The (long awaited) return of the MAC
Last week we finally saw the government commission the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the Graduate visa.
It had been anticipated for some time, following an announcement from the Home Secretary in December that the government were keen to ensure the visa “works in the best interests of the UK and to ensure steps are being taken to prevent abuse.”
Back then, we’d been told the MAC would be commissioned in January. Why it’s taken until now for the commission to be confirmed is unclear.
What is clear, is how quickly the MAC will need to work to respond to the Home Secretary’s deadline – having asked the committee to undertake a ‘rapid review’, meaning there will be no call for evidence, little scope for external evidence gathering, and a much more limited ability to conduct stakeholder engagement.
