UK MP condemns immigration ban on families of foreign students, says it'll hurt the economy

THE  CABLE

Carol Monaghan, a member of the UK parliament, has kicked against the country’s new immigration rules for foreign students.

The Home Office, on Tuesday, announced that international students would no longer be able to bring family members with them from 2024.

The UK also said overseas students would be stopped from switching from the student visa route to a work visa until their studies have been completed.

Speaking at parliament on Wednesday, Monaghan said the students and their families made valuable contributions to the UK, contributing £40 billion to the economy in 2022.

She said the international students enrich the UK society as they have skills which have proved useful across key sectors.

“With labour shortages in healthcare, STEM, IT, to name a few, how can the minister fail to recognise that this policy will aggravate these? I’d like to ask the minister, what assessments have been carried out on the economic impact of this change on the university sector?

“The reality is that many students who come into the UK look beyond their studies and want their families to be part of their experience.