Create & grant a 5-year visa for students who worked in the UK for a year

Background

We call on the Government to grant a 5-year work visa to international students who have worked legally in the UK for at least 1 year. This should be a direct pathway to residency based on BACS-verified tax contributions, independent of a single employer's sponsorship.

Additional details

Many international students contribute to the UK economy for years via PAYE but may face deportation or employer exploitation due to the restrictive sponsorship system. By granting a visa based on verified HMRC/BACS history, the UK could retain vetted talent and increase tax revenue. This could reward legal migrants, many of whom are the backbone of the economy, and eliminate what we believe are exploitary conditions created when a visa is tied to a single employer, which may lead to financial extortion.

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