Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of granting international medical students who have graduated early due to the covid-19 outbreak and are working for the NHS special dispensation to switch sponsors without having to apply for another visa.

International students with current Tier 4 visas can already work full-time following the completion of their course without switching sponsors, provided the conditions of their visa permit work.

During the Covid-19 outbreak, those applying for new visas under Tiers 2, 4 or 5 can commence work or study with their new sponsor before a decision is made on their application provided the relevant conditions outlined on Gov.uk are met. These details can be found at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents