British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Monday that starting today, the majority of international university students will be prohibited from bringing their family members to the UK.
British PM Announces Ban On Students To Bring Family Members To The UK
The UK’s Home Office reiterated its dedication to a substantial reduction in migration and clarified that, effective immediately, new foreign students will no longer have the option to bring family members to the UK, except for postgraduate research or government-funded scholarship students who are exempt.
As per the tweet, “We are fully committed to seeing a decisive cut in migration. From today, new overseas students will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK. Postgraduate research or government-funded scholarships students will be exempt.”
We are fully committed to seeing a decisive cut in migration.
— Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) January 1, 2024
From today, new overseas students will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK.
Postgraduate research or government-funded scholarships students will be exempt. pic.twitter.com/QpwEf9BCfj
Last July, the Sunak government introduced changes to Immigration Rules impacting international students in the UK. As of January 2024, international students on Student visas will generally be unable to bring dependents, except for those enrolled in postgraduate research programs. Additionally, since July 17 of the previous year, international students cannot switch to work route visas unless they have completed their courses.
UK Government Plans To Increase Earning Threshold for Overseas Workers
Prime Minister Sunak, emphasizing the government’s commitment to reducing immigration, outlined measures such as restricting overseas students from bringing families unless pursuing postgraduate research degrees. He also mentioned ending salary discounts for shortage occupations and ensuring immigration benefits the UK.
In December 2023, Home Secretary James Cleverly unveiled a plan to significantly reduce migration levels, constituting the largest-ever reduction in net migration. The Home Office detailed a package of measures designed to curtail the influx of dependents, raise minimum salaries for overseas workers and sponsors, and combat exploitation within the immigration system.
Notably, the government plans to increase the earning threshold for overseas workers by almost 50%, from £26,200 to £38,700, starting next spring. This move aims to encourage businesses to prioritize British talent and deter excessive reliance on migration. The UK government will also raise the minimum income requirement for British citizens and settled individuals sponsoring family members.
Cleverly emphasized that the comprehensive plan would lead to the most substantial reduction in net migration, preventing around 300,000 people who arrived in the UK last year from doing so. The UK Home Office highlighted the prevalence of visas issued to workers and their dependents, particularly in the Health and Care Worker category, and expressed the need for stricter measures, building on the previously implemented restrictions on students bringing dependents.
