UK Considers Visa Crackdown Targeting Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka
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The United Kingdom is reportedly preparing stricter visa restrictions targeting nationals from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, as part of an upcoming immigration white paper. The proposed measures aim to reduce net migration and address perceived abuses within the immigration system, according to a report first published by The Times.
The new rules are expected to focus on applicants from countries with high rates of visa overstaying and asylum claims. Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka have been specifically named, though it is unclear whether additional countries will be included.
Sources indicate that the Labour government is seeking to prevent individuals from using asylum claims as a “backdoor” to remain in the UK. Applications deemed to fit such profiles are likely to face increased scrutiny or outright rejection.
Further tightening is also expected for international graduates wishing to remain in the UK, who may soon need to secure graduate-level employment based on skill criteria rather than salary thresholds to extend their stay.
A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that the forthcoming white paper would set out a “comprehensive plan” to reform the immigration system. “We are building intelligence on the profile of individuals arriving on work and study visas who later claim asylum,” the spokesperson stated.
London Higher, representing UK universities, has voiced concern over the proposals, warning that the policies could be discriminatory and politically motivated. The group urged the government to strike a balance between immigration control and the economic and cultural contributions of international students.
Net migration fell to 728,000 in the year ending June 2024, partly due to the ban on dependants accompanying student visa holders. The latest figures also show a 30,000 decrease in international student enrolments year-on-year.
While full details of the immigration white paper remain confidential, experts caution that these reforms could have significant consequences for the UK’s international education sector.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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