UK Universities Suspend Pakistan, Bangladesh Admissions Amid Visa Crackdown

• UK universities have halted or curtailed admissions from Pakistan and Bangladesh due to concerns over visa misuse and pressure from the Home Office.
• At least nine universities, including Chester, Wolverhampton, and East London, have implemented restrictions on student recruitment from these "high-risk" countries.
• The measures follow tighter government regulations (BCA thresholds) requiring universities to have less than a 5% visa refusal rate.
• Visa refusal rates for Pakistani (18%) and Bangladeshi (22%) applicants significantly exceed the new 5% limit, prompting the universities' actions.
• The crackdown aims to prevent the UK's student visa system from being used as a "backdoor to migration," despite the impact on genuine students.

Why It Matters: UK universities' visa crackdown affects students from Pakistan and Bangladesh.