and other overseas students from outside the European Union (EU). Prime Minister David Cameron Wednesday turned down the Scottish government's demand in the House of Commons. He said, the brightest and best of students should not come in UK and do menial jobs.

In his reaction, Europe and International Development Minister Humza Yousaf from the Scottish National Party, said the UK government's decision is deeply disappointing and damaging to Scotland. The demand for the visa's reintroduction had received cross-party support in the Scottish Parliament.

class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">UK had abolished the Tier-1 Post-study Work Visa in 2012. The Visa allowed non-EU international students to stay back in the UK for two years after completing their course so as to work and earn some money before returning to their home country.

The number of Indian students coming to the UK fell from over 18,535 in 2010-11 to 10,235 in 2012-13, according to a report by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.