U.K. claims drastic drop in student dependents after visa crackdown

The U.K. government has welcomed a "significant fall" in the number of dependents, or close family members such as a spouse and children, accompanying overseas students after its crackdown on student visas effective early this year.

In an update issued on Tuesday from January to March this year compared to the same period in 2023, the Home Office said that dependents had drastically fallen by almost 80% amid over 26,000 fewer student visa applications made.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in a statement on social media that the figures mean that his changes to the country's visa system were working.

"The number of students bringing family members and dependants to the UK was too high. This wasn't fair," he said.

"Our changes are working-student dependant numbers are now down by 80 per cent,' he said.