UK: Concerned that the flow of Indians to Britain may stop, the British government is considering to stop issuing visas to bring dependents to those coming for Masters studies.
Those who come for a one-year master's study usually bring their family members with them and they often engage in some kind of work.
That is why the Department of Education, Home Office and the Ministry of Finance are considering denying dependent visas to those coming for a one-year master's study. This has been reported by the Financial Times. They have reported it citing several officials involved in the discussions.
Such courses will last for a maximum of nine months only. Therefore, such a move will not prevent it from attracting foreign students, an official said, reports the Financial Times. A senior minister also opined that serious decisions should be taken in this regard.
In the case of David Cameron, the goal was to limit net migration to tens of thousands. However, the minister said that now there is a lot of deviation from that goal.
The Department of Finance, which usually promotes high levels of immigration, is also understood to have agreed to scrap student dependent visas. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan takes a similar stance.
An increase in legal immigration will undoubtedly strengthen Britain's workforce. However, it will backfire politically. It is also a situation where immigration has become one of Britain's biggest political issues.
Knowing this, Rishi Sunak is taking drastic measures to prevent illegal immigration through the English Channel. Similarly, there have been changes in the rules related to staying in the UK after studying. Foreign students may not be granted a post study visa period if they cannot find employment within six months of completing their studies.
However, some reports indicate that the Education Department has not responded positively to this legal proposal.
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