The UK government has announced a new immigration policy aimed at overseas students, including those from India, which will significantly impact their ability to bring dependents to the country while studying at a British institution. Under the new measures, only international students enrolled in postgraduate courses designated as research programs will be allowed to bring their family members as dependents.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman, an Indian-origin minister, revealed the need for these changes after a substantial increase in the number of visas granted to dependents of sponsored students. The figures rose from 16,000 in 2019 to approximately 136,000 in the year ending December 2022, prompting the government to implement stricter regulations.
In a written statement to the House of Commons, Braverman highlighted the key elements of the new package of measures. In addition to limiting the right of international students to bring dependents, the government plans to prevent students from switching out of the student route onto work routes before completing their studies. The maintenance requirements for students and their dependents will also be subject to review.
The UK government intends to collaborate with universities in the coming year to develop an alternative approach that ensures the brightest and best students can bring dependents to the country’s world-leading institutions while simultaneously reducing net migration.
While the majority of students are not expected to be affected by these proposals, further details are necessary to assess the full impact of the changes. Jamie Arrowsmith, Director of Universities UK International (UUKi), emphasized the need for information regarding the programs that fall within the scope of the new regulations. Arrowsmith also highlighted the potential disproportionate impact on women and students from specific countries and urged the government to work with the sector to limit and monitor such effects.
The announcement comes as the UK’s net migration figures continue to rise, despite the Conservative Party-led government’s pledge to reduce immigration following Brexit. The new measures are expected to be enforced promptly after consultations with the educational sector and other stakeholders.
The UK has recently seen a surge in Indian students, surpassing Chinese nationals as the leading nationality granted study visas. In the 2020-21 academic year, Indian first-year enrolments reached 87,045, trailing China’s 99,965 and surpassing Nigeria’s 32,945.
The Universities UK International (UUKi) expressed satisfaction with the confirmation that the new Graduate route visa, allowing students to remain in the UK for up to three years to gain work experience after completing their degrees, will remain open and competitive.
As the government aims to strike a balance between attracting talented students and reducing net migration, the impact of these new restrictions will be closely monitored in the months to come.
