Indians top the list for study and employment visas, while UK immigration has declined by 20%

Provisional official data shows that the number of immigrants in the UK fell from 906,000 in the year ending June 2023 to 728,000 in June 2024. Nonetheless, Indians continued to be the largest group of non-EU migrants, accounting for the majority of both work and study visas. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has provided preliminary figures that show a 20% decline in long-term net immigration in the UK. In June 2024, there were 728,000 immigrants, down from 906,000 in the previous year. In June 2024, 240,000 Indians were registered for long-term immigration to the UK, making them the largest group of non-EU migrants, topping both employment and study visa categories. The 906,000 arrivals in the year ending June 2023, however, have angered British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has promised tougher immigration laws. Starmer attacked the previous Conservative administration for the high immigration rate. Former Conservative ministers used the 20% decline in migration as justification for their record. The ONS also showed that although net migration decreased by 20% to 728,000 in the year that ended in June 2024, the magnitude of the numbers from the year before still raises serious concerns. Indians continue to make up the largest group of non-EU migrants, ranking first in both the work and student visa categories, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS reports that in YE (year ending) June 2024, "Indian was the most common nationality for non-EU+ immigration for both work-related (116,000) and study-related (127,000) reasons." With 81% of those granted visas in the most recent year pursuing postgraduate study, Indian students have historically preferred the UK for higher education, particularly at the master's level. The Graduate Route visa, which was introduced in 2021 and permits overseas students to stay in the UK for up to two years (three years for PhD graduates) after finishing their studies, is partially responsible for the increase in student migration. The ONS also observed that the percentage of "early leavers"—those who depart the UK before remaining for at least a year—was low among Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans. On the other hand, early departure rates were greater among Chinese students. Starmer refused to establish an "arbitrary cap" and instead described steps to address immigration causes and lessen reliance on foreign labour. "I want to see a major decrease in immigration. That entails putting pressure on the factors that have caused it to get to this level," Starmer stated. Seema Malhotra, the minister of immigration and citizenship, declared that employers who break visa regulations will face harsher sanctions. "In our manifesto, we pledged to make sure that those who misuse our immigration system face the harshest penalties possible," she stated. Employers that violate the new visa requirements will be subject to penalties for a minimum of two years and will have to pay for all foreign labour expenses.

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