London: In a blow to foreign students, including Indians, studying in the United Kingdom (UK), the government there has cracked down on the visa rights of immigrants to bring dependent family members into the country while enrolled in British institutions.
UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in a written statement to the House of Commons that currently only international students of postgraduate courses designated as research programs are allowed to have members of their family, including children and elderly parents, as their dependents. Will be allowed to bring.
The Indian-origin minister said the new package of measures was necessary after nearly 136,000 visas were granted to dependents of sponsored students in the year ending December 2022 – a more than eightfold increase from 16,000 in 2019.
“This package includes: Removing the right of international students to bring dependents unless they are currently on postgraduate courses designated as research programmes,” notes Braverman’s statement.
Removing the ability for international students to switch from student routes to work routes before the completion of their studies and reviewing maintenance requirements for students and dependents are listed among other new measures.
The minister also promised to take steps to crack down on unscrupulous education agents who “may be endorsing improper applications to sell education not immigration”.
The new package also lists improved and more targeted enforcement activity.
“The terms of the graduate route will remain unchanged… We are committed to attracting the brightest and best people to the UK. Therefore, it is our intention to work with universities over the next year to develop an alternative approach that ensures the best and brightest students can bring dependents to our world-leading universities while reducing net migration, “He said.
The new restrictions are expected to come into force “as soon as possible” after consultation with the educational sector and key stakeholders.
The crackdown was widely expected after reports indicated the latest UK net migration figures to be released later this week would show a massive increase of 504,000 between June 2021 and 2022, while the Conservative Party’s led government had pledged to reduce immigration in the wake of Brexit. ,
Jamie Arrowsmith, director, said “the vast majority of students will be unaffected by proposals that limit the ability to live with dependents, with more information needed on the programs in scope before a proper assessment of the impact can be made.” UK Association of Universities International (UUKI) – the representative body for the 140 UK universities.
“Nevertheless we know that any changes are likely to have a disproportionate impact on women and students in some countries. Therefore, we urge the government to monitor and limit the impact on particular groups of students – and the universities that To work with the sector, who are already in dire financial straits.
,With inputs from PTI,
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