PSW visa strategies: transitioning from student to professional in UK

Recent changes in UK immigration policy mean that it can be quite complicated for a current or future international student to know how to apply for a job in the UK. Perhaps you are thinking of building a future in the UK or would like to spend a few years gaining experience before returning to your home country. Here’s a brief guide which can you help you practically navigate these complexities:

1)  Job Hunt Early

The first step is to start building up your CV early. British employers will like it if you already have work experience while your studying, for example through internships (ideally in the industry you would like to pursue after you graduate).

Then you will want to start looking for your first job early – preferably 6 months into your masters or in your 2nd/3rd year of your PhD. For the first 18 months, you can work without restrictions but keep in mind that you will need to find a job which can help you reach the salary threshold (graduate route: £33,400+) and skill level (RQF Level 6+) if you wish to stay in the UK longer than 18 months after graduation.

2)  Use Graduate Route Visa as a Bridge

Your first 18 months working essentially provide you with flexibility to find that higher salary role you will need to stay in the UK for longer. Despite the Graduate Route itself having no requirements, remember that you will need to hit quite a high salary and skill threshold after the 18th month if you wish to stay. Therefore, make sure that the first job you get is in a relevant industry and skillset which can allow you to reach the necessary salary threshold (either by staying in that company or being promoted elsewhere) after 18 months.

3)  Think About Your Goals Early on

Visa planning is complex and requires serious commitment. If your plan is only to spend 18 months in the UK, gaining some experience before moving home, then you need to worry about a lot less than someone who is planning on applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years on the Skilled Worker Visa. Depending on your aims, the sacrifices you might have to make (for example, choosing which industry to work in) will be different but so will the opportunities. While it is important to remain open to new opportunities in life, visa planning requires medium- to long-term thinking.