Under the announcement, partners and children of postgraduate students other than those studying on courses designated as research programmes will no longer be allowed to apply to live in the UK during the course. The latest study has concluded that most people need between 1.5 and 1.8 litres of water a day, lower than the two litres typically recommended. One vice-chancellor close to the discussions said it was not clear what the outcome would be, with conflicting views inside No 10 as well as among ministers. Further interventions are therefore likely needed (and Suella Braverman is pushing for them) if net migration is to fall significantly. The i says a major row is brewing within the cabinet because the Treasury is concerned that any drop in immigration could harm the economy, while Home Secretary Suella Braverman is determined to cut the numbers. Read about our approach to external linking. Most people wanting to work in the UK have to apply for a visa through a points-based system (PBS). It added that the majority of the remaining 39 per cent of students obtained additional visas or received visa extensions and are likely to have left in subsequent years. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. Tourists visit briefly, bring their families, fuel the economy and go home. November 24, 2022 1:01 pm (Updated 6:03 pm) The Government is considering clamping down on the number of foreign students travelling to the UK to study, after official Temporary work, like fruit picking, is covered by seasonal worker visas. A single cohort of international students is worth a net 25.9bn to the UK economy. In October 2022, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said her "ultimate aspiration" was to reduce net migration to the UK to the "tens of thousands". Several front pages report government plans to cut immigration after figures showed that net migration had reached a record high. He inherited them as they date back to to the year ending December 2022, two months after he became prime minister, The Sun reports. Before Brexit, European Union and UK citizens had the freedom to live, work or study in any EU country without needing a work visa. Universities UK said that measures making it harder for foreign students to study in the UK would ultimately push away valuable postgraduates who make a huge contribution to research and the skilled economy. students Ms Braverman recently made a speech at the National Conservatism Conference in which she said the UK needed to "get overall immigration numbers down", adding: "We mustn't forget how to do things for ourselves.". But Home Secretary Suella Braverman reportedly plans to cut the time students are permitted to remain in the UK after finishing their studies to just six months, which The Times reports has prompted a clash with Department for Education officials. That means net migration - which is the difference between the number of people arriving and leaving - stood at 606,000. How [reducing numbers] could foster growth, or not detract from growth, also escapes me, he continued. Universities UK says it has been in constant conversation with officials across several departments since becoming aware of the changes being pursued by the Home Office to reduce the UKs net migration numbers. WebHere are the estimated processing times for UK work visas in 2023: Tier 1 (Highly Skilled) Visa around 8 weeks. If granted, the visa lasts for up to five years before it needs to be renewed. The BBC spoke to two Nigerian students studying at Wolverhampton University. It also added that thegovernmentis committed to ensuring the immigration system works for business and encourages highly skilled people and high growth businesses to choose to locate and invest in the UK.. The latest breaking news, comment and features from The Independent. In contrast, for work visas, around two thirds of grants were to main applicants and one third to dependants. By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. 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The Times says foreign students may be barred from Britain unless they win a place at a top university, while those allowed in could have new restrictions imposed on bringing family members with them. Why are French police using guns during traffic stops? All rights reserved. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Visa around 3-4 weeks. What has Suella Braverman allegedly done wrong. The Sun reported that Tory MPs had recently been calling Mr Sunak to urge him to get a grip of the situation. An article published by The Telegraph claimed that Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is analysing the trend and data on the dependants as part of an immigration review which will aim to bring down the headline figure while also ensuring it boosts growth. The research also shows international students deliver a net economic benefit of 25.9 billion. These jobs have a lower salary threshold, making it easier for applicants to gain the required number of points to get a visa. The Daily Telegraph says it's been told by an NHS source that thousands of elderly patients could be stuck in hospitals for Christmas because of the strikes by nurses next month. Last year, the number of student visas issued to UK net migration hit 606,000 in 2022 - the highest figure ever recorded, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). And Tim Bradshaw, the chief executive of the Russell Group of universities, said he was concerned the new rules could have a "negative impact" on universities' plans to diversify their student intakes. