University of Michigan Graduates Eligible for UK Work Visas

Under the UK government’s policy allowing graduates to submit applications for short-term visas in the United Kingdom, students completing studies at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor are now eligible for this type of visa.

According to the UK government, the policy is known as the High Potential Individual Visa (HPI) and gives permission to students who graduate from top eligible universities within the past five years to live in the UK for two years.

“A High Potential Individual (HPI) visa gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years. To apply, you must have been awarded a qualification by an eligible university in the last 5 years,” the UK government notes.

Ph.D. students or those holding other doctoral qualifications can stay in the UK for three years under this type of visa.

As The Michigan Daily reports, students are required to pay £715 or $904 to apply for the visa, as well as the qualification status veridiction fee and an additional immigration health fee.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has been ranked 20 among the top 50 universities that were qualified during the period between November 1, 2021, and October 31, 2022.

According to the UK government, an HPI visa is issued only once, while other qualifications that go along with it are proof of English proficiency and a saved amount of at least £1270.

Under an HPI, students are allowed to do the following:

• work in most jobs
• look for jobs
• be self-employed
• live in the UK with their partners and children, if they’re eligible
• volunteer
• travel abroad and return to the UK

HPI visa doesn’t allow students to apply for public funds or the State Pension, to work as a professional sportsperson, extend their visa, or stay permanently in the UK.

HPI vias can’t be extended; nevertheless, individuals can switch to another type of visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa.

The University of Michigan is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which was established in 1817. Back in 2019/20, the university was ranked the top public university in the US by QS World University Rankings.

The institution offers free tuition for students whose family members receive $65,000 or under annually.

Recently, a survey by the education analysts QS involving 100,000 international students suggested that international students would be more likely to decide to study in the UK if they would be allowed to stay in the country for more than two years after completing their studies.