UK's Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra has defended her government's immigration proposals during a visit to India, 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, with the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain extended from five to 10 years.
The reforms are aimed at an estimated 2.6 million individuals who arrived in the UK since 2021. Although receiving cautious support from Conservatives, the measures have drawn criticism from some Labour MPs.
Malhotra stated that around 16,000 international students sought asylum in the UK last year after completing their courses, with a further 14,800 doing so this year, which she noted was evidence of abuse within the system.
She asserted, 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 contended that this level of abuse damages public trust in the immigration system and undermines its intended fairness.
Although India continues to be a leading source of international students, the demand has decreased by 11% due to stringent immigration regulations, raising concerns for UK universities that depend on overseas enrollment.
To combat exploitation and scams affecting students, Malhotra mentioned the UK is increasing efforts to collaborate with law enforcement in countries like India.
The UK's immigration strategy is shifting towards a contribution-based system, focusing on the economic contributions of migrants, which has evoked discussion about its impacts on various sectors, particularly healthcare.
