UK net migration topped 500,000 in year to June 2022

Net migration to the United Kingdom rose to an estimated record of 504,000 in the year to June 2022, official statistics showed on Thursday, driven by an increase in the number of non-european Union nationals. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said a recovery of travel following Covid-19, and an increase in arrivals of international students who had been studying remotely during the pandemic had contributed to the rise. An estimated 1.1 million long-term immigrants arrived in the year to June, an increase in 435,000 on the previous year. Three new visa schemes — for Ukrainians fleeing the war, the resettlement of Afghan nationals and a route for Hong Kong British nationals — together added around 186,000 to the number of arrivals. — reuters