Calls to introduce regional visas in Scotland
A think tank is calling to devolve migration powers to Scotland to protect the rights of EU citizens.
The Scottish Centre for European Relations (SCER) has recommended in its Future of Europe report introducing “regional visas” as one of its suggestions.
With the development of these visas, EU workers living in Scotland would have more of a chance of being able to stay in the country.
Solene Genty, a Belgian student, hopes to continue to live in Scotland once she graduates.
Ms. Genty is supportive of the idea of creating the visas.
She said: “I think it’s quite a good thing because it would enable me to stay in Scotland and live my life as I’ve been living it so far.”
“When you come to a country to study for so many years, you’re kind of hoping to continue your life in this country.
“You get to meet the people, it becomes your home after a few years. So, I think in that sense it would be great for students to be able to stay after studying.”
Ms. Genty has lived in Glasgow over the last four years to complete her undergraduate degree. She is now completing her postgraduate course.
Speaking of why she wants to stay longer, she said: “I’d be leaving behind a lot of my friends. Also, I thought I was going to stay, so there are a lot of plans that I’ve made but I would have to leave them behind if I had to go home.”
She added: “It would be quite heart-breaking to leave.”
