London:

Reactions were mixed as British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer announced new rules on Monday aimed at limiting immigration, particularly impacting the large number of students and skilled workers from India.

These new regulations, outlined in immigration whitepapers, will extend the qualifying period for UK settlement from five years to ten, while also tightening English language requirements. This will involve a more rigorous assessment of language skills for visa applicants and their dependents.

International student visas, primarily sought by applicants from India and China, will see a reduction in the duration of graduate route visas from two years to 18 months.

“Even though the time frame is shorter, the graduate route remains in place, which is reassuring. However, broader reforms need clarity and collaboration,” one spokesperson noted.

Concerns regarding the effect on Indian students—who heavily rely on the graduate route to gain work experience post-graduation—have been raised. “We should avoid panic among current and future students. It’s vital to clarify who will be impacted and how,” said Nisau.

The organization emphasized the need for better integration between student and skilled worker pathways, as the latter category will face stricter minimum salary conditions, which also primarily affects Indian workers.

“We appreciate the ongoing call for improved coordination between immigration and skill requirements, and we advocate for greater transparency and accountability in the practices of educational agents,” they added.

Most UK visa categories are expected to be affected by the white paper, particularly health and social care visas, predominantly held by Indian and South Asian applicants.

“New applicants for health and care worker visas are being cut, which is said to be a response to rising exploitation, yet this feels more like a distraction since the number of first-time visas has shrunk already,” a representative commented.

“Many migrant caregivers in the UK are struggling due to the shortcomings of this visa scheme, and the government has yet to provide adequate support.”

Accusations were also made against the government for introducing inequality into an already challenging immigration system, as they allegedly made it more difficult for immigrants to achieve settlement in the UK.

“This could lead to more individuals falling into precarious immigration statuses, increasing their risk of exploitation or contributing to a rise in undocumented individuals,” Vicol stated.

In a speech at Downing Street, Priority warned that without strict rules, the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers.”

“The release of this white paper signifies tighter control across all areas of immigration—work, family, and study. Skill requirements are being raised to degree level, and there will now be English requirements for all routes, including for dependents. The pathway to settlement will now take ten years instead of five, and these changes are projected to result in a decrease in immigrant numbers,” he said.