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. All rights reserved. According to the Guardian, scientists have found that the recommendation to drink eight glasses of water a day - which often appears in health guidance - is likely to be excessive. The tabloids would love stories on international student dependants getting a free ride from the taxpayer. Vivienne Stern, the chief executive of Universities UK group (UUK), has told vice-chancellors that the government was revisiting ways to reduce net migration, with the future of the graduate student work visa in the spotlight. In a statement to Parliament, she added that the move "strikes the right balance" between bringing down migration and "protecting the economic benefits that students can bring to the UK". Who is the firm contracted by the Home Office to process UK visas? Labour said it will not oppose the measures because "proper enforcement" is "long overdue". He called on the government to work with universities to monitor the effect of the changes, adding they were "likely to have a disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries". 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. UK Student Visa How did Annies body end up on a Scottish beach? However, the prime minister has said that more seasonal workers would be allowed into the UK if there is a need for it. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Tourist who carved names into Colosseum wall unmasked, Martin Luther King Jrs last living sibling dies, Girl, 13, who vanished from party found safe and well, Womans leg amputated after becoming trapped under airports moving walkway, Phoney humanitarianism blocking plan to stop boats, Suella Braverman says, Suella Braverman asked civil servants to help her swerve speeding fine, Suella Braverman shot herself in the foot over speeding ticket, Do not sell or share my personal information. The proposal was backed by a majority at a conference of local medical committees on the grounds that longer hours adversely affect GPs who have children. And the Sun reports that David Walliams is stepping down as a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent. Adam Habib, director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, criticised the announcement as "a terrible decision" for three reasons: "First a financial challenge, second it raises issues of coherence in government, and third a human rights question.". There were 135,788 visas granted to dependants last year, a rise from 54,486 in 2021, and more than seven times the 19,139 granted in 2020. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you through the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning. Prof Hugh Brady, president of Imperial College London, said any attempt to cut international student numbers would damage universities and have a wider impact that he likened to limiting the number of tourists allowed to visit the UK. All rights reserved. Graduate visa: Overview - GOV.UK Student and Child Student visas are currently being processed within the service standard of 3 weeks. A move to limit foreign student numbers would also stoke tensions within Government over plans to reduce net migration, while also trying to plug gaps in the British workforce. The government has said 45,000 visas for seasonal workers will be available in 2023, with the potential to increase that number by a further 10,000 if necessary. A significant factor behind the rising migration numbers in recent years has been an increase in foreign students and their dependants arriving, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says. "Given this, some targeted measures to mitigate this rise may be reasonable," said Jamie Arrowsmith, the director of UUK's international arm. Instead, they referred back to 2022 Growth Plan presented to parliament by the chancellor of the exchequerKwasi Kwarteng which states that migration, in particular skilled and high-skilled migration, plays an important role in economic growth, productivity, and innovation. The Telegraph reports that Boris Johnson and Liz Truss are challenging Rishi Sunak's authority by joining Tory rebels demanding an end to the ban on new onshore wind farms. Students who have already completed their degree can stay in the UK for two years (three years for those with a doctoral degree) to work under a graduate visa. Far-right parties on the rise across Europe, The daring women standing up to troops in India, Mother of teenager killed in Iran tells of anguish. Read our, {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}. It comes after Home Secretary Suella Braverman said last month that the Government could introduce a cap on foreign student numbers in a bid to reduce overall immigration. The changes will come into effect for students starting their courses from January 2024 in order to allow future international students time to plan ahead. Misleading Home Office advice leaves Hong Kong protester Plans to restrict international student visas threaten UK Students from Nigeria were the next most common nationality of student visa holders, followed by Pakistan and Bangladesh. Half of those were granted to Indian and Chinese nationals. Home Office to stop overseas students bringing family to "We therefore urge the government to work with the sector to limit and monitor the impact on particular groups of students - and on universities, which are already under serious financial pressures.". 