As part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s efforts to regulate immigration, the UK government has raised the minimum income threshold for sponsoring family members’ visas as dependents, sparking concerns within the Indian community due to stricter eligibility criteria. This change, coupled with recent adjustments to visas for work, study, and post-study work routes, particularly affects Indian students and workers in the UK.
Sanam Arora, founder of the National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, emphasized the importance of the Graduate visa for Indian students, highlighting its significance within the UK’s higher education system.
Anahita Masters, an alumna of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), expressed concern over the impact on post-graduate research students and their dependents, particularly women, due to restrictions on bringing dependents.
The minimum income requirement for work visa dependents has surged, with social care workers unable to bring any dependents regardless of income. These changes add to a series of visa regulations, including the prohibition of bringing dependents on student visas since January.
With the possibility of the Graduate route visa being discontinued, Arora warned of potential financial repercussions for universities, affecting both international and domestic students and the country’s research endeavors.
Masters highlighted the challenges faced by sole breadwinners and Indian women, citing her own experience as a mother studying at LSE, emphasizing the importance of the dependent clause for students with families.