London, May 2025 — The UK government is preparing to unveil a new Immigration White Paper later this month, promising a sweeping overhaul aimed at curbing non-essential immigration and tackling abuses of the visa and asylum systems.
As part of the plans, visa applications for certain nationalities could face new restrictions, with a focus on individuals arriving on work or study visas who later claim asylum. A Home Office spokesperson said intelligence is being built to identify such trends early and act decisively.
“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 spokesperson said. “We keep the visa system under constant review and will not hesitate to take action where we detect trends that may undermine our immigration rules.”
Reform UK, in its general election manifesto, has pledged to freeze non-essential immigration, while still allowing entry for individuals with critical skills, such as those in healthcare. This aligns with growing political pressure on mainstream parties to tighten border controls and restore confidence in the immigration system.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged voter frustration in the wake of local elections, saying he shares the “sharp edge of fury” directed at major parties. He vowed to push for deeper reforms to immigration policy and public services in response.
Meanwhile, refugee advocates have raised concerns over the implications of the planned changes. Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, warned that individuals on work or study visas could face serious risk if forced to return to unstable home countries.
“Some people on work or study visas may find their lives at risk because the political situation in their home country has changed,” Solomon said. “It is right they are protected from harm and given a fair hearing in the asylum system.”
The full details of the government’s new approach will be laid out in the forthcoming White Paper, which is expected to propose measures to prevent overstaying and reform asylum processing amid a broader pledge to “restore order to our broken immigration system.”
Source:LIIE IMMIGRATION