01403 582338. This is very useful to me. UK curbs on international student visas would be act of economic Students wey dey come UK wit visa go need provide documents to prove dia relationship to dependants, and dem go pay 490 for visa. Brady said that the overwhelming majority of international students left the UK after graduation, with the 97.5% compliance rate being the highest of any visa category, and almost all those who remained doing so legally. You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number, I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Many foreign students to lose right to bring family to UK Official immigration data gathering was disrupted during the Covid-19 pandemic and there have been considerable changes to the way the figures are collected. The ONS said it was possible that the lifting of Covid travel restrictions in 2021 meant more students arrived in the UK having previously followed their courses remotely. Who was Nahel M, shot by police in Nanterre? Wed 1 Feb 2023 05.37 EST Last modified on Wed 1 Feb 2023 06.10 EST Vice-chancellors fear billions of pounds could be lost because of new restrictions on international A points system was first adopted by the Labour government in 2008, when it applied to migrants from non-EU countries. The government has reshaped immigration policy to shift the balance of people coming to the UK to those with skills the UK needs, it continued. The move comes as official statistics are expected to confirm that net migration rose to more than 700,000 in the year to December 2022. WebLatest immigration news UK Government announces important changes from January 2024: bringing dependants, switching visas and maintenance Ukraine immigration schemes Reminder of working conditions as a Student Visa holder Graduate visa Zoom information sessions Changes to the Youth Mobility Scheme New Electronic Travel Authorisations Ministers are expected to announce further immigration clampdowns on Tuesday and Wednesday, including the formal confirmation of the new rules regarding international pupils. Foreign postgraduate students on non-research courses will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK, under new immigration curbs. Weekend Breaking News Editor. Government statistics show that between March 2021 to March 2022 there were particularly large increases in sponsored study visa grants to dependants from 23,765 to We expect net migration to hit 700,000 - a new record. The move comes as official statistics are expected to confirm that net migration rose to more than 700,000 in the year to December 2022. Read about our approach to external linking. PM Rishi Sunak told ministers the move would help bring migration down. UK Immigration Latest News Sign up for exclusive newsletters, comment on stories, enter competitions and attend events. Biden's $430bn student loan plan axed by top court, Designer can refuse gay couples, Supreme Court says, France deploys 45,000 police with more riots feared, US Supreme Court blocks Bidens $400bn loan forgiveness plan, What Titan sub wreckage can tell us about the tragedy, Camp spotted on suspected Wagner site in Belarus, The climate change-denying TikTok post that won't go away. The Guardian warns that the nurses' walkouts are likely to be the first in a series of strikes over the winter and into the spring by other NHS staff, including doctors and ambulance workers. Another new immigration rule Home Secretary Suella Braverman wanted to introduce was related to salary thresholds. Changes to student visa route will reduce net migration "At the same time, you know that you have the family there. Political reporter Published 23 May 2023 Photo: Getty Images New government restrictions to student visa routes will substantially cut net migration by restricting the ability for international Why limit their numbers?. WebPlease submit your details via our online enquiry form and our expert team will be in touch to progress your enquiry. The latest study has concluded that most people need between 1.5 and 1.8 litres of water a day, lower than the two litres typically recommended. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the jump was driven by "unique" factors including visa schemes for Ukrainians and Hong Kong citizens, and students arriving This means more EU nationals left the UK than arrived. The package will also remove the ability for international students to switch out of the student route and into work routes before their studies have been completed "to prevent misuse of the visa system", the government said. And the Sun reports that David However, any plans to curb foreign student numbers will lead to concerns over Britains soft power and the cost to British universities. Crucially, this figure excludes the tax and NI contribution of dependents working in the UK and so likely underestimates the total economic contribution that international students bring to the UK,Jamie Arrowsmith, acting director of Universities UK International, said. However shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "These measures still don't address the serious problem in the Conservatives' immigration system, which is their failure to tackle skills shortages and the 95% increase in work visas as employers increasingly turn to overseas recruitment while there isn't proper training or support for people to get back in the workplace in the UK. He says that without a way for overseas students to bring their family, "most people won't even consider leaving" - or might opt to study elsewhere instead. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "What this decision runs the risk of doing is making sure these institutions, these universities which are dependent on the fee income of international students, go through a financial crisis. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said the rise in dependants being granted visas was "unprecedented," and it was "time for us to tighten up this route to ensure we can cut migration numbers". 