The UK government has reduced the Graduate Route visa duration from two years to 18 months as part of a broader crackdown on what it terms “systemic abuse and mission drift” in international education, asylum, and family immigration. This change, unveiled in an Immigration White Paper on Monday, comes alongside stricter university compliance requirements, a legal overhaul of asylum and deportation rulings, and enhanced enforcement measures to combat visa fraud. “Migration must be controlled and compliant. Our reforms will close the backdoors and shut down abuse across the system,” the Home Office stated on its website. Graduate Route Shortened, Sponsors Face Scrutiny The Graduate Route — previously offering two years of post-study work rights — will now offer only 18 months, with a tighter pathway to work visas and fewer rights to bring dependants. “The Graduate Route has not met its original objectives. “It has become a loophole for unsponsored work and a magnet for abuse,” the document said. Only institutions meeting “enhanced compliance standards” will be allowed to retain international recruitment licenses. Universities found to have low progression-to-work rates or engaged in misleading recruitment practices will face sanctions. “We will take action against sponsors who undermine the integrity of the system,” it added. Asylum Claims’ New Rejection Rules The asylum system will also be restructured. Applicants whose home country conditions have not materially changed — or who fail to claim upon arrival — may now be automatically refused under new admissibility rules. “We will prevent late, opportunistic asylum claims and re-establish control over our border.