Nine major universities in the United Kingdom have temporarily suspended admissions for new students from Pakistan and Bangladesh after concerns emerged over the misuse of student visas.
According to UK authorities, a significant number of students from both countries applied for political asylum shortly after arriving in Britain on student visas, allegedly attempting to use the education route to secure long-term residency.
As a result, the UK government has placed Pakistan and Bangladesh in the high-risk category, leading to the suspension or tightening of student visa policies. Universities have been instructed to conduct strict scrutiny and admit only those applicants who genuinely intend to pursue education.
Institutions have also been advised not to offer places to individuals who may attempt to exploit loopholes or special exemptions within the visa system. This stricter approach has already resulted in nearly 20% of Pakistani student visa applications being rejected.
Dame Angela Eagle, the UK Minister for Border Security, stated that attempts to gain permanent residency under the guise of education will not be tolerated. She emphasized that the government expects universities to enforce more rigorous admission checks to discourage individuals seeking entry for the wrong reasons.
