THE United Kingdom (UK) is set to introduce new and tighter visa access for citizens of Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, citing concerns over high rates of visa overstays and a surge in asylum applications from these countries.
This was revealed on Tuesday, May 6, by the Home Office spokesperson, who said that the UK Home Office is preparing to introduce stricter immigration policies targeting nationalities identified as having a greater likelihood of remaining in the country beyond the terms of their visas.
“Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” the spokesperson said.
The UK authorities said that the proposed restrictions were prompted by a trend of individuals entering the country on work or study visas and subsequently applying for asylum.
“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 where we detect trends, which may undermine our immigration rules, we will not hesitate to take action,” the spokesperson added.
The paper, due later this month, will also present a wider strategy to restore order to what the government describes as a “broken” immigration system.
The ICIR reports that the Home Office announced last month that 43 failed asylum seekers and foreign offenders were returned on a charter flight to Nigeria and Ghana, as the government steps up international collaboration to secure our borders.
Nigerian applicants have recently encountered stricter visa regulations, such as limitations on bringing dependents and fewer opportunities for post-study employment.
Data from 2024 revealed a sharp rise in UK visa rejections for Nigerians, with the rejection rate increasing from one in 31 applications in 2022 to one in eight by late 2023.
It is worth recalling that just last month, the UK government announced a rise in visa fees for students, tourists, and other travelers.
The Home Office said that the student visa fee has increased from £363 to £490, reflecting a 35 per cent rise.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.