First brought to public attention by a report in The Times, the Home Office has identified these three nations as having a significant proportion of their citizens who remain in the UK beyond the validity of their visas. The report further suggests that a notable number of these overstayers then apply for asylum, and successful asylum claims allow individuals to gain permanent residency in the UK.
Consequently, the Home Office has indicated that nationals from Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka might face more stringent restrictions when applying for future work or study visas to the UK.
A spokesperson for the Home Office addressed the reports, stating, “Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system." The spokesperson further elaborated on the rationale behind the potential restrictions, saying, “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."
The Home Office emphasized that the visa system is under continuous evaluation. “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 asserted. The full details of the government’s proposed changes are expected to be outlined in the Immigration White Paper, scheduled for publication later this month.
Nigerians have already experienced significant impacts from the UK’s recent immigration reform initiatives over the past two years, particularly concerning student visas, work permits, and overall visa approvals. The introduction of stricter rules on dependents and the curtailment of post-study work opportunities by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have led to a substantial decline in international student applications to the UK.
In response to these challenges, many Nigerians have increasingly looked towards the United States as an alternative destination for education and work opportunities. However, even this option is now facing increased uncertainty due to tightening immigration policies in the US.
A 2024 report highlighted a stark increase in the UK’s visa rejection rates for Nigerian applicants, rising from approximately 1 in 31 applications in late 2022 to 1 in 8 by late 2023. This surge in rejections contributed to a significant 63 per cent decrease in the number of visas issued to Nigerians compared to the preceding year. The financial strain of non-refundable application fees coupled with these higher rejection rates has intensified the pressure on Nigerian individuals seeking to travel to the UK.
It is noteworthy that the British government reportedly earned over N40 billion from processing visa applications for Nigerian nationals between June 2023 and June 2024, underscoring the significant financial implications of these policies.
Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump has also implemented stricter immigration controls, issuing warnings that even students holding valid visas could face deportation if the US government believes their presence is not in the nation's best interest.
Against this backdrop of increasing immigration restrictions in traditionally popular destinations, African economists and development experts have been increasingly vocal in urging nationals of developing nations to reconsider seeking opportunities abroad. Their message emphasizes the importance of staying within their home countries and contributing to local development and progress.