UK Crackdown on Student Visa Holders as Baby Born to Legal Residents Faces Deportation

A 13-month-old British baby, Massah, is facing deportation from the UK, where she was born in the Midlands region in April last year. Her parents, Mohammad and his wife, who are from Jordan, have been legally residing in Britain since 2021. Mohammad came to the UK on a student visa to pursue his PhD, and his wife joined him as his dependent.

According to reports by The Telegraph, The family’s troubles began in January when they took their first holiday abroad since Massah’s birth. Upon their return, Massah, whose residency status had not been confirmed, was classified as a tourist. The parents subsequently applied for a dependent child visa for Massah, but the Home Office rejected the application. In a letter, the Home Office stated, “In your case, it has been concluded that maintaining the integrity of immigration laws outweighs the possible effect on you/your children.”

Mohammad expressed his distress to Sky News, saying, “I’m trying to fix everything. I don’t need to consider a one-year-old infant as an overstayer here.” The family is reluctant to take Massah to Jordan to re-apply due to regional instability and concerns about the potential refusal of the application.

The Home Office has stated that they are providing support and guidance to the parents regarding the application process. This case highlights the UK government’s new stringent stance on immigration, particularly concerning student visa holders and their dependents. From January 2024, international students, except those undertaking postgraduate research degrees like PhDs, will not be allowed to bring family members as dependents.

These changes are part of a broader effort to significantly reduce net migration to the UK. Other measures include banning dependents for overseas care workers and raising the minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas. The government claims these policies will help reduce migration numbers and prevent exploitation of the UK immigration system. However, critics argue that the rules are excessively harsh and may damage the UK’s reputation as a desirable destination for international students.

On Thursday, Home Secretary James Cleverly warned universities that failing to conduct proper visa checks could result in losing their license to recruit international students. He asserted that the new policies “strike the right balance” between reducing migration and preserving the UK’s leading higher education sector.

The case of baby Massah underscores the human impact of these new regulations. Mohammad told reporters he is simply trying to do the right thing by bringing his family to the UK legally for educational opportunities.

The UK has traditionally been a popular study-abroad destination, attracting over 600,000 international students annually before the pandemic. However, as the government aims to cut net migration drastically, even infants born in the country to legal residents are not exempt from deportation threats.

Immigration experts warn that cases like Massah’s may become more common as the new rules take effect. While these regulations aim to curb immigration abuse, they also risk ensnaring law-abiding families seeking to improve their lives through education.