06/11/2022 Share On 18 October 2022, the Home Office has published changes to the immigration rules (HC719), which will affect applications of international students to study Student visa The Government is considering clamping down on the number of foreign students travelling to the UK to study, after official figures published on Thursday showed net immigration to Britain rose by record levels over the past year. January 25, 2023 7:32 pm (Updated 9:09 pm) Threats to impose new restrictions on visas for international students would harm UK As the weather gets warmer, more illegal immigrants are expected to make the dangerous journey across the The Department for Education clearly had an input on the issue of student visas, and it took repeated efforts by the Home Office to get an agreement on the new policy Students wey dey come UK wit visa go need provide documents to prove dia relationship to dependants, and dem go pay 490 for visa. However, this freedom of movement came to an end on 1 January 2021. Ms Braverman wanted to increase this threshold to 33,000 to match the average wage in the country, but the Treasury overruled the proposal. 2023 BBC. This represents a record high, and an increase of 118,000 on 2021. "Now is the time for us to make these changes to ensure an impact on net migration as soon as possible. Students on postgraduate courses could also apply for visas for qualifying dependants: husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner and any children under 18 years old. There were 372,500 postgraduates, of whom 46,350 are on research courses - the vast majority of them for PhDs, along with a small number of research-based masters degrees. Last year, the number of student visas issued to dependants stood at 136,000 - an eightfold increase from 2019, when 16,000 were provided. Ms Braverman said the increase was made after the government made its commitment to lower net migration. students @Journoamrogers. The economic impact is likely to take on greater urgency after the International Monetary Funds forecast that the UK economy is likely to shrink in 2023 and for growth to remain the lowest among industrialised countries into 2024. Students coming to the UK with a visa need to provide documents proving their relationship to dependants, who have to pay 490 for a visa. By Nick Duffy. Cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi also said last month that it was not right for international students to bring multiple dependents into the country with them because we have to make sure that theyre coming to legitimately study here. Its efforts have been focused on defending the graduate work visa. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said attracting top students "isn't just good for our universities - it's essential for our economy and building vital global relationships". The proposal, also backed by Robert Jenrick, was overruled by the Treasury. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. Man who carved on Colosseum was UK tourist - Italian police, Two dead as man opens fire at Moldova airport. Large numbers of degree programmes in science and engineering would not be viable without international students. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to reduce net migration when he entered Downing Street last year but hes likely to come out fighting on these figures. Indeed, international students make up over two thirds of UK education exports and will be critical to meeting the Governments export strategy to increase education exports to 35 billion by 2030.. The government is set to ban most international students from bringing their family to the UK in a crackdown against immigration. As an undergraduate doing a course in mental health nursing, Titilope isn't in the category of students that can bring dependents to the UK. Condition 8105 restricts students to 40 hours of work per fortnight, while their course is in session. "Labour will introduce reforms to better link the points-based system to training and employment standards, including new requirements for training for employers recruiting from abroad to fill jobs. Latest UK Visa Immigration Currently foreign workers have to earn at least 26,000 to move here, but she wanted this upped to 33,000 the average wage in Britain. Would we ever limit their numbers? The standard fee for a skilled visa is usually between 625 and 1,423. "This package strikes the right balance between acting decisively on tackling net migration and protecting the economic benefits that students can bring to the UK," she said. UK Visas and Immigration - latest news, breaking stories and Ministers are said to be considering changing the graduate student work visa, which allows international students to work after graduation. These are the big changes for Indian students seeking Australia Thanks for the information. UK. The figure made up part of the 1.1m arrivals to the UK over the past year, contributing to record net immigration of 504,000 people. Tier 2 (General) Visa around 3-4 weeks. Legal migration is too high, says Rishi Sunak, France deploys 45,000 police with more riots feared. The number of dependents travelling to the UK with foreign students is wrapped into official data on overall international students visas, but no further breakdown is publicly available. Stern told UUK members last week that no decisions had been made and that conversations between No 10 and government departments were ongoing. However, she says that allowing students to have family with them means they can focus on their studies, without having to worry about whether "they have money, or if they are alright". UK We keep all our immigration policies under constant review to ensure they best serve the country and reflect the publics priorities.. The paper says the decision came after he was forced to apologise for foul-mouthed comments about contestants. How did Annies body end up on a Scottish beach?