The number of foreigners who win visa extensions to stay in Great Britain rose to more than 900,000 last year.
An increase of 215,000 years on year, described as 'deeply alarming' by the conservatives, that means a large number of foreigners – including employees and students – staying in Great Britain for longer.
The trend risks to undermine the success of the previous government when reducing the number of new visas that is distributed.
In the midst of widespread concern about record levels of net migration – which reached 906,000 in the year to June 2023 – the conservatives cancel the rules for a number of important work and study visa routes.
Data published this week showed that last year Werkvisa fell by 244,000 and StudieVISA by 185,000, largely as a result of the Tory measures.
But the Home Office also revealed that 901,013 foreigners received visa extensions in 2024, compared to 685.705 the previous year.
In 2019 and before the annual figure ran less than 300,000.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'This is deeply alarming.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp (photo) said that the number of foreigners who win visa extensions to remain 'alarming' in Great Britain is
Chris Philp said that Kemi Badenoch (photo) believes that people should only stay in the UK if they 'make a real contribution to society'
'Too many people have come to this country and this data shows that they are extending their stay here.
'This level of visa extensions must come back. This immigration madness must end. '
He added: 'Kemi Badenoch and I said that people can stay alone if they earn above the average wages and make a real contribution to society.
'People who do not do this must be needed to leave at the end of their visa.
“We have proposed an annual migration hood and will bring a CAP mechanism to parliament as a change in the government's bill.”
The assignment of an extension can mean that foreign subjects are eligible to settle permanently in Britain, depending on the type of visa they have.
Most can apply for an indefinite period of time to stay here for five years.
The reason for the visa extension is unclear, but is probably a side effect of high net migration since the pandemic.
The home office was approached for comment.
