UK New VISA Rules 2024: How it will Affect Indian Students and Workers?
Introduction :
In January 2024, the UK government updated new VISA rules, which will have significant effects on international students, including those from India as well. Of all the changes two major pointers stand out as worrying factors among students. Firstly, international students won’t be able to bring their families on student VISAs unless they are enrolled in a specific research or program. Secondly, students cannot switch to a Work VISA without completing their studies they applied for.
However, those students who have started their courses in September 2023 can still bring their families. So, if you are an Indian student or worker considering going to the UK, it’s crucial to understand all these major changes and its implications.
In this blog we will discuss how UK New VISA Rules and changes will impact Indian students and workers in the UK.
Understanding the Impact of UK New VISA Rules on Indian Students and Workers
The United Kingdom has recently made a lot of changes to its Student VISA rules. Starting from 1 January 2024, international students coming to study for the undergraduate programs in the UK won’t be able to bring their family members like parents, spouse, or childrens with them.
Earlier, students coming to the country for higher studies could bring their families, but this has now changed. In June 2023 alone, out of half a million UK Student VISAs, about 154,000 were for students’ family members. A significant chunk of these VISAs belonged to Indians. Additionally, if students are enrolled in PhD programs, they need to study for at least two years before they can apply for a work VISA according to the UK New VISA Rule. They also need to finish their studies and have a job placement or opportunity for the same, before switching to their work VISA.
The UK government is also looking at changing the rule that lets students stay beyond two years after their studies to ensure the system isn’t misused. These VISA changes are part of their broader plan for immigration cut.
How will UK New VISA Rules affect Indian Students particularly?
The UK has been a popular destination for Indian students wanting to study abroad for higher studies due to its perceived ‘value for money’ in comparison to the other popular study destinations like US, Singapore, Australia etc. However, according to the UK New VISA rule, foreign students can no longer bring their family members, except for those pursuing PG courses or enrolled in research courses or studying on government-funded scholarships.
In 2023, the UK government issued nearly 500,000 sponsored study VISAs out of which nearly 1/3rd approved to Indian students. This has marked a significant increase of 54% compared to the previous year (2022). Indian students now hold almost 7 times the number of study VISAs compared to 2019, and this number is expected to increase in the next academic year 2024-25.
Additionally, the Graduate immigration route, which allows students to stay in the UK for further job opportunities and placement after completing their Undergrad. PostGrad. etc is under review. The proposed changes, along with the restrictions on student families, could impact around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year. Student groups and experts have expressed widespread concerns.
Some students highlight the challenges of securing employment post-graduation due to increased VISA qualification rates. The changes in UK New VISA rules are causing students to reconsider the feasibility of pursuing higher education and career opportunities in the UK.
Challenges for Foreign Students in the UK
Karan Bilimoria, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, expressed concerns about the UK potentially missing out on top-tier Master’s students. He highlighted the importance of students being able to bring their dependents, such as family, while studying. Bilimoria shared that even prestigious institutions like the London Business School have a significant number of students who bring their families. If such students can’t bring their dependents due to new regulations, the UK risks losing these students.
Additionally, experts have pointed out potential negative effects on students’ mental health. Mayank Maheswari, from University Living, mentioned that students might face financial strain if they have to arrange childcare or send their dependents back to their home countries. This separation could also lead to feelings of loneliness and emotional challenges, affecting their overall well-being.
On the other hand, the UK’s Home Office believes that recent VISA changes ensure the UK remains an attractive destination for international students. They aim to ensure that universities focus on education rather than promoting immigration. However, the government is open to collaborating with universities to find ways for exceptional students to bring their dependents while still controlling overall migration.
Recently, further measures were announced by Cleverly. These include stricter rules for health and care VISAs, making it harder for overseas care workers to bring their dependents. Additionally, there will be a significant increase in the salary requirements for the Skilled Worker route, impacting those who wish to sponsor family members to join them in the UK.
UK New VISA Rule for Workers
As already discussed above, the UK government’s new VISA rule will now prohibit overseas social care and health workers from bringing their families with them to the UK. This recent move by the UK will make it harder for workers to travel to the UK, leading to fewer staff in these important roles. The government has also increased the minimum wage amount earned by workers to bring their family members from another country to live with them, from £18,600 to £38,700 per year.
In 2023, the number of people moving to the UK, minus those who are leaving, was 745,000, which is relatively higher than the 184,000 in 2019 before the COVID pandemic. This information is released by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
Recently, Rishi Sunak, PM of the United Kingdom has said that they have finished reviewing many older asylum applications, but they did not approve as many as before. However, there are still about 99,000 asylum applications waiting for final approval. Out of this 4,500 cases are particularly complicated and may involve security issues mentioned by Home Secretary, James Cleverly.
Rights and Benefits for Student or Workers Families in the UK under Amended Rules
In the UK, families usually get permission to live legally, and adults can work. They can use the National Health Service (NHS) for healthcare and enrol their children in schools. They can also travel in and out of the UK as long as the main VISA holder’s VISA is valid. The time of their VISA matches the main VISA holder’s. It’s good to check the UK Home Office or the VISA program’s official website for the latest information on student’s families rights.
Rights of International Student Families in Different Countries:
Different countries have different rules for international student dependents.
- In the US, they can live and work legally, but healthcare and school access depend on their VISA type.
- In Australia, they can work and send their kids to school, but healthcare might vary.
- In Canada, family members can live, work, and access healthcare and schools.
- In the EU, rights change from one country to another. Theyusually get to live legally, go to school, use healthcare, and work based on the country's rules.
