UK rules 2024 | Strict regulations for international students!

Shift in UK rules 2024

Effective January 1, 2024, a significant policy shift in the UK rules 2024 for student visa system has been enforced, impacting the ability of most overseas students to bring their family members to the country. Starting January 2024, the new regulations limit this privilege solely to postgraduate research courses and courses with government-funded scholarships.

The measures, initially disclosed in May, extend beyond familial considerations. Foreigners are now barred from exploiting the student visa as a backdoor entry to work in the UK. This will result in an anticipated 140,000 fewer visitors to the country. These stringent student visa for study abroad restrictions align with the government’s broader objective. This includes reducing migration combatting the exploitation of the immigration system.

Surge in dependent visas amid migration increase

According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), net migration from June 2022-June 2023 stood at 672,000. In the year ending September 2023, a remarkable surge saw 152,980 visas issued to dependents of students, a staggering 930% increase from the 14,839 issued in September 2019. The revised policies for visa for study abroad are positioned as a strategic balance between preventing universities from tarnishing the UK’s educational reputation by prioritizing immigration over education while preserving the allure of the nation’s top-ranked higher education system. These changes come on the heels of previous governmental measures, including the cessation of health and care visa abuse, which restricted overseas care workers from bringing dependents and imposed regulations on care firms in England sponsoring visas.

UK rules 2024 overhauls skilled worker route

Further reforms extend to the skilled worker route, where salary thresholds are set to increase nearly 50% to £38,700. The government is also addressing cut-rate labor from overseas by eliminating the 20% salary discount for shortage occupations. Instead, thy intend on introducing a replacement for the Shortage Occupation List.

Phased rollout in early 2024

Notably, the minimum income requirement for British or settled individuals sponsoring family members will rise to £38,700 by Spring 2025. This comprehensive set of measures aims to reduce net migration by 300,000 people, constituting a 30% reduction in arrivals. Additionally, the phased introduction of these changes throughout early 2024 is designed to afford affected parties ample time to prepare for the forthcoming adjustments.

WRITTEN BY

Aastha

Study Abroad Expert

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