LONDON: The UK government is considering imposing visa restrictions on students from countries, including Pakistan, that are considered most likely to claim asylum upon arrival. This move is part of broader efforts to reduce net migration, which reached 728,000 in the year ending June 2024. A policy document, known as a white paper, outlining these plans is expected next week.
The proposal comes after a poor showing by the Labour Party in local elections in England, where concerns over illegal immigration were a significant factor in voter dissatisfaction. The British government aims to restore order to what it describes as a “broken immigration system,” with student visas emerging as a key concern. Of the 108,000 asylum claims made in 2024, 16,000 were from individuals who had initially entered the UK on student visas.
The Home Office has identified countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka as having high rates of asylum claims from individuals who arrived on work, student, or visitor visas. To address this, the government is working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) to build a model that could identify potential asylum seekers based on their visa profiles. The aim is to reject visa claims from individuals deemed likely to abuse work and study visas for asylum purposes.
Critics, including Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, argue that creating such a model could prove difficult, as predicting asylum claims based on visa applications is inherently challenging. Diana Beech, a higher education professional in London, also expressed concerns, noting that international students, particularly from countries like Pakistan and India, play a vital role in the UK’s universities and economy. Beech warned that the proposed restrictions could have significant negative impacts on the UK economy, especially by curbing the inflow of international talent and investmen
