The UK government is weighing new restrictions on student visa applications from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka, amid concerns that nationals from these countries are more likely to apply for asylum after arriving in the UK, according to official sources.
This move is part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing net migration, which reached 728,000 in the 12 months leading up to June 2024.
A new Immigration White Paper, expected to be released next week, will lay out comprehensive reforms to the immigration system in response to growing public concern, particularly following Labour’s underwhelming performance in recent local elections.
Government figures show that of the 108,000 asylum seekers recorded last year, around 16,000 initially entered the country on student visas. While detailed nationality data has not been disclosed, officials pointed to Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka as major sources of those switching visa categories.
The Home Office said the forthcoming reforms aim to fix what it described as a “broken immigration system.” Labour MP Jo White, representing constituencies in the so-called Red Wall, has called for tougher measures to reduce migration, echoing voter dissatisfaction.
Immigration continues to be a divisive issue in British politics and was a key factor in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
