The British authorities have issued a record number of family-related visas between September 2022 and 2023, with the total number reaching 82,395 granted permissions – 117 percent more than in the previous year and the highest number of this type of visas granted since 2005.
According to data from the Home Office, between September 2015 and 2019, which also includes the pre-pandemic times, the number of UK visas issued for family reunification purposes stood at 42,000. These numbers rose in post-pandemic levels, which can be related to the COVID-19 restrictions that were in place as well as the clearance of a backlog of applications, VisaGuide.World reports.
As of last year, around 79 percent of these visas were granted to partners, followed by those issued for children and other dependents.
Migrants Arriving in UK Through Family Routes Are More Likely to Stay
Those who come to the UK through family routes are more likely to remain in the country, acquiring leave to remain (ILR), compared to those arriving on work and study visas.
According to analysis from the Migrant Journey 2022 Report, 65 percent of arrivals through family routes recorded since 2007 acquired ILR after five years, with the numbers increasing to 84 percent after ten years.
The number of migrants arriving through this route and the share of those who decide to stay in the country is considerably higher compared to those who have arrived in the country through work and study routes. Around 22 percent and eight percent, respectively, had ILR after ten years of arriving in the UK.
Pakistanis Are Main Beneficiaries of Family-Related Visas While Bangladeshis Scored a 143% Increase
A total of 15,038 Pakistani nationals were granted family-related visas between September 2022 and 2023, representing the nationality group that was issued most of this type of visa in the UK. The number of Pakistanis with a family-related visa in the country rose by 134 percent compared to the previous year, accounting for 8,623 more beneficiaries in one year alone.
The second country of origin for beneficiaries of family-related visas is India, with 5,870 visas granted. This is up by 129 percent, or 3,307 more visas issued, compared to the same time in 2022 when 2,563 family-related visas were granted to this national group.
Americans follow third with a total of 3,805 visas granted – 2,066 or 119 percent more than a year prior, while the highest increase was recorded among Bangladeshi applicants.
More specifically, 143 percent more visas were granted to Bangladeshis between September 2022 and 2023, which accounts for 2,188 beneficiaries. In total, 3,716 Bangladeshi nationals were granted family-related visas in the last two years.
An increase of 109 percent was recorded in beneficiaries of the same type of visa from other countries, accounting for 26,376 more visas granted. In total, 50,612 visas were granted by UK authorities in 2023.
In total, 82,395 family-related visas were granted to non-UK nationals in 2023, accounting for an increase of 117 percent or 44,484 more beneficiaries than one year ago.