The United Kingdom has deployed new, stricter regulations to reduce the number of foreign workers, students, and citizens entering the country.
In a press statement on Monday, May 1, the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced that the country is set to raise the skills threshold to degree-level to ensure that individuals who enter the country as workers are competent enough to propel the country's economy.
Additionally, the prime minister said that the UK will also raise the bar on English requirements across every main immigration route to ensure that any foreigner who wishes to work and live there is capable of speaking the language fluently.
According to Starmer, the UK is set to increase the immigration skills charge, which is paid by employers when they onboard foreign workers, so as to ensure that British Citizens are prioritised by employers during employment.
The UK has further put a halt to overseas recruitment for social care Visas until 2028; however, it will allow Visa extension and in-country switching for those already in the country.
The prime minister further stated that the UK government is also set to roll out digital IDs and eVisas for all foreign citizens to make it easier for immigration enforcement officers to weed out unlawful immigrants.
Furthermore, the US is set to stiffen its requirements that educational institutions follow before sponsoring international students to ensure that fewer foreign students study in the country's institutions. Additionally, the duration during which a graduate will be allowed to stay in the country after graduation will be reduced to 18 months.
"We will introduce new interventions for sponsors who are close to failing their sponsor duties, including placing them on an action plan designed to improve their compliance and imposing limits on the number of new international students they can recruit while they are subject to those plans," he stated.
"Measures unveiled in the immigration white paper published today (Monday 12 May) will reshape our immigration system towards those who contribute most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers," he stated.
On the other hand, the UK is expected to introduce new policies for people seeking asylum in the country, which include tighter visa controls, restrictions, requirements, or scrutiny, especially where evidence of mistreatment is displayed.
The UK is further expected to revise and reform the Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) deportation system to ensure the Home Office is also informed of all foreign nationals who have been convicted in the country.
According to the Prime Minister, for one to acquire citizenship and rights to settle in the UK, a foreigner will be required to be in the country for 10 years, up from the initial 5.
"The government will publish further reforms to the asylum system and border security later this summer, building on measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill currently progressing through Parliament," it stated.
