UK suspends visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, Sudan
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has halted study and work visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, citing exploitation of legal migration routes to claim asylum. This unprecedented visa ban, effective Thursday, targets 39% of 2025's 100,000 asylum claims made via legal pathways. The Home Office claims these nationals are using visas as a backdoor to asylum, with student applications from these countries driving a 2021-2025 spike. Mahmood stated: "Britain will provide refuge but our visa system must not be abused." The suspension follows previous threats to halt all UK visas for Angola, Namibia, and DRC unless they agreed to repatriate undocumented migrants, leading to deportation flights. This marks the first time such visa bans have been implemented.