UK bans foreign students’ family members, work during studies

The United Kingdom has unveiled new measures aimed at reducing net migration, particularly through student visa routes.

Under the policy, students from Nigeria and other countries will face restrictions on bringing family members with them, except for those pursuing postgraduate research routes.

The government has also implemented a ban on using student visas as a means to gain employment in the UK. The high net migration, which exceeded 500,000 from June 2021 to June 2022, prompted this decision.

However, the UK reiterated its commitment to the International Education Strategy, recognizing the economic benefits that students contribute to the country.

The government clarified that the terms of the graduate route remain unchanged, with the reforms affecting students starting from January 2023.

To address concerns, the UK government pledged to collaborate with the higher education sector in exploring alternative options to ensure that talented students can still bring their dependents.

Additionally, in order to prevent misuse of the visa system, students will be required to complete their studies before switching from the student visa route to work routes.