Deborah Akinyosoye
Citizens of Nigeria and Pakistan might be restricted from applying for United Kingdom (UK) visas, the UK Home Office has announced.
According to The Times, a UK-based publication, the UK is moving to prevent citizens of countries that are likely to stay in the region beyond the approved duration and eventually seek asylum.
Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were highlighted as countries in this category.
To prevent this, the UK Government has said citizens of these countries may face tougher restrictions when applying to work or study in the UK.
“Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
“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 added that an Immigration White Paper, which will set out a comprehensive plan to restore the immigration system, will be published later in May.
In the past few years, the UK has been a choice destination for Nigerian migrants.
In recent times, however, Nigerian visa rejection rates to the UK have risen.
This is not the first time Nigerians have faced tougher visa restrictions following the migration wave that has gained momentum. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, also threatened to deport migrants with valid visas.