UK student visa: The revised regulations became operative on January 1, 2024. Students on government-funded scholarships and postgraduate research projects will not be affected by the new regulations.
The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has made it illegal for international students to bring their families into the nation as part of the new regulations governing student visas. The revised regulations became operative on January 1, 2024. The 2024 New Year’s Day announcement was made. Students on government-funded scholarships and postgraduate research projects, however, will not be affected by the new regulations.
We are dedicated to achieving a significant reduction in migration. Starting today, incoming international students are no longer allowed to bring their family members to the UK. Exceptions will be made for postgraduate research or government-funded scholarship students, stated the UK Home Office in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Reiterating the information, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasized that the UK is making progress for its citizens in 2024. He announced, Starting today, the majority of international university students are ineligible to bring their family members to the UK. In 2024, we are already delivering results for the British people.
According to the UK Home Office, the changes are intended to reduce the number of dependents accompanying international students who use the student visa to work in the country. According to the changes first revealed by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman in May 2023, the United Kingdom is expected to lose approximately 1,40,000 people.
This government is following through on its promise to the British people to reduce migration. We have laid out a tough plan to rapidly reduce numbers, control our borders, and prevent people from manipulating our immigration system, which will be implemented throughout this year, said Home Secretary James Cleverly in a statement.
UK student visa: No family entry – essential details.
The changes will see migration falling rapidly by the tens of thousands and contribute to our overall strategy to prevent 3,00,000 people from coming to the UK, said the prime minister. The government will collaborate with universities to develop an alternative approach to attracting meritorious students to the UK, allowing them to bring dependents to the UK’s world-class universities while continuing to reduce net migration.
The UK Home Office also stated that the government would work with universities to develop an alternative strategy that would allow meritorious students to bring their dependents while reducing overall migration levels.
The minimum income threshold for British or settled individuals sponsoring family members to come to the UK will rise to £38,700 (Rs 40,75,155) by spring 2025. Additionally, the Migration Advisory Committee will be tasked with reviewing the Graduate route to prevent misuse and safeguard the integrity and quality of the UK higher education system, it stated.
Ratnavali