UK visit visas for Pakistanis increased by 12pc in past year

The total number of UK visit visas issued to Pakistani nationals has gone up by twelve percent during the last 12 months, the Home Office’s latest immigration figures have revealed.

According to the Home Office immigration statistics for the year ending March 2022, a total of 32,706 Pakistani applicants were granted visit visas with an approval rate of 67 % compared to last year March 2021 where in 12,677 applicants 55 % were issued visas showing a significant increase in the numbers of visas for Pakistani nationals. The holder of the British standard visit visa can visit the UK for tourism, business meetings and to visit their families based in the UK.

The Home Office data also shows that Pakistanis have the single highest number of family visa applications (7432) granted in the current period with an approval rate of 90%, with an increase of 1,325 in numbers as last year a total of 6,107 family visas were issued to Pakistan citizens with the approval rate of 93 %. However, this year the overall approval rate for the family visa category has gone down by three percent.

The analysis of the UK immigration data confirms that 21,372 Pakistani students were granted visas to study at the British educational institutes at various levels during the period from March 2021 to March 2022, an increase of around twelve thousand as last year 8,670 students were given visas. Under the new UK graduate visa scheme, graduates of the UK universities would be able to work in the UK for two years after completing their course.

According to the Home Office figures, around 6,513 work visas were issued to Pakistanis as well as 4,847 skilled visas were issued in the same period. Commenting on the figures for Pakistan, a spokesperson of the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI), the Home Office’s department responsible for making immigration decisions said that they have taken various steps to streamline the visa application process.

They said all visa applications are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules. Additional staff continue to assist with visa casework. We are working at pace to get staff appropriately trained and able to process visa applications, the spokesperson added.