Visa ‘brake’ for Myanmar students applying to universities in UK begins today

The U.K government’s visa “brake” took effect on Thursday, restricting student visa applications from Myanmar and three other countries, as well as skilled worker visas from Afghanistan.

“There have been no additional changes to the visa brake announcement since it was made on March 5,” the U.K embassy in Yangon told DVB by email.

The so-called visa “brake” means that applications submitted from students in Myanmar, Sudan, Cameroon, and Afghanistan after March 26 will be automatically rejected. The U.K. stated that the restriction targets visa routes where a high number of applicants later claim asylum.

Students from Myanmar planning to study in the U.K and have received admission offers from universities told DVB that they are facing “uncertainty” and visa delays due to the restriction.

“People who have already applied and are about to go are facing huge difficulties. It’s really sad to see so many opportunities lost,” a Myanmar graduate currently studying at a university in the U.K. told DVB on the condition of anonymity.

The new visa “brake” policy applies to student visa applicants from the four countries previously mentioned and to skilled worker visa applicants from Afghanistan. It is based on the nationality of the main applicant and does not depend on where the application is submitted from.

The U.K. government added that this is only a temporary measure and will be reviewed regularly. But it did not provide a timeline for when it may be lifted. It added that individuals who already hold valid visas will not be affected and can remain in the country.