UK Visa Changes: Work Permits for Tourists, Restrictions for Students

As of January 31, 2024, the UK has implemented new immigration rules driven by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman. The changes include allowing tourist visa holders to engage in work activities under certain conditions and prohibiting most international students, including a significant portion from India, from bringing their families to the UK. Exceptions are made for students studying postgraduate research courses or those funded by scholarships. These rules are expected to reduce net migration, which reached 670,000 in 2022, by tens of thousands. Critics fear that this could impact the UK's reputation as a global study destination and university finances.