In a major immigration policy change, the United Kingdom is set to ban the majority of foreign students from bringing their families to Britain. The decision, expected to be announced this week, comes as part of a broader crackdown on immigration. The move aims to address concerns over skyrocketing net migration, which is projected to reach a staggering 1 million individuals, according to official figures set to be released on Thursday.

The Prime Minister’s Office, however, has declined calls from the Home Office to increase the salary threshold for foreign workers from £26,000 to £33,000 as a means of reducing immigration numbers. While some Tory Members of Parliament have publicly urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take action to curb the rising figures, the government has opted to focus on the immigration clampdown instead.

The forthcoming restrictions will primarily impact master’s students and many other postgraduate students, preventing them from bringing their families to the UK. Notably, the ban will not be applicable to PhD students, whose courses typically last between 3 and 5 years and are deemed highly skilled.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and her deputy Robert Jenrick had also advocated for raising the salary threshold, but their proposal faced resistance from the Treasury. Currently, foreign workers must meet a £26,000 salary threshold to move to Britain, but the Home Office sought to increase it to £33,000, aligning it with the average wage of British workers.

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, is expected to address concerns over immigration, highlighting that the inherited figures date back to December 2022, a period just two months after assuming office. The surge in the number of individuals entering the country via student visas, particularly from Asian and African countries, including a substantial number from Nigeria, has prompted the need for stricter immigration measures.

Statistics reveal that in the previous year alone, students brought 135,788 family members to Britain, a staggering increase of nine times compared to 2019. Among these figures, Nigerian students accounted for a significant portion, with 59,053 students bringing over 60,923 relatives to the country.

While the decision to tighten regulations on family members accompanying foreign students is anticipated to be met with mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns over its potential impact on international students and their educational experiences, the government maintains that such measures are necessary to regain control over immigration levels.