UK Indo-Pacific Minister, Seema Malhotra, has defended the British government’s proposed immigration changes during her visit to India, while also raising concern about an increase in foreign students seeking asylum after finishing their studies.
Malhotra said the government is proposing to extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years.
BBC cited that some migrants could also wait up to 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement. These proposals would apply to about 2.6 million people who arrived in the UK after 2021.
The measures, according to reports, have faced criticism from some Labour MPs, although the Conservative Party has generally supported them.
Speaking in Chennai, Malhotra said the reforms are similar to policies in other countries. She said the aim is to stop misuse of the immigration system. “We welcome those coming legally,” she said.
Rise in Student Asylum Claims
Malhotra said 16,000 international students applied for asylum in the UK last year after completing their studies. Another 14,800 students applied between January and June 2025. She said these numbers indicate misuse of legal migration routes.
“We’ve seen visa abuse in the case of legal routes,” she said. “If you see that level of abuse, it undermines your immigration system.”
Some Labour MPs and members of the House of Lords have raised concerns that the new rules could affect international recruitment in health and social care.
The Royal College of Nursing said up to 50,000 nurses might leave the UK if the proposals take effect. The UK has more than 200,000 internationally trained nurses.
