Indian Students’ Quest for Study Abroad with Loved Ones
Family the Main Issue for Indian Students abroad
There has been a significant increase in the count of Indian students seeking education abroad, exceeding 1.3 million, spread across 79 nations. Particularly for postgraduate and advanced studies, the pivotal consideration for Indian students contemplating overseas education is the host country’s stance regarding dependents, including the primary visa holder’s spouse and children.
India claimed the top position among other prominent study destinations. In Australia, 16K dependent visas were granted to Indian students in the 2022-2023 intake. In the United Kingdom, 42K dependent visas were issued to Indian students for the 2023 intake.
Indian Students in Foreign Countries Updates
In the past year, several traditional study abroad destinations have introduced significant modifications to their immigration regulations. The most substantial change came from the UK, where the Sunak government altered its policy for international student dependents, stating that non-PhD students would no longer be allowed to bring dependents with them, effective from January 2024.
In the United States, stringent regulations are in place for students seeking to accompany dependents. Dependents are not permitted to work or obtain social security numbers during their stay. The processing of US dependent visas through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) typically takes approximately 90 days.
Indian students aiming to bring their dependents to the UK are confronted with a decision: either leave their families behind or opt for a different destination that accommodates the inclusion of dependents.
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