Closed petition: Exempt students who arrived before July from changes to visa/settlement rules

Closed on 26 March 2026

Maintain the 2-year Graduate Route for students who arrived before July 2025 and allow transition to the Skilled Worker visa under pre-July 2025 rules, with a clear 5-year residency pathway to ILR.

International students can invest over £30,000 in tuition, pay taxes, costly health surcharges, and upfront rent while using minimal NHS services as many are young and healthy. Many work in customer service, regularly pay landlords, and support housing and local economies. Yet we face ongoing uncertainty and repeated threats to leave if permits are not secured. We are not a burden but committed contributors who we think deserve fairness, stability, and the clear post-study pathway that was originally available.