The UK was
expected to announce its key updates regarding the net migration, and the
latest proposals have been out and are expected to impact international
students.
During the
last year, net migration was at its highest level; consequently, significant
changes and policy implementations were strongly expected.
However, the
UK Home Office and the Department for Education recently issued new
restrictions directly affecting student visa routes.
The
government has decided to cut the net migration levels while protecting the economic
benefits the international community is bringing to the UK.
Undoubtedly,
international students have remained a primary contributor to the UK economy
and a significant supporter of the prestigious education system in the UK. Any
harsh immigration measures affecting international students can also negatively
impact the economy.
The UK
previously allowed international students to bring dependents to the UK while
on study visas, and the stats showed that last year, the UK issued 485,758 student visas and 135,788 visas for dependents.
So, the new
policy suggests that restrictions will be applied to the student visa routes,
subsequently cutting down the net migration rates. With this,
international students can only bring their dependents on all post-graduate
research routes.
Right after
this implementation, international students coming to the UK on study visas
will not be allowed to bring their families to the UK except for those coming
for Ph.D. and exceptional research work in the UK.
Furthermore, it has also been noted that most students use
the study visa permits as a backdoor route to work in the UK, and similarly,
these inappropriate applications will also be contained, and strict
implementations are expected to be followed.
Right
after this, the UK is set to reduce the immigration numbers to 150,000
applicants with this new restriction to bring families to the UK.
The move comes amid concerns that people are manipulating the
student visa system to seek permanent residency in the UK. Current laws enable
students on a nine-month or more comprehensive study to bring family and then
stay in the UK for two years after graduation under the graduate visa program,
which permits foreign nationals to live in the UK without working.
It is also worth noting that the proposals announced will not
detract from the govt strategy for international education. Furthermore, the UK
has also targeted accommodating 600,000 international students by 2030.
These proposals don’t mean the immigrants will be barred from
entering the UK. However, multiple pathways for UK immigration still have a higher
potential for UK immigration prospects.
With the numerous pathways to UK Immigration, you can pave
your path and navigate the complex immigration of the UK with the expert
consultation of Global Migrate.
Enabling you to pursue your immigration process with various
pathways, including UK Startup Visa, an Innovator Founder Visa, and numerous
accessible options, we can assist you with the process, thus helping you to
become a permanent resident in the UK, a skilled worker, or even an
entrepreneur setting up your business in the country.