So as a student, I'm just wondering when official changes will be made...
After completing my master's, I was planning on applying for the Tier 1 Post-Study work visa. Does it sound to any of you like this is going to be taken away? Will it help that my entire degree is based on scientific research? Or is it starting to sound like I'm better off marrying my (british) boyfriend of ~4 years.
I'm guessing no one has the real answers to these questions as of yet, but maybe someone has some sort of insight?
The faster you can move to a track that will lead to settlement the better IMO. Frankly all the time spent as a student (other than gaining you an excellent education) will not count for anything immigration wise -- which is the direction that they're heading.
Most likely what you'll see is a tightening of the rules particularly in the 'no switching' where you won't be able to move from a particular track visa into the family track which would then require that you left the UK, return to your home country in order to get the spouse visa. But that's speculation on my part.
IMO it's possible that they might take away the T1 PSW, they want the students to finish their education and leave the UK returning to their home country. They don't want them to stay. So it's possible (I don't know how probable) that the T1 PSW could go away since it really doesn't require (in my understanding) that the recipient actually participate in a skilled job, heck I've met a few students here in Derby that have finished their degrees at Derby University and have gotten a PSW and end up working at Starbucks or McDonalds just to be in the country longer...lots of them also have British SO's so it's just another way for them to stay longer without having to commit.
Just my 2p.
As far as when? UKBA is only required to give 28 days advance notice of any changes.