Based on the content provided, the sentiment of this individual, an international student from Hong Kong who is now working in the UK, can contribute to understanding broader international student sentiments on several themes:
- Visa/Immigration Processes:
– Sentiment: Generally Neutral to Negative
– Insights: The mention of the Skilled Worker visa highlights concerns regarding job mobility and the restrictions tethered to employer sponsorship. The flexibility offered by the BNO visa is attractive due to reduced dependencies on specific employers, which can be seen as a positive move towards greater freedom. However, there are underlying anxieties about the security and reliability of visas, especially influenced by family perceptions—specifically the potential revocation by UKVI, leading to a negative outlook on visa stability.
- Job Prospects and Post-study Opportunities:
– Sentiment: Positive and Opportunistic
– Insights: The individual is actively considering job switches to enhance career prospects, such as attaining a better salary or location, indicating optimism about the availability of better jobs. The ability to switch to a BNO visa for more job prospects signifies a positive view of the UK job market, albeit tied to concerns about visa processes.
- Financial Implications:
– Sentiment: Neutral
– Insights: While acknowledging the costs associated with switching visas (application fee and IHS), the individual expresses financial capacity to handle these expenses, reflecting neutral sentiment towards cost, which is not prohibitive but part of the planning process.
- Social Integration and Personal Well-being:
– Sentiment: Negative
– Insights: There’s evident dissatisfaction in personal circumstances (“beginning to not enjoy my role”) which could reflect broader challenges in social integration or job satisfaction for international students who transition into the workforce. This highlights a potential struggle with job alignment, possibly exacerbated by visa constraints.
Overall Themes and Sentiments:
- Academic Quality/Courses: Not directly addressed, hence no sentiment detected.
- Reputation and Specific University Insights: Not addressed as this content is post-university experience.
- Social Integration and Culture: Implicitly, dissatisfaction with the role and location suggests that more could be done to enhance social integration and cultural satisfaction, though not explicitly mentioned.
- Changes in Sentiment Over Time: There is a trend towards seeking more job freedom and flexibility post-study, particularly tied to visa options. This suggests patience for initial employment but increased dissatisfaction/push for change as individuals approach key immigration milestones like Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Institution-Specific Insights:
While specific universities are not mentioned, the transition from student life to a working professional underlines areas for improvement:
- Enhanced support for international students transitioning to permanent roles.
- Clearer guidance on navigating immigration systems post-graduation and a focus on integrating cultural acclimation into post-study career support.
Conclusion:
The main pain points are related to visa constraints affecting job mobility and perceptions of job security, with a positive outlook on future opportunities provided by more flexible visa options. Improving post-study support, addressing visa- and job-related insecurities, and advocating for greater transparency in immigration policies would be beneficial steps
Hello people of reddit,
I’m from Hong Kong based in the UK, currently working at a software engineer at a company sponsoring my Skilled Worker visa (I’m 1/5 years in for ILR).
I’m beginning to think about switching jobs for numerous reasons:
- Pay bump at other companies
- I’m beginning to not enjoy my role
- Want to relocate
A lot of jobs have ‘do you require sponsorship’ in their form – I can see how it is advantageous to not require sponsorship.
I initially chose Skilled Worker over BNO as my company was willing to pay for the whole process + fees which I’m very grateful for, but that does not change my current dissatisfaction.
I had an idea – what if I switched to a BNO visa? One immediate downside would be the application fee + IHS for 4 years, and I suppose the application time, but:
- I can afford to pay and wait
- This wouldn’t affect my 5 year clock for ILR
- Most importantly, this would relieve me from having to be restricted to companies willing to sponsor my visa.
My HK-born dad who is mistrustful of the UKVI / UK government, is opposed to this as there are risks, e.g. they could revoke the visa at any time. Are there instances of this happening? Are these risks true? Is this even a good move?
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