UK Tightens Student Visas, Sees Drop in Dependents and Applications

The UK government is celebrating a significant decrease in student dependents after introducing stricter visa regulations. Home Office data shows an nearly 80% drop in dependents accompanying international students, alongside a decline of over 26,000 student visa applications, when compared to the same period in 2023.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to social media, praising the new rules for achieving this outcome. The changes, implemented in January, limit most international students from bringing family members and prevent them from switching visas before finishing their studies. These measures target concerns about students using visas to gain unauthorized work.

The Home Office, under Home Secretary James Cleverly, aims to regain public trust in immigration, reduce pressure on public services, and protect wages through these reforms. Additionally, further restrictions on post-study work opportunities are expected, potentially impacting the number of Indian students choosing UK universities.

The government’s broader plan to manage migration includes limitations on dependents for care workers and higher salary requirements for skilled workers. These initiatives align with Prime Minister Sunak’s priorities before the upcoming election, which include stricter deportation policies and incentives for voluntary relocation of undocumented immigrants.