- The UK is restricting visa access for nationals of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka due to high rates of visa overstaying and asylum claims.
- The restrictions will affect Skilled Worker and Student visa categories.
- The UK Home Office is developing data-driven models to flag potential visa applicants who might misuse legal entry routes for future asylum claims.
- The move is driven by data showing a significant number of asylum seekers from these countries initially entered the UK on student or work visas.
The UK is restricting visa access for nationals of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka due to concerns that applicants from these countries are more likely to overstay their visas and later seek asylum. The UK Home Office is developing data-driven models to flag potential visa applicants who might misuse legal entry routes for future asylum claims.
The restrictions will affect the Skilled Worker visa and Student visa categories. This move comes after government data revealed that nearly 10,000 asylum seekers in 2023 had initially entered the country on student or work visas, with many later accommodated in government-funded housing.
The decision has drawn criticism from immigration experts and civil rights advocates, who question the fairness and accuracy of targeting applicants based on nationality.
