UK bans spouse visa: Students can no longer take spouse with them
Effective January 1, students studying in the United Kingdom (UK) will no longer have the option to bring their spouses or companions along, as the UK government has banned spouse visas.
This policy applies to all foreign students enrolled in UK institutions. Notably, there have been instances of contract marriages being arranged in Punjab, aiming to gain entry to countries like Canada and the UK.
Previously, many individuals from Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana had settled abroad through contract marriages with students studying in the UK or Canada. However, starting January 1, 2024, the UK will cease issuing spouse visas, potentially reducing the occurrence of such contract marriages.
Earlier, in January 2021, the British government set an annual income threshold of at least £25,600 for those employed in the UK. Despite this, Indians, particularly from Punjab, arrived in the UK, working in industries like hospitality at lower wages, impacting the local job market and prompting UK residents to accept lower-paying jobs.
In the past year, the number of visas issued amounted to three lakhs.
The influx of Indian students to the UK has increased over the years: 48,639 in 2020, 55,903 in 2021, 200,978 in 2022, and surpassing three lakhs by 2023. Remarkably, 85 percent of these students were married, with the primary goal of reaching Britain. Once there, their spouses often found employment with meager salaries.
Approximately 60 percent of these individuals hailed from Punjab, while the combined number from Haryana, Chandigarh, and surrounding regions accounted for more than 80 percent of this demographic.