Continued Student Visa Restrictions by the New UK Government
The United Kingdom’s (UK) recently elected government has said that it will continue to impose the current limitations on student visas.
In a televised interview, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson reaffirmed that the Labour Party does not intend to remove the visa requirements that the previous Rishi Sunak administration placed on foreign students.
A number of measures were put in place in January by Sunak’s administration to stop the majority of foreign students from bringing dependents to the UK.
There was conjecture after the elections that the incoming administration might soften its position regarding foreign students; nevertheless, the education secretary has stated unequivocally that there are no plans to go back on these policies.
While recognising the important contributions made by international students, Phillipson emphasised that allowing them to study in the UK offers the dual benefits of strengthening trade and business ties with other countries and having a worldwide influence.
The minister said that raising tuition would be “unpalatable,” particularly when students in the UK are still struggling with issues like housing costs and the cost of living.
In an interview with Sky News, Phillipson stated, “I think that’s an unpleasant thing to be considering, but I recognise the challenge and I hear that message from institutions as well.”
The government intends to change the entire system, though specifics have not yet been made public, according to the education secretary.
Notably, the Home Office’s most current data reveals a forty percent drop in sponsored study visa applications, suggesting that Sunak’s leadership has had a major influence on the limits placed in place regarding visas.
June figures also show that the limitations are having an impact on the number of overseas students. Compared to the 38,900 applications the Home Office got in the same month previous year, just 28,200 applications were received in June.
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