UK Minister Raises Alarm on Student Asylum Claims Amid Visa Concerns

Wed Nov 26 2025 11:02:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Seema Malhotra, UK's Indo-Pacific Minister, highlights a surge in asylum claims from international students, raising concerns about potential abuse of the UK's visa system during a recent visit to India.

During her visit to Chennai, UK Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra expressed concerns over a significant rise in asylum claims among international students in the UK, indicating potential misuse of the visa system. Following the introduction of new immigration proposals that could increase the waiting period for permanent settlement and require closer scrutiny of foreign students, Malhotra emphasized the government's commitment to lawful migration routes. Despite the backdrop of these reforms, there are fears that they may dampen interest in the UK among prospective Indian students, who constitute a substantial portion of the international student body.

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 10 years.

The proposals will apply to an estimated 2.6 million people who arrived in the country since 2021 and 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 Chennai, adding that there was a very strong message we also send, which is that we welcome those coming legally.

Malhotra noted that around 16,000 international students had applied for asylum in the UK last year after completing their courses, which she described as evidence of abuse of legal migration routes.

Additionally, the Home Office reports that 14,800 students sought asylum this year as of June 2025, though it is unclear how many 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, she pointed out.

India remains one of the UK's largest sources of international students, but this year there has been an 11% drop in student numbers amidst tougher immigration rules, raising concerns among UK universities dependent on foreign tuition.

The recent free trade agreement between the UK and India is expected to bolster educational ties, with provisions for UK universities to establish campuses in India, despite the current political climate surrounding immigration.

Through her statements, Malhotra aims to clarify the UK’s commitment to a rigorous yet fair immigration system while navigating the complexities of international student recruitment and asylum claims.