LONDON – The British government is considering new restrictions on student visas for people from countries like Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, amid growing concerns over rising asylum claims and record-high migration numbers.
This comes after the Labour Party, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, suffered setbacks in recent local elections across England. Voters expressed frustration over illegal immigration and the government’s handling of migration policies.
The UK Home Office is expected to publish a new immigration White Paper next week. This key policy document will outline plans to tighten the immigration system and reduce net migration, which reached a record 728,000 people in the year ending June 2023.
A Home Office official said the goal is to “restore order to our broken immigration system” and prevent misuse of legal visa routes, such as student visas, for asylum purposes.
According to government figures, 108,000 people claimed asylum in the UK last year — and around 16,000 of those had initially entered on student visas. Though exact nationalities were not disclosed, officials stated that applicants from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka were among the most likely to later seek asylum.
The proposed changes reflect pressure on the government to take stronger action, especially from Labour lawmakers in traditional strongholds, known as the “Red Wall.” MP Jo White urged ministers to stop “pussyfooting around” and implement firm migration controls.
With migration still a hot political topic in the UK, especially post-Brexit, these new steps are seen as part of a broader effort to reassure the public that the system is fair and secure.
