International MBA graduates in UK get a year to stay on for work

  LONDON: The British home office on Saturday relaxed immigration rules that will allow international MBA graduates from British universities and other higher education institutions to stay in the United Kingdom for up to a year after graduating as part of the expanded graduate entrepreneur scheme.   Up to 1,000 will be able to stay to develop their own business idea or work in a start-up, after which they can apply to stay in the UK as a skilled worker or an entrepreneur.  Additionally, the changes will create greater flexibility for successful PhD students by allowing them to stay on after their studies for up to a year and work, without having to switch routes. These changes expand the existing options for international students to stay and work after their studies.   There is no limit on the number who can obtain a Tier 2 visa to stay and work, providing they can get a graduate-level job paying £20,300 or more.   The number of students coming from India to study at UK universities registered a fall of nearly 23.5% last year, including a 28% drop at postgraduate level. The rules will also benefit Indian businessmen coming into UK. Intra-company transferees (ICTs) who are paid more than £152,100 will no longer need to take an English test if they want to extend their stay in the UK. The government is also reducing the number of documents that need to be shown by ICTs to prove they have worked for the company for more than a year.   TOI