Students ‘feel’ targeted by UK’s hostile immigration system

Tuesday 11th October 2022 12:00 EDT
 

Indian students come to the UK after fighting many monetary and emotional battles to arrange for the tuition fee and living costs, as well as break generational curses to study abroad and dream of a better future than their ancestors. Many sell their assets back home or take a loan by keeping their homes as mortgages, in hopes of a better future through foreign education. 

 

Reportedly, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has refused to set an immigration target for the next election, expected in 2024 as she pledged to “substantially reduce” the number of foreign students, workers, dependants and low-skilled workers coming to the UK. 

 

It is understood that she wants the wider application of laws under which people would be jailed for up to four years if they enter the UK without permission. She told a Conservative Party fringe event hosted by Chopper’s Politics podcast: “Poor universities are being bankrolled by foreign students.” 

 

Ms Braverman has further stated that in the 12 months to June, 240,000 more people came to the UK than left, 486,000 foreign students arrived, and 330,000 work visas were issued. She claimed that on average, each individual arriving on a study or work visa brings one dependant. Nadhim Zahawi, the Cabinet Office minister, joined Home Secretary, in expressing concern at the number of dependents - as many as six - that foreign students were bringing into the country. The number of dependents that foreign students can bring into the UK could be capped under plans being considered by ministers to tackle “bad migration.”

 

An Indian student in the UK anonymously agreed to share their story with Asian Voice. Sharing their struggle, the student said that they completed their course in September, and the course programme admin will only confirm the degree towards the end of October. 

 

The student told the newsweekly, “My student accommodation contract ended in August, and I have been looking for housing since. I found a place, but it was after paying the non-refundable holding deposit that I was made aware of the right to rent. My right to rent ends in November 2022, because my leave on my student visa ends on the same date. My university will only confirm my degree at end of October, so I can't even apply for a graduate visa currently.” As most accommodations have a minimum required tenancy of six months minimum, the student is locked out of the market without a possibility of a home from the date of visa expiry and the arrival of subsequent graduate scheme visa.

 

Dr Partha Kar, Consultant Diabetes and Endocrinology and Director-Equality wrote a moving account of his arrival in the UK in his blog in the British Medical Journal recently. He wrote about how he would scrounge for every penny and do mental maths of currency conversion. “My first few weeks in the UK were, frankly, awful. Not many people would talk to me, which heightened an inherent shyness,” Dr Kar wrote. 

 

He particularly mentioned a low point during the first few days and described that when he went to the mess hall and saw some frozen food in the fridge, it said, “For NHS staff,” so he thought it was ok to take it. “Halfway through the meal, a young English doctor “explained” the rules by screaming them at me, in front of everyone. She ended her education with the words, “Beggars coming to our country.” I walked back to my room, shut my door, and simply cried. A lot,” the Director -Equality wrote in a moving account. He further talked about how in 2022 we still hear of international medical graduates (IMGs) being treated poorly and as cheap labour, being placed on wards where no one else wants to go without educational supervision, mentorship, or even the simple basics—taking a moment to ask how they are or making sure no one takes advantage of their naivety.


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