UK Government Addresses Visa Concerns Amid Rising Asylum Claims from Students

Tue Nov 25 2025 20:34:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

UK Minister Seema Malhotra highlights the issue of visa 'abuse' as applications for asylum surge among international students, emphasizing new immigration reforms.

During her recent visit to India, UK Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra raised alarms over the increasing number of international students applying for asylum post-graduation. With over 14,000 asylum claims made this year alone, she attributes this trend to potential misuse of legal migration routes. Malhotra's government plans to implement stricter immigration reforms, extending the wait for permanent residency and reinforcing efforts against visa fraud. She insists that while the UK welcomes legitimate foreign students, measures are necessary to uphold the integrity of the immigration system.

UK's Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra has defended her government's immigration proposals during a visit to India, while expressing concern about a rise in foreign students seeking asylum at the end of their studies.

Under the new plans, some migrants could have to wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently in the UK and the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to ten years.

The proposals will apply to an estimated 2.6 million people who arrived in the country since 2021. They have drawn criticism from some quarters, including a few Labour MPs, even though the Conservatives gave the measures a cautious welcome.

The reforms are 'in line with what countries around the world do' to stop the abuse of their immigration systems, Malhotra told the BBC in the southern Indian city of Chennai, adding that there was a 'very strong message we also send, which is that we welcome those coming legally'.

According to Malhotra, some 16,000 international students from across the world had applied for asylum in the UK last year after completing their courses, which she said was evidence of abuse of legal migration routes.

A further 14,800 students sought asylum this year to June 2025, latest Home Office figures show. It is unclear how many of them are Indian nationals.

'We've seen visa abuse in the case of legal routes, where people have gone legally and then sought to overstay when their visas weren't extended,' Malhotra said.

'If you see that level of abuse, it undermines your immigration system. It undermines public confidence, and the fairness and control people expect.'

India remains one of the UK's biggest sources of international students, but demand is cooling. The number of Indian students heading to the UK has fallen 11% from last year as tougher immigration rules kick in. This has triggered concern among UK universities which rely on foreign students and are already under financial strain.

Despite these challenges, Malhotra stated that the UK is still committed to welcoming Indian students and is actively engaged with universities to ensure they are genuine foreign students. Furthermore, the recent free trade agreement between the UK and India is expected to enhance educational and economic collaboration between the two nations, possibly leading to new opportunities for Indian students.

However, the UK government faces criticism regarding its immigration policies, with fears that tougher restrictions could hinder the recruitment of essential professionals, especially in healthcare and social care. Amid ongoing debates, Malhotra emphasized the importance of a balanced immigration system that remains open to those who contribute positively to the economy.

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