ESN has conducted a survey in the context of the European Commission’s proposal on a new Directive on entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, pupil exchange, remunerated and unremunerated training, voluntary service and au pairing. The proposal combines the Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC aiming to contribute to achieving the goals defined in the EU 2020 strategy. The study provides useful insights into the current situation of young people that want to travel and live abroad.

Differences in the conditions for EU travel between EU/Schengen citizens and non-EU/Schengen citizens as well as between non-EU/Schengen citizens from privileged countries and those from comparatively poorer countries constitute a challenge for intra-European mobility. The report presents an in-depth analysis of these challenges in terms of visas and residence permits.

The survey has been addressed to individuals who have previously applied either for a visa or a residence permit, especially to non-EU/Schengen citizens entering the EU and vice versa, resulting in a total sample of 2.100 experiences on both visas and residence permits. The results can be found in detail in the final report of the study. Read more...

Visas & Residence Permit Report.pdf.

By John Morgan. The immigration minister has accused universities of creating “a self-fulfilling prophecy for bad news” on student visas. Appearing before peers yesterday, Mark Harper also admitted the government had failed to get its messaging right on changes to post-study work for overseas students – but repeated his opposition to taking students out of the net migration figures.
Mr Harper appeared to suggest that public criticism of the Home Office’s policies by universities had alarmed potential overseas students about coming to study in the UK. More...