On 23/05/2023, the Home Office announced to stop international students from bringing their families to the UK.
The new reforms will come into effect for students starting in January 2024
The new government restrictions seek to reduce net migration and ban people from using a student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK.
The Guadian on 23/05/2023 provided that "Nigeria had the highest number of dependants of student visa holders in 2022, with 60,923. Indian nationals had the second highest number of dependants, with an increase from 3,135 in 2019 to 38,990 in 2022, followed by students from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka"
Under the new rule, only overseas students on courses designated as research programmes, such as PhD students or research-led masters courses, will be able to bring dependants with them.
To prevent misuse of the visa system, overseas students will be stopped from switching from the student visa route to work routes until their studies have been completed.
The government keep the immigration policies under review to ensure they deliver the net immigration cut to the public. The government will also review the funds students must have to demonstrate they can look after themselves and their dependants in the UK, as well as clamp down on unscrupulous international student agents who may be supporting inappropriate applications.
Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-student-visa-route-will-reduce-net-migration
