The British government has banned the arrival of family members of international students, as new visa restrictions come into force.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said the ban, which affects all international students except those on postgraduate courses and some scholarships, would reduce immigration by tens of thousands.
“We have a tough plan to reduce numbers quickly,” Cleverly said. “This ends the unfair practice of international students bringing their families to the UK.”
“This will see a rapid reduction in immigration by tens of thousands and will contribute to our overall strategy of preventing 300,000 people from coming to the UK,” he added.
The move was announced in May last year by former Home Secretary Priti Patel as official figures showed net migration reaching 672,000.
Later figures showed the number had reached a record high of 745,000, angering Conservative MPs who demanded that Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government take further action.
From Monday, international students starting courses in the UK will only be allowed to apply for visas for their spouses and dependents if they are on a postgraduate research programme or a government-sponsored course.
Experts have warned that the restrictions on family members of international students in the UK could impact universities, which rely on income from fees paid by international students, and could damage the UK’s reputation as an international destination.
