As UK bans dependents on study visas, Punjab students find an alternative: ‘care worker’

As UK bans dependents on study visas, Punjab students find an alternative: ‘care worker’

Experts say that before January 2024, students can apply for intakes in September and November on study basis and they would be eligible to take spouses along. However, after that, they would no longer be eligible to bring dependents along with them.

The recent announcement by the UK government to place restrictions on international postgraduate students (pursuing non-research courses) to bring dependents into its country on their (students) visas from January 2024 is forcing several Indian students, mainly Punjabis, to study other options. While many are scrambling to seize the available opportunities before January 2024, others are considering alternative routes such as the “caregiver or care worker visa”, which allows migration to the UK along with their families.

Under the caregiver visa, individuals can bring their spouse, children, and other dependents along, and the visa is valid for five years. From January 2024, foreign postgraduate students on non-research courses will no longer be able to bring their spouses or other dependents to the UK on their study visas. The move aims to reduce the number of dependents, including spouses, migrating to the UK.

The number of visas granted to dependents reached a record high of 1,36,000 last year. It was more than eight times higher than the figure in 2019 (before Covid-19). Experts say that before January 2024, students can apply for intakes in September and November on study basis and they would be eligible to take spouses along. However, after that, they would no longer be eligible to bring dependents along with them.

Nawanshahr-based Rahul Arora, a student who graduated last year and is currently employed in the automobile sector, had planned to move to the UK with his family. He had initiated the process for the January 2024 intake for a postgraduate course. However, in the light of this recent development, he is after his consultant to expedite his case so that he can reach the UK before January 2024, that is, he is now thinking of either September or November intake.

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