In Dec 2022: The UK Home Office Minister Robert Jenrick attacked
international students accusing them of using their studies as “a backdoor way
of bringing their families into the UK and putting further strain on public
services. He attacked universities and accused them of being in the
‘immigration business’. In May 2023 the newspapers reported that almost 40%
of non-EU nationals who arrived in the UK last year were students.
Mr Jenrick said “it isn’t right that universities in some cases are in the
immigration business rather than the teaching and education one”. The UK has
now announced new rules to tackle legal migration into the UK which will take
effect in April 2024.
Home office secretary, Mr Cleverly, explained that changes starting in April
2024 relating to the Skilled Worker Visa are as follows: Applicants must have a
job with a salary of £38700.00 up from £26,200.00 (50% rise). Health and
Social workers will be banned from bringing families into the UK.
There will be a review of the rules allowing students to stay here more than 3
years after graduating and new restrictions so fewer will be able to bring their
families. The Immigration Health Surcharge will increase for migrants by 66%
from £624.00 to £1035.00.