Europe News Desk!! International students may be restricted from bringing their spouse and children to the UK unless they are pursuing a high-value degree under government schemes. According to The Times, dependents of overseas students who have been granted visas to study science, maths and engineering can be transferred elsewhere in the UK. The nearly eight-fold increase in the number of family members living with foreign students has worried Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman. According to new immigration figures, 490,763 student visas were granted last year. The total number of dependents, spouses and children living with these students is currently 135,788, compared to 16,047 in 2019.
Of these, India became the largest source of students to the UK with 161,000 students including 33,240 dependents coming to the UK last year. The report said more than 160,000 migrants are awaiting a decision on their applications, with the backlog reaching record levels. The government is yet to take a final decision on this controversial matter. Braverman has drawn up proposals to reduce the numbers, including reducing the length of time foreign students stay in the UK after a course. Restrictions on family gatherings will bankrupt UK universities, which depend on foreign students for money, according to the Department for Education.
According to estimates, international students add £35 billion to the UK economy annually. According to UK-based New Way Consultancy, overseas students and their dependents contribute to the UK economy not only through fees of £10,000 to £26,000 but also through an NHS surcharge of £400 per year for a student and £600 for a dependent. has contributed. The consultancy warned that curbs on visas for undergraduate studies would force Indian students to move to countries such as Australia and Canada, eventually leading to the end of the UK student market. According to government figures, in the past year more than 45,000 people crossed the Channel to Britain in small boats. 90 migrants crossed the Channel on Christmas Day alone.
–IANS
SGK/ANM
World News Desk!!!