SAMAJ WEEKLY UK
Leicester, 11 July — The Indian Workers Association (Great Britain) (IWA (GB)) has welcomed a change to the UK’s Immigration Rules that will provide greater legal certainty for children born in Britain to parents holding Graduate Route visas, while expressing concern over the Government’s planned reduction of the Graduate Route from two years to 18 months for most new applicants from January 2027.
Under the revised rules, a child born in the UK during a parent’s Graduate Route permission will be able to apply from within the UK as that parent’s dependant. The IWA (GB) said the amendment removes an unfair gap in the previous Immigration Rules and provides greater certainty for families living lawfully in Britain.
Commenting on the changes, Sital Singh Gill, General Secretary of the IWA (GB) and an Immigration Expert, said the organisation supported practical reforms that protected children but believed the reduction in the Graduate Route was a step in the wrong direction.
“International students contribute billions of pounds each year to the UK economy and make an important contribution to our universities, research, businesses and public services. While we welcome this positive change for UK-born children, reducing the Graduate Route from two years to 18 months risks making Britain less competitive in attracting talented students from around the world.”
Mr Gill also urged students and their families not to be misled by inaccurate claims circulating on social media.
“The new rule does not automatically grant British citizenship to every child born in the UK. It simply enables eligible UK-born children of Graduate Route holders to apply for immigration permission as dependants under the revised rules.”
The IWA (GB) called on the Government to reconsider the planned reduction in the Graduate Route and adopt an immigration policy that is fair, evidence-based and recognises the valuable contribution international students make to British society.
