to reduce immigration, the government is now attacking student visas

A new measure aimed at limiting immigration across the Channel. The British government announced new rules for student visas, including a strict limitation on family reunification, on Tuesday May 23.

The prestigious British universities attract many foreigners, often at high prices. The new restrictions on student visas “will significantly reduce net migration by limiting the ability of foreign students to bring in family members”, the government said in a statement. These measures, which will come into force in January, concern all students “with the exception of postgraduate researchers”.

In addition, foreign students will no longer be able to switch from a student visa to a work visa before completing their studies. The government promises to act against the “unscrupulous officers” who use student visas as a migration route.

A labor shortage in several sectors

The country saw record net immigration of half a million people between June 2021 and June 2022, according to official statistics released in November. In 2022, around 136,000 visas were issued to dependents of foreign students, up from 16,000 in 2019, according to government figures. “We have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of dependents of students arriving in the country on visas. It is time for us to limit this route”said Interior Minister Suella Braverman, far to the right.

The issue of immigration control dominated debates during the campaign that resulted in the UK’s departure from the European Union. The figures for legal and illegal immigration have not declined since. At the same time, the United Kingdom has, since Brexit, faced a shortage of labor in several sectors, including agriculture and health.