The government is set to announce plans to restrict work and study visa applications from particular nationalities that are most likely to overstay and then claim asylum, Sky News understands.
It is understood that the Home Office is specifically planning on restricting visa applications from Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, and Nigerians – nationalities that are statistically some of the highest asylum applicants linked to overstaying visas.
But they may not be the only nationalities subject to a crackdown, with the government planning to reject the visa applications of individuals who fit the profile of an applicant likely to go on to claim asylum once in the UK and are from countries with high rates of asylum claims.
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According to The Times, which first reported this story, the Home Office is also looking to prevent people who arrive in the UK on a visa and go on to request asylum from claiming they are destitute to then receive taxpayer-funded accommodation.
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When applying for a visa to come to work or study in the UK, applicants must prove they have enough money to support themselves and any dependents for the duration of their planned stay.
These new measures are expected to be part of the government’s White Paper on immigration, due to be published shortly, which will aim to bring down the number of new arrivals to the UK. Net migration stood at 728,000 in the year to June 2024.
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Efforts to reduce immigration to the UK are in much sharper focus for ministers in the wake of Reform UK’s seismic victory at last week’s local elections, securing 677 council seats and control of 10 local authorities, as well as two mayoralties.
According to the latest polling from YouGov, 48% of Britons say immigration is one of the top issues facing the country, which is the second most important issue after the economy.
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But the plans are likely to face a backlash from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nigeria, who could argue the government’s measures discriminate against them. There are also questions over the legality of the plans, and they will likely be challenged in the courts.
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The government is under severe pressure to reduce migration, having promised major reforms at last year’s general election. Tackling the abuse of work and study visas has been a focus of both this government, and the last Conservative one.
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A Home Office spokesperson said in a statement: “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.
“We keep the visa system under constant review and will where we detect trends, which may undermine our immigration rules, we will not hesitate to take action.
“Under our Plan for Change, our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system.”
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Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Times: “This is a desperate response to the thrashing Labour got in last week’s elections, but like everything Starmer offers, it is just performative and won’t make a difference.
“The system already refuses visas for people who fit the profile of asylum claimants, and asylum seekers already have to prove they are destitute to get accommodation.”
