UK Imposes Ban on Nigerian Students and Others Bringing Families – Here is Why

The UK government is set to introduce new restrictions that are likely to prevent Nigerian students and students from other countries studying in the UK from bringing their families with them.

This action is seen as a significant crackdown on foreign students due to concerns about the high number of migrants entering the country.

According to an exclusive report by The Sun UK, the forthcoming crackdown, scheduled to be announced later this week, will prohibit masters students and many other postgraduate students from bringing their families over.

However, it is important to note that PHD students will be exempt from this ban as their courses typically last between 3 and 5 years and require high levels of skill.

The report also highlights that net migration into the UK has reached 1 million, leading Tory MPs to urge Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take control of the escalating numbers.

In an effort to address the increasing influx, UK ministers are expected to announce the immigration clampdown on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Rishi Sunak is anticipated to strongly address immigration concerns, emphasizing that these figures predate his tenure as Prime Minister, as they are from the year ending December 2022, just two months after he assumed office, according to the Tory MP.

The number of people using their relatives’ student visas to come to the UK has dramatically increased, with 135,788 family members accompanying students last year, a nine-fold increase compared to 2019.

Among them, Nigerian students brought over 60,923 relatives, with a significant rise in the overall number of dependants joining foreign students.

In response to this surge, the UK government, particularly Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman, has expressed growing concern.

They are considering implementing a ban on foreign students bringing their spouses and children unless they pursue “high-value” degrees such as science, maths, and engineering.

Nigerian nationals experienced the highest increase in dependants accompanying study visa holders in 2022. Additionally, they saw the largest growth in sponsored study grants, making them the third-largest nationality group in the latest year, with a record high of 65,929 grants.

Recent immigration figures disclosed that 490,763 students were granted visas last year, accompanied by 135,788 dependants, a substantial increase from 16,047 in 2019. However, critics, including universities and members of parliament from all parties, have voiced opposition to these proposals. They highlight research indicating that foreign students contribute £35 billion annually to the UK economy.

Originally posted 2023-05-22 12:09:24.