The United Kingdom’s introduction of stricter immigration rules has led to a drastic 35% drop in visa applications, with international students and healthcare workers being the hardest hit.
According to official figures, the number of visa applications fell from 141,000 to 91,000 after new rules came into effect in January 2024.
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The policy changes, introduced in December 2023, targeted international students, restricting them from bringing dependants unless they were enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarship programs.
“The impact of these restrictions has been particularly pronounced in the education sectorh. There was an 81% decline in visa applications from the dependants of students, reflecting the sharp effect of the new rules,” the report said.
Nadra Ahmed, Executive co-chairman of the National Care Association, expressed concern that many healthcare workers are now opting to relocate to countries with less restrictive immigration policies.
“Applications for Health and Care Worker visas have decreased significantly, falling to just 2,900 in July 2024,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the UK government remains committed to controlling immigration while developing a “homegrown workforce” to address the nation’s shortage of skilled workers.
