Chicago – November 24, 2025
UK’s Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra has flagged concerns over a surge in student asylum claims, describing it as a misuse of visa routes. During a recent visit to India, Malhotra highlighted that around 16,000 international students sought asylum after completing their courses last year, with a further 14,800 applying this year. She stated that this represents an abuse of legal migration channels, undermining the integrity of the UK immigration system.
The UK government is proposing changes to extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years, potentially affecting 2.6 million people who arrived since 2021.
Malhotra emphasized that the UK continues to welcome students who enter legally while intensifying efforts to prevent exploitation. The government is working with law enforcement in countries like India to exchange intelligence and combat criminal networks involved in visa abuse.
Meanwhile, British universities express concern over declining international student numbers due to stricter immigration rules. The reforms aim to protect the system’s fairness and restore public trust by targeting those who overstay their visas or claim asylum without genuine need.
