New UK visa rule will affect Indian students: Minister of external affairs

NEW DELHI: On new UK visa rules, the minister of external affairs said it will affect students from all the countries, including Indian students. As per the UK Government’s new visa rules announced on July 17, 2023, international students will not be able to switch out of the student route into work routes before their studies have been complete.

The minister of external affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in a reply to a question informed the Lok Sabha said that the number of Indian students, excluding dependents, who have gone to the UK for studies was 139,539 in 2022.

As per the new rules, from January 1, 2024, international students will not be able to bring dependents unless they are on postgraduate courses currently designated as research programmes, the minister said.

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Further, the minister said: “The Government of India remains closely engaged with British authorities on all issues relating to further strengthening of people to people ties and the movement of young Indian students and professionals.”

According to the new rules proposed by the UK Government-led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the fees and health surcharge paid towards the UK’s state-funded National Health Service (NHS) by visa applicants are set to rise "significantly”, as per the PTI report. The visa fees are also expected to surge by 15%, as per reports.

The British government on July 27 closed its second ballot under the UK-India Young Professional Scheme for Indians aged between 18 and 30 years with graduate-level qualifications for visas to the UK. There are a total of 3,000 places available under the scheme for the year 2023.