Earlier this month, an estimated 3,00,000 non-Britons—many of them Indians—were affected by the British government raising the bar for people eligible to apply for skilled worker visas in the United Kingdom.

The minimum salary that an applicant must command was £38,700, up from the current £26,000, in effect on Dec 4.

Following widespread backlash, the UK government recently rowed back on plans to hike the salary needed to bring family members to the country from £38,700 to £29,000.

As the British government toughened the visa rules, a fresh decline in aspirants was witnessed, especially among Indians. Compared to last year, there has been a decline of 40–60% of students in courses that are starting in Jan 2024.

“In spring 2024, for the partner and family visa, minimum income requirement will increase from £18,600 to £29,000, but the plan is for this figure to eventually hike it to £34,500 and then £38,700. This tells that the UK government is currently not keen to welcome international students,” said a co-founder at a consultancy.

The British government decided that international students in the UK will no longer be permitted to bring dependents on their student visas from January 2024 unless they are enrolled in a postgraduate research programme at universities in the UK.

As the rules get tougher next year, aspirants seem reluctant to apply for UK visas.

(With inputs from IANS)

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook