The United Kingdom Home Secretary is considering reviewing its immigration policy over the increasing rates of dependents brought into the country.
According to a report by The Telegraph, international students from Nigeria and India brought the most dependants to the UK with 34,000 Nigerian students bringing 31,898 dependants and 93,100 Indian students bringing 24,916 dependants.
It also reported that dependants from Libya were higher than the number of students from this country with 272 international student applicants and 455 dependants.
The article claimed that Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is analysing the trend and data on the dependants as part of an immigration review “which will aim to bring down the headline figure while also ensuring it boosts growth”.
In September 2021, a report published by UUKi and HEPI, provided an in-depth analysis revealing the huge contribution of international students to the UK’s economic prosperity. It stated that “every part of the UK is financially better off – on average by £390 per person – because of international students”.
The research also shows international students deliver a net economic benefit of £25.9 billion.
“Crucially, this figure excludes the tax and NI contribution of dependents working in the UK and so likely underestimates the total economic contribution that international students bring to the UK,” Jamie Arrowsmith, acting director of Universities UK International, said
“We want the UK to continue to be an open and welcoming destination for international students and talent from across the world. This includes offering some international students the opportunity to bring dependents and family members with them to the UK. This tends to be those studying full-time postgraduate courses,” Arrowsmith added.
“Dependent visas are a recognised part of the immigration system and anyone who enters the UK on this route is subject to UK immigration rules and must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which goes towards funding the NHS.”
Speaking on number of student visas granted, Margison told The PIE, “why anyone would want to reduce their number escapes me”.
Doing so would “seriously discourage” older international students with partners and families from applying to study in the UK, he warned.
“How [reducing numbers] could foster growth, or not detract from growth, also escapes me,” he continued.
Marginson urged the government to “pitch to the humanist vote rather than the bigotry vote for a change”.
“We all expected the present home secretary would be even more prejudicial than her predecessor, and this might be the proof,” he added.
