The United Kingdom has implemented a law that will impact Nigerian students studying in the UK, restricting their ability to bring their families as dependents, unless there are specific circumstances involved.
This new law is part of the UK government’s goal to reduce immigration into the country, which currently stands at about 1 million people in the year ending June 2022, which is an increase of 435 000 from the previous year.
The UK will now remove the permission for international students to switch from a student visa to a work visa before completing their studies, aiming to prevent the misuse of the visa system.
This change will take effect in January 2024, allowing students who are starting their courses in the UK time to plan and adapt to the new rules.
The decision to implement these stricter laws follows indications that the UK government plans to take measures to decrease the number of immigrants entering the country through the study route.
In a written statement, Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary stated that recent immigration figures had shown an “unexpected rise” in the number of dependents coming to the UK alongside international students.
Braverman also mentioned that the increase occurred after the government committed to lowering net migration.
According to Braverman, while international education plays an important role in supporting the economy, it should not be prioritised over the government’s commitment to reduce overall migration.
Braverman further explained, “The package strikes the right balance between acting decisively on tackling net migration and protecting the economic benefits that students can bring to the UK.”
According to the Office for National Statistics or ONS, the estimated net migration from June 2021 to June 2022 was over 500,000.
The Home Office emphasised that these new rules are not intended to compromise the government’s commitment to reducing overall migration and ensuring that migration to the UK is highly skilled and provides the most benefit.
The proposal aims to allow the government to meet its International Education Strategy commitments while making a tangible contribution to reducing net migration to sustainable levels.
The Home Office also stated, “The proposals announced today do not detract from the success of the government’s International Education Strategy, including meeting the target to host 600,000 international higher education students studying in the UK each year by 2030, for two years running.“
The United Kingdom has introduced a law affecting Nigerian students, restricting their ability to bring in families unless specific conditions are met. This law aims to reduce the immigration rate, which rose to 1 million by June 2022, an increase of 435,000 from the previous year.
The UK will also discontinue the ability of international students to switch from student visas to work visas prior to completing their studies starting January 2024, to prevent visa misuse. This initiative is part of broader measures to reduce the number of immigrants entering through study routes.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman noted an unexpected rise in dependents accompanying international students, despite the government’s goal to lower net migration. Braverman emphasized the need to balance economic benefits from international education against the commitment to reduce overall migration.
The Office for National Statistics indicated a net migration of over 500,000 between June 2021 and June 2022. The Home Office reiterated that the new rules ensure migration to the UK remains highly skilled and beneficial, aligning with the International Education Strategy's goals without compromising on reducing net migration.
