A new law has been implemented in the United Kingdom, which restricts Nigerian students and other international students studying in the UK from bringing their families as dependents unless certain specific circumstances apply.
The UK government aims to reduce immigration into the country, which currently stands at approximately one million, according to a report by Sky News.
Under the new rule, international students will no longer be permitted to switch from the student route to work routes before completing their studies, in order to prevent misuse of the visa system.
Sky News also reported that there will be a thorough examination of the maintenance requirement for students and their dependents, as well as a crackdown on unscrupulous education agents who exploit inappropriate applications for the purpose of immigration rather than genuine education.
These changes will come into effect in January 2024, allowing students who are starting their courses in the UK sufficient time to plan and adapt to the new regulations.
In a ministerial statement released on Tuesday and obtained by Sky News, Home Secretary Suella Braverman highlighted that recent immigration data had revealed an unexpected increase in the number of dependents accompanying international students to the UK.