uk government bans students from bringing
The UK is known for its great universities and has always attracted students worldwide.
Over the years, the UK’s visa rules for students have changed often to reflect current societal and political needs.
However, With effect from, 1st January 2024, the UK Home Office has enforced new rules for student visas, impacting international students’ ability to bring family members to the UK as dependants unless they are engaged in PhD studies or postgraduate
research programs.
The UK government announced that. These changes will impact the rights of student dependants, and the switch from a student visa to a work visa. these changes are aimed at limiting the number of dependants accompanying international students to the UK.
On 23rd May 2023, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced in a written statement that the government would be “removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as
research programs”. These restrictions were introduced as a response to the government’s aim to reduce net migration to the UK, whilst maintaining its promise made under the International Education Strategy to increase the number of international students in UK higher education to 600,000 each year by 2030.
This announcement was confirmed in the government’s Statement of Changes on 17th July 2023, which set out the amendments to the Student Visa application process, the rights of Student dependants, and the transition from the Student Visa to work visas.
The changes affect students who applied after 3 pm on 17th July 2023 for a course starting on or after 1st January 2024.
Furthermore, students must complete their studies and secure a job with a start date after graduation to be able to switch to a work visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa. This also applies to PhD students who must finish at least 24 months of their program before applying.