🔍 at’s the Issue?

• ThWhe UK does not conduct full exit checks at its borders. Instead, it relies on:
  • Airline, sea, and rail data.
  • Matching that with visa expiry dates.
• Because of this system, the Home Office does not know exactly who has left or stayed.
• Labour MP Clive Betts warned this creates a risk of visa overstayers disappearing into the “black economy” (working illegally without documentation or taxes).

📉 Net Migration Figures

• Net migration peaked at 906,000 in the year to June 2023, dropping to 728,000 in the year to June 2024.
• These numbers are “experimental” statistics and not fully accurate.
• There have been systematic errors, like underestimating EU migrants and overestimating othe

⚙️ Government Response

• A new Immigration White Paper is expected in May 2025, aimed at tightening the system.
• Reforms already in place include:
  • Higher salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas (£38,700 from £26,200).
  • Some exceptions apply (e.g., healthcare and teaching).

🎓 Impact on International Students

1. More Scrutiny, Less Clarity
   • With no reliable way to track exits, the burden of compliance may fall harder on legal migrants and students through stricter documentation and checks.
2. Perception & Policy Risks
   • International students may be unfairly implicated in debates about “overstaying,” which could fuel restrictive visa policies in the future.
3. Higher Barriers to Stay
   • The increased salary threshold means most international graduates (especially in non-STEM fields) may struggle to transition from student to work visas, forcing them to leave the UK or work illegally.
4. Uncertainty & Anxiety
   • The unclear exit tracking system and upcoming immigration reforms may discourage students from choosing the UK as a destination, affecting universities and students alike.