UK considers visa restrictions for high-risk Nations to curb Asylum claims
The UK government is reportedly planning stricter visa rules for nationals from countries with high rates of asylum claims, including Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka. The move aims to reduce cases where individuals enter legally on work or study visas but later seek asylum—potentially allowing permanent stay.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed upcoming immigration reforms but did not specify targeted nationalities. Exit check data has been unpublished since 2020, complicating assessments of overstaying.
Experts, like Prof Jonathan Portes, doubt the policy will significantly cut asylum numbers but say it targets perceived system abuses.
Last year saw a record 108,000 UK asylum applications, led by Pakistan (10,542 claims). Meanwhile, student visas dipped in 2024, with India and China remaining top sources.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to reduce both illegal and legal migration, rejecting “arbitrary caps.” Labour’s strategy includes criminalizing dangerous small-boat crossings and boosting domestic workforce training.
The plan follows pressure after Reform UK’s local election gains, where it campaigned for a “non-essential immigration freeze.”
Critics, like the Refugee Council, warn that some asylum seekers legitimately flee changing dangers at home.
The proposal builds on earlier Conservative measures, such as higher salary thresholds for skilled migrants. Net migration recently fell to 728,000, but debates over border control persist.
Source: bbc.com
