Britain’s Home Secretary, James Cleverly, has announced the end of the practice of overseas students bringing their family to the UK as visa route restrictions come into effect on Monday. The ban will affect all students, except those enrolling in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarships. The move aims to cut migration by tens of thousands, according to Cleverly. Experts warn that this restriction may negatively impact universities relying on foreign student fees and could harm the UK’s reputation as an international destination.
As of Monday, international students starting courses in Britain are no longer allowed to obtain visas for their dependents, unless they are on a postgraduate research programme or a government-sponsored course. The revised figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed a record net migration figure of 745,000 in the year to December 2022, prompting the government to implement stricter measures to control immigration.
