The British government has unveiled a new immigration system that specifically targets foreign students, including those from India.
Under this system, students enrolled in British educational institutions will now have the opportunity to bring their dependent family members along with them.
In a statement presented to the House of Commons, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced that only international students currently pursuing.
postgraduate research programs will be eligible to bring their families as dependents. This includes children and elderly parents.
Braverman, who has Indian origins, emphasized the need for these immigration measures due to the significant rise in the number of visas granted to dependents of sponsored students.
In 2022, approximately 136,000 visas were issued to dependents, which is more than eight times the figure from 2019 (16,000).
As a result, international students will now need to be enrolled in postgraduate research programs in order to have the right to bring their dependents.
Alongside these changes, several other measures have been introduced. These include the removal of the option for international students to switch from student routes to work.
routes before completing their studies, as well as a review of the financial requirements for both students and their dependents.
Additionally, the government has pledged to take action against unethical education agents who endorse fraudulent applications.
Universities UK International (UUKI), the representative body for 140 UK universities, highlighted the benefits of the new Graduate Route visa.
This visa allows students to remain in the UK for three years after completing their degrees, providing them with valuable work experience.
Indian students have recently surpassed Chinese students as the largest group granted study visas to the UK, with approximately 90,000 to 100,000 Indian applicants.
