VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

In view of the new development, here are five major ways the changes in UK visa policy will affect students and professionals, including the UK itself:

1. Dearth of Students:
UK is one of the top destinations for African students, particularly Nigeria, seeking tertiary education. With the policy, the number of Nigerian students gaining admission into UK tertiary institutions will reduce significantly.

2. Ruptured Family Bond:
The UK healthcare sector, which relies heavily on ‘brain gain’ from countries like Nigeria, is anticipated to be significantly impacted over the inability of foreign care workers to bring their families or dependents to join them. Given the potential to rupture family bonds, this is likely to affect the productivity of health workers.

A Nigerian Lawyer based in the UK, Dele Olawale, said that there will surely be legal challenges.

“It is an inhumane immigration policy that will separate families and deprive many children of their parents,” he stated via X.

Olawale added: “How many people are earning £38,000 in the UK at the moment? It is an irrational increase that shows that Rishi Shunak, who is very rich and the newly appointed Home Secretary, are unaware of what is happening to common people in the society.

“The government announced that the employers should source for workers locally but how many British citizens are willing to work in the care industry?”

3. Impact on Local Businesses and Economy: Business owners such as travel agents have voiced concerns about these new rules, fearing detrimental impact on their earnings.

A travel consultant in Abuja, Israel Laah, said tougher visa rules will reduce the number of Nigerians getting visas, thus resulting in lower patronage.

4. Effect on Education: As the UK reviews post-study work visas as part of new measures to curb migration from January 2024, international students will not be permitted to bring family members with them while they study in the UK – unless they are studying in postgraduate research courses (e.g., research-based PhDs and research-based Master’s programmes). International students in postgraduate courses that are not designated as research-oriented will not be permitted to bring dependants.

A lecturer in Political Communication and Media at the University of Liverpool, UK, Dr Rosalynd Southern, said: “International Students are worth 10s of Billions to the UK economy. A lot of universities likely aren’t financially viable without them. But sure, keep telling them they aren’t welcome. Eventually they’ll take the hint and HE (Higher Education) will be poorer in every way.”

5. Combat Japa Syndrome: Save for reversal of policy, it will certainly discourage millions of Nigerians willing to relocate to the UK for greener pastures. In essence, it might discourage the Japa syndrome and thereby reduce brain drain.