UK Defends Immigration Overhaul as Indian Student Asylum Claims Rise

UK Defends Immigration Overhaul as Indian Student Asylum Claims Rise

UK Indo-Pacific Minister Seema Malhotra has defended her government's controversial immigration reforms during a visit to India, citing a surge in asylum claims by foreign students-including thousands from India-as justification for stricter rules. The proposals, which could force some migrants to wait up to 20 years for permanent settlement, have sparked criticism even within her own party.

Stricter Pathways to Settlement

The new measures, currently under consultation, would extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to 10 years for an estimated 2.6 million migrants who arrived in the UK since 2021. Speaking in Chennai, Malhotra argued the reforms align with global standards to curb abuse of legal migration routes, emphasizing that the UK continues to "welcome those coming legally."

She pointed to 16,000 asylum applications filed by international students in 2024 after completing their studies-a figure that rose to 14,800 in the first half of 2025 alone, according to Home Office data. "If you see that level of abuse, it undermines public confidence in the fairness of the system," Malhotra told the BBC, though the share of Indian nationals among these claimants remains unclear.

Impact on Indian Students and Universities

India remains the UK's largest source of foreign students, accounting for 25% of arrivals in 2023-2024, followed by China (23%) and Nigeria (8%). However, demand has cooled: applications from Indian students dropped 11% year-over-year amid tighter visa policies, raising alarms among financially strained UK universities reliant on tuition fees.

Malhotra insisted the UK "very much welcomes" Indian students but is collaborating with universities to verify their legitimacy. The recently signed UK-India free trade agreement (FTA), projected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion annually, includes provisions for nine UK universities-such as Liverpool University, which will open a Bengaluru campus in 2026-to expand into India.

Trade vs. Migration Tensions

Despite the FTA's economic promises, migration policies have strained relations. During an October visit, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer rebuffed India's push for easier visa access, a long-standing demand in exchange for trade concessions. Malhotra countered criticism that the UK is "shutting the door" to Indian professionals, noting nearly 500,000 visas were issued to Indian nationals last year across work, study, and visitor categories.

Shift to 'Contribution-Based' Immigration

The government's overhaul reflects a broader pivot toward a 'contribution-based' system, where long-term residency hinges on economic impact rather than tenure. While details remain under review, Malhotra highlighted expanded routes for skilled workers in sectors like healthcare-where 200,000 internationally educated nurses (a quarter of the UK's nursing workforce) include many Indians.

Yet concerns persist. A Royal College of Nursing (RCN) survey warned up to 50,000 nurses could leave the UK if the reforms proceed, exacerbating staffing shortages. Malhotra acknowledged the risks but stressed efforts to combat cross-border visa scams, which have defrauded Indian migrants of hundreds of thousands of pounds, through intelligence-sharing with Indian law enforcement.

"We are expanding routes for those with skills in areas that the UK requires. But we must ensure the system is fair and commands public trust."

Seema Malhotra, UK Indo-Pacific Minister

Political and Sectoral Pushback

The proposals have drawn flak from Labour MPs and the House of Lords, particularly over potential harm to sectors like healthcare and social care. Critics argue the reforms could deter essential workers while failing to address underlying exploitation risks. The government maintains the changes are necessary to restore "control and fairness" in immigration policy.