The UK is intending to allow only international students studying for “high-value degrees” to bring their immediate family members like spouses and children. Rest will be banned from this advantage.
A piece of news published by The Times suggests that international students who have taken up science, mathematics and engineering can bring their families to the country. They will also be restricted from bringing their dependants to the UK unless they have taken up higher level courses such as masters or PhD.
Recently, the UK has seen an eight times rise in the number of family members joining foreign students. The immigration statistics show that around 5 lakh students received visas in 2022. About 135,788 dependents accompanied them up from 16,047 in 2019.
Indians became the largest source of international students with numbers touching 1,61,000. The number of dependants was 33,240. The report also stated that the asylum backlog has reached a record high with more than 1,60,000 migrants waiting for decision applications. The UK government is still to take any final call on this disputed matter.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has already drafted proposals to reduce the numbers with steps to cut down the stay-back period for international students in the UK.
The Education Department, however, will protest the move as UK universities are heavily dependent on foreign students for money and bankrupt them.
As per estimates, international students contribute 35 billion pounds a year to the UK’s economy.
It is not only just through the fees of GBP 10,000 to GBP 26,000 but also through the NHS surcharge of GBP 400 for students and GBP 600 for dependants.
Also Read: UK Launches New Expert Panel to Create Better International Education Strategy
It is forecasted that such restrictions on post-graduate work visas will drive Indian students to countries like Canada and Australia and destroy the UK’s international student market.
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Source: Economic Times
