Key Highlights
- Pakistanis are using holiday, work, and student visas to lodge a record number of UK asylum claims.
- About 10,000 Pakistanis entered the UK with temporary visas before switching to claim asylum in a bid for permanent residency last year.
- The country tops the list for asylum applications, with 11,324 made from Pakistani nationals in the year to June.
- People from Pakistan represent nearly a quarter of switches from visa to asylum claims in 2024.
New Figures Reveal Visa Abuse in UK Asylum System
Recent data has exposed a concerning trend where individuals from Pakistan are exploiting loopholes in the UK’s visa system to apply for asylum, often entering on temporary work or student visas before seeking permanent residency. According to government figures, nearly 10,000 Pakistanis entered the UK with such visas and later applied for asylum, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
Record Number of Asylum Claims
The surge in applications is most pronounced among Pakistani nationals, who have lodged over 11,324 claims as of June this year. This number accounts for one in ten of all 111,000 asylum applications submitted to the UK from various countries. In fact, Pakistan has surpassed other nations like Afghanistan, Iran, and Eritrea, highlighting a sharp rise in asylum seekers originating from South Asia.
Shadow Home Secretary’s Criticism
The situation has drawn criticism from opposition politicians, with Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, asserting that Britain’s immigration system is being openly abused. “Britain’s broken border and visa system is being openly abused,” he stated, emphasizing that tens of thousands are bypassing legal entry routes to claim asylum in the UK.
Government Response and Reforms
In response to these concerns, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced sweeping reforms aimed at addressing the issue. These include tightening regulations for temporary visas and creating a 20-year wait period before permanent settlement for those arriving through such routes. Additionally, there will be regular reviews of asylum seekers’ home countries’ safety conditions every 30 months to potentially facilitate their repatriation.
These measures are part of an ongoing effort by the UK government to secure its borders and ensure that asylum claims align more closely with genuine refugee needs. However, critics argue that such reforms may not address the root causes driving individuals from Pakistan to seek refuge in the UK, particularly given economic and security challenges faced in their home country.
The debate over how best to balance humanitarian considerations with national security and immigration control continues to unfold as these new policies take effect.
