The United Kingdom is reportedly set to introduce new visa restrictions for nationals from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka as part of a robust initiative aimed at reforming its immigration system and addressing visa misuse.
According to a report by The Daily Mail, the UK Home Office has highlighted citizens from these countries as being among the most likely to overstay their visas and subsequently apply for asylum, a process that can lead to permanent residency if granted.
In light of this, officials have indicated that these nationalities may soon encounter more stringent requirements when applying for student or work permit.
“Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” a Home Office spokesperson stated.
The Home Office also mentioned that it is developing intelligence systems to identify individuals who may seek to exploit the visa system at an early stage.
“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 statement further emphasised.
The complete details of the proposed changes are expected to be unveiled later in May as part of the UK’s anticipated Immigration White Paper.