The United Kingdom government is planning to tighten its immigration policy again. This time, it’s focusing on people from countries seen as “high-risk” for overstaying or making asylum claims.
Nigerians, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans may be the first to feel the effects of this coming policy change.
Reports from British media say the UK Home Office is closely reviewing study and work visa applications from people in Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These countries reportedly have a high number of citizens who enter the UK legally but later try to seek asylum or remain in the country after their visas expire.
A UK Home Office official said the country wants to stop people from abusing the system.
“To tackle abuse by foreign nationals who arrive on work and study visas and go on to claim asylum, we are building intelligence on the profile of these individuals to identify them earlier and faster,” the spokesperson said.
“We keep the visa system under constant review, and where we detect trends that may undermine our immigration rules, we will not hesitate to take action.”
The UK says it wants to catch patterns of abuse early and stop people from taking advantage of the system meant for genuine students and skilled workers.
White Paper Coming Soon With Details
The UK’s new Labour government promised to tighten immigration in its campaign. Since taking power, it’s working fast to make good on that promise.
A spokesperson for the party said: “The overall level of net migration must be properly controlled and managed.”
The country is waiting for the release of a new Immigration White Paper. This document will lay out detailed changes and outline what nationalities will be most affected.
The paper is also expected to explain the data and criteria used to determine which countries are seen as high-risk.
If the policy is implemented, it could affect thousands of Nigerian students, workers, and families planning to migrate to the UK.
Under the current system, Nigerian nationals are among the highest recipients of UK study visas. According to UK immigration data, in 2023, Nigerians received over 65,000 study visas—second only to Indian nationals.
But British authorities say that some of these visa holders don’t return when their visas expire. Others switch to asylum claims, adding pressure to the UK’s already stretched asylum system.
“Under our plan for change, our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” the Home Office added.
The government says it’s not against legal migration but wants to weed out abuse and maintain control over who enters and stays in the country.
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