According to government officials, reports collected over the past three years indicate that net migration is at an all-time high.
In a bid to cut down immigration, the UK’s home secretary Suella Braverman is reportedly working on new proposals that significantly change current immigration rules. Students and families are among those that could be affected alongside some skilled workers and asylum seekers.
Why is the UK cutting immigration
According to government officials, reports collected over the past three years indicate that net migration is at an all-time high. 504,000 people have entered the country since 2019 with a high proportion of them (approximately 476,000) being international students.
Furthermore, reports reveal a huge rise in the number of foreigners entering the UK as dependents. For example, in 2019 records show that 13,666 Dependent visas were approved. By the end of June 2022, this figure had increased by approximately 5 times to 81,089.
Such an increase has raised concerns with UK ministers and prompted them to start tinkering with the existing rules. If the proposed changes are implemented, many foreigners wishing to reside in the UK will face higher restrictions and increased costs.
Current UK visa rules
Under the current rules, Student visa applicants can apply to bring their spouse and any children to the UK as their dependent(s). To do so, applicants must first meet an income threshold to prove they can support themselves financially. The threshold is per person not per family and is in addition to the visa application fees, healthcare surcharge, and any university fees.
Similarly, family visa applicants can apply to join a spouse or family member that is already residing in the UK (or has obtained British citizenship) as their dependent. Once a visa has been granted and so long as the applicant does not breach the visa conditions, they can then go on to apply to remain in the UK or become a British citizen. Again, applicants must prove they have the financial capacity to support themselves and their children by meeting the minimum income requirement.
Proposed UK visa rules
In a bid to cut down the number of Dependent visas issued, the Home Secretary recommends increasing the minimum income requirement thresholds and setting a limit on the number of dependents allowed to apply to accompany the main applicant of Student visas. The increase and limit will apply to all applicants regardless of nationality or refugee status.
In addition, the near future will see the UK introduce a ‘Permission to Travel’ scheme that directly affects everyone wishing to come to the UK regardless of nationality – this includes EU citizens, non-EU citizens, EEA nationals, people seeking asylum, and the family members of British citizens.
The new plans follow the UK’s announcement during the covid 19 pandemic of ending free movement. A direct result of Brexit, this meant that EU nationals were no longer able to move to Britain to live and work as they can in other EU countries. The home office states, “The UK now decides who comes to our country based on the skills people have to offer, not where their passport is from.”
Alongside this, Britain recently announced the closure of the EU settlement scheme. The Home Office set a deadline for those wishing to apply to become a British citizen or stay in the UK by being granted indefinite leave to remain in 2021.
How the UK’s proposed immigration plans will impact families and students
The latest proposals are already receiving criticism from multiple sectors with many highlighting the probable impact on applicants, their families, and the UK economy.
With the new changes, many people would be unable to reunite with their UK-based family members, due to increased financial requirement thresholds. Critics of the proposed new rules argue that when considering the total cost of moving, an international student with dependents would need significant financial reserves in order to apply anyway.
Experts say that increasing the income thresholds could deter potential students from studying in the UK entirely and will place vulnerable people at risk.
Critics also claim that upon evaluating all relevant information and if implemented, the new measures could have a serious impact on the UK’s education and economic systems. The proposals will bring new challenges to British universities as they lose the value of their foreign students.
Reports suggest that the current international student market brings a total of £25.9bn to the UK each year. Critics argue that losing this could be extremely detrimental to the UK’s economy and the economic development partnership the UK has with other countries.
I’m an asylum seeker will the new plans affect my asylum claim or refugee status?
Foreigners hoping to secure asylum will find it increasingly more difficult to be successful with their applications. Some may have to rethink their immigration route due to the UK vowing to now only help ‘legal’ asylum seekers. Illegal immigrants now face up to a maximum sentence of 4 years in jail followed by deportation to a safe country.
The Home Office has called for more power to remove illegal immigrants and their families or children. It states, “Over recent years we have seen an alarming increase in illegal migrants seeking modern slavery referrals.” And, “We must act now to reform the system.”
Critics such as the UN Refugee Agency argue that targeting those seeking modern slavery referrals could leave asylum seekers at risk.
Many migrants and their family members are not entitled to claim benefits or housing assistance. So, with no recourse to public funds or public services, they cannot contact their local authorities or the government for help in changing the immigration status of their loved ones. Experts argue that this contradicts the international human right of a family reunion.
The new plans will change visa processes for students and families, including those seeking asylum. Applicants from all countries will be affected despite their nationality or family connection.
