The UK has recently updated its visa application policy, impacting how individuals apply for visas.
The new changes introduce stricter requirements and additional documentation for certain visa categories.
The United Kingdom is using the new policy as a strategy to reduce the number of applicants.
This is seen in the dramatic 35% drop in visa applications over the past year due to these stricter immigration policies.
Decrease In UK Visa Application
The new rules, introduced in January 2024 was targeted at reducing the country’s intake of foreign nationals.
Official figures from the Home Office, released on August 8, 2024, reveal that visa applications fell from 141,000 to 91,000, following the implementation of these new regulations.
The policy changes introduced in December 2023 specifically targeted international students, restricting their ability to bring dependants unless they enrolled in postgraduate research courses or government-funded scholarship programmes.
The government implemented this move as part of its broader effort to curb immigration, which reached a record high of 1.22 million last year.
The restrictions have significantly impacted the education sector.
Between January and July 2024, study visa applications dropped by 16% compared to the same period in 2023.
More notably, visa applications from the dependants of students fell by 81%, highlighting the sharp effect of the new rules.
The healthcare sector has also faced severe impacts, with applications for Health and Care Worker visas plummeting by 80% during the same period.
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The surge in applications followed the inclusion of care workers in the skilled worker visa category in 2022.
Health Care Workers Visa Application Drops
However, the trend reversed after August 2023, and applications fell to just 2,900 in July 2024.
The report stated: “Monthly numbers of Health and Care Worker visa applications from main applicants increased from 4,100 to 18,300 between February 2022 and August 2023.
“This is following the addition of care workers to the skilled worker visa.
“Applications have decreased since August 2023, falling to 2,900 in July 2024”.
Nadra Ahmed, the Executive Co-chairman of the National Care Association, expressed concern that many healthcare workers are now choosing to relocate to countries with less restrictive immigration policies.
Despite these challenges, the UK government remains committed to controlling immigration while also focusing on developing a “homegrown workforce” to address the nation’s shortage of skilled workers.