Newly uncovered data has exposed a startling trend of asylum claims being lodged by thousands of foreign nationals who originally entered the United Kingdom on visas for health and social care roles.
A Rapid Escalation in Asylum Claims
Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act show a dramatic surge in such applications. From just four claims in 2021, the number jumped to 36 in 2022, before skyrocketing to 856 in 2023. The situation intensified further in 2024, with 5,669 asylum claims made in that single year. An additional 3,671 claims were submitted in the first nine months of last year.
This brings the total number of asylum applications from individuals who arrived on care worker visas over a five-year period to 10,236. The statistics raise profound questions about the integrity of the visa route, which was initially created in 2020 and saw over 760,000 foreign nationals, including dependants, apply before its closure.
Political Reaction and Accusations of 'Industrial Scale' Abuse
The revelations have prompted fierce criticism from politicians and campaigners. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelled the vast majority of the 10,000 claims as likely 'bogus', arguing that most applicants originated from safe countries. 'These social care visas have been massively abused on an industrial scale to get into the UK,' he stated.
Philp further claimed that many who entered on these visas brought multiple dependants and a significant number never actually worked in the care sector. He called for the claims to be rejected and for the individuals to be returned to their countries of origin promptly, advocating for a tougher asylum test reserved only for those in genuine personal danger.
Alp Mehmet, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, described the figures as 'shocking but inevitable', calling the policy a 'colossal failure' that officials should have foreseen.
The Broader Picture of Work Visa Asylum Claims
The issue extends beyond the care worker route. Home Office data indicates that in the year to September, 13,427 asylum claims were made by holders of all categories of work visas, a significant increase from 9,392 the previous year. The most recent quarterly data, from July to September last year, saw such claims exceed 4,000 for the first time, reaching 4,057.
In total, migrants who initially arrived in the UK on a visa or permit lodged nearly 41,500 asylum claims in a single year, constituting 38% of a record 110,051 overall applications. Asylum seekers, including those arriving by small boats, now account for 44% of net migration to Britain, which was recorded at 204,000 in the year to June.
In response to the widespread abuse, the government closed the overseas care worker recruitment route in July of last year. A Home Office spokesman highlighted that net migration has fallen under the current government and pointed to a new proposed settlement model. This model would offer individuals a chance to reduce the time to citizenship based on their economic and social contributions to the UK.
