LONDON – The British government is reportedly considering new restrictions on student visa applications from Pakistan and other countries that have shown higher rates of asylum claims after arrival in the UK.
The potential move is aimed at curbing net migration, which has become a pressing issue for the government following public discontent reflected in recent local elections.
The United Kingdom is contemplating stricter regulations on student visa applications from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka.
This potential policy shift aims to address concerns that nationals from these nations are more likely to overstay their visas and subsequently claim asylum.
The move is part of a broader strategy to reduce net migration, which reached 728,000 in the year leading up to June 2024.
The government is expected to unveil a comprehensive plan in an upcoming Immigration White Paper.
Data indicates that a significant number of asylum seekers in the UK entered on student visas.
In the year ending June 2024, approximately 16,000 of the 108,000 asylum claims were from individuals who had initially entered the UK on student visas.
While specific nationalities are not detailed, reports suggest that individuals from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka are among those most likely to transition from student visas to asylum claims.
Critics argue that such measures could disproportionately affect students from these countries, potentially leading to perceptions of discrimination.
Legal experts caution that the effectiveness of profiling models depends on the quality of intelligence and the model’s accuracy, warning of possible arbitrary outcomes.
The UK government maintains that these proposed changes are necessary to uphold the integrity of the immigration system and ensure that visas are not misused as a backdoor route to asylum.
The forthcoming Immigration White Paper is anticipated to provide further details on these proposed measures and their implementation.
