LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) The United Kingdom (UK) has begun enforcing a ban on allowing dependents of migrant caregivers and health workers to enter the country.
In a post on its X handle on Monday, the UK Home Office said the move is part of plans to cut migration.
“From today, care workers entering the UK on Health and Care Worker visas can no longer bring dependants,”
“This is part of our plan to deliver the biggest-ever cut in migration.” the post reads.
The measure was announced in December with Social Care Minister Helen Whately saying while she is “grateful” for the contribution of overseas care workers, she is also “clear that immigration is not the long-term answer to our social care needs”
The X post further explained that to reduce high levels of net migration, the UK government has introduced restrictions.
“This includes limiting the ability of family members to join foreign students pursuing non-research postgraduate courses.
“The new proposals state that only students in research-focused postgraduate courses can bring their dependents to the UK.
Furthermore, international students cannot switch from a student visa to a work visa before finishing their studies.
There will also be “improved and more enforcement activity” and a clamp down on “unscrupulous agents” using education as a cover for immigration, according to a government statement.
The UK government also revealed that the number of visas granted to dependents of international students in 2023 was 136,000, which is eight times higher than the 16,000 visa issued in 2019