“Post-Japa” expenses: What are the costs to consider when applying for the UK 2-year Graduate Visa?
In July 2021, the UK reintroduced the Graduate Visa after 9 years of closing the 2-year Post Study Work route in April 2012. This explains why there has been a high influx of international students coming to study in the UK. Many Nigerians have taken advantage of the opportunity provided by the Graduate visa, which gives you permission to stay in the UK for at least 2 years after successfully completing your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree while Phd holders can stay for 3 years after their studies. The UK higher education sector has experienced tremendous growth since 2021. In the year ending September 2022, there were 463,315 student visas granted. This has been a major funding boost for the UK economy.
Since the graduate visa was launched international student recruitment from Nigeria has increased by 686% in three years to a record high of 65,929. Typically, Nigerians take advantage of immigration “products” offerings from developed countries but this time there are indications of what likely fueled the “Japa Movement”. In October 2020, the #EndSARS campaign to end police brutality came to a tragic end with the military shooting at protesters. I believe the devastating end of #EndSARS gave birth to despair and the thought of #Japa which means “Flee”, became a trending word on social media. 6 months later, the UK graduate visa was launched with a ready market and the exodus from Nigeria began…
In recent years, many young Nigerians have chosen to study in the UK to benefit from the two-year graduate visa after. In no time, students with families joined the “Japawagon” in search of greener pastures but immigration products often come with a cost. I think people often think of the immediate immigration cost without considering the cost implications of extending or switching visas. Even getting indefinite leave to remain in the UK comes with a cost. It may be easy for a single person to bear this cost but paying for a family of 4+ is a lot. So, today I will share the cost of getting a graduate visa for a single applicant and those with dependents and other considerations.
After you have successfully paid your tuition fee which is often a struggle as many students have to pay in 3–7 instalments depending on the plan agreed by the school. You must successfully complete the course then the school will inform the Home Office that you have graduated. You also need to apply for a graduate visa before your student visa expires. The application fee for a 2 year graduate visa is £715. You also need to pay the famous immigration healthcare surcharge — this is usually £624 for each year you’ll be in the UK, which is £1248 for a 2 year visa. So let’s do the math, £624 + £1,248 = £1963 per person. So imagine coming to the UK with your spouse and two children, that’s £1963 = £7852.
As you study factor the cost of your graduate visa. By the way, a graduate visa does not count towards permanent settlement in the UK. If you end up pursuing a Phd and post doctoral programme, then you can add your time on a student and graduate visa to make up your 10 year route. It is a long time but people who can afford it do it. There are couples who take turns doing a PhD to qualify for the 10years route. Anyway, most people typically plan to switch to a Tier2 work visa, after 5 years on this visa you are eligible for indefinite leave to remain. So most people on a graduate visa spend 2 years trying to get a Tier 2 visa. This visa is sponsored by an employer mostly for skills that are in high demand.
Since the global pandemic, the UK the immigration has taken a somewhat “liberal” turn. In August 2020 the Health&Care Worker visa was launched. The health and care worker visa became a viable alternative as some students switched while studying or used it if they couldn’t find a job in their field before the end of their studies to avoid paying £1963 for graduate visa expenses. Some others apply for a 2-year graduate visa to buy more time to get a Tier 2 sponsorship visa. Before the end of 2 years some get a sponsorship visa. Another crop of people apply for Canada PR from the UK while on the graduate visa. If their sponsorship work doesn’t work out, they migrate to Canada.
The Tier 2 visa also comes with its own risks because it is tied to the employer you will be working for. If an employer shuts down, fires the employee on a tier 2 visa, the Home office gives 60 days window for the person to switch visa or leave the UK. Recently, some people working in Big tech whose contract got terminated have been given 60 days to sort themselves. It is also a similar situation with people on health and care visas whose employer’s sponsorship license was revoked. There are people who have sold everything to move to the UK on a healthcare visa only to get notification that they have 60 days to leave the UK. So for most immigrants, you are constantly looking for the right to remain in the UK…
Before you migrate, do extensive research, risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis to see if this is really the right move. You should also do a risk assessment if you are on a Tier 2 visa to avoid being caught off guard by your employer. I know someone who was on a Tier 2 visa for 4 years, only for the employer to terminate their contract in the fourth year. Just a year left for the person to permanently settle in the UK. This person had to return to Nigeria. If you are on Tier 2, continue to enrich your network. Also check if you are eligible for any of the global talent visa routes. With global talent you are not tied to any employer. This is for outstanding individual with a track record achievements in the field of digital technology, research and art& culture!
Emigration is not peculiar to only Nigerians. You will be surprised to learn how people from developed countries wish to move abroad. People emigrate for different reasons, for some it is to improve their quality of life, employment opportunities, increase their earnings, and security. If you really need to “Japa” you need to ask yourself why you are doing this and if you can afford it? If you are moving because you want to increase your earnings do you have the skills for high paying jobs? If you are leaving to improve your quality of life can you afford the quality of life in your destination?If you plan to join the”Japawagon” please give it a lot of thought, avoid regrets.
