By Chico Mies The UK government is preparing to restrict visa access for nationals from countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as part of a wider crackdown aimed at curbing visa overstaying and asylum abuse. According to reports, individuals from these countries may soon find it harder to obtain work or study visas. The Home Office claims the move targets those who legally enter the UK but later switch to claiming asylum, potentially staying permanently if granted. The department’s forthcoming Immigration White Paper will outline sweeping reforms to address what officials call a “broken immigration system.” Although the Home Office hasn’t published exit data since 2020, ministers argue that undocumented overstayers pose a challenge to the system’s integrity. Critics, however, including Professor Jonathan Portes, suggest that the actual impact on asylum figures could be minimal, saying the effort appears more about optics than meaningful change. Prime Minister Keir Starm...
By Chico Mies The UK government is preparing to restrict visa access for nationals from countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as part of a wider crackdown aimed at curbing visa overstaying and asylum abuse. According to reports, individuals from these countries may soon find it harder to obtain work or study visas. The Home Office claims the move targets those who legally enter the UK but later switch to claiming asylum, potentially staying permanently if granted. The department’s forthcoming Immigration White Paper will outline sweeping reforms to address what officials call a “broken immigration system.” Although the Home Office hasn’t published exit data since 2020, ministers argue that undocumented overstayers pose a challenge to the system’s integrity. Critics, however, including Professor Jonathan Portes, suggest that the actual impact on asylum figures could be minimal, saying the effort appears more about optics than meaningful change. Prime Minister Keir Starm...