Exploring the social, cultural, and economic challenges faced by East Asian women as they settle in the UK.
By Heidy Lo
It’s no secret that applying for a UK visa—whether for study or work—can be a long and stressful process. But in recent years, it’s only become more difficult. As the UK government releases ‘The White Paper’, the situation is set to get even worse as plans for tightening the immigration system are announced.
I have lived in the UK since 2019, when I moved here for university, and in the process, I have applied for three different visas, including two student visas and a BNO visa. Even though each visa application poses a lot of anxiety and work, honestly, that’s just one of many hurdles East Asian women like me face when trying to build a life here.
Immigration in the UK in recent years
According to sources like the Office for National Statistics and BBC News, migration has decreased significantly in recent years.
“Long-term net migration is down by almost 50%. […] This change is driven by a decrease in immigration from non-EU+ nationals, where we are seeing reductions in people arriving on work- and study-related visas, and an increase in emigration over the 18 months to December 2024, especially people leaving who originally came on study visas once pandemic travel restrictions to the UK were eased.” – Office for National Statistics
BBC News reported that the estimated net migration to the UK fell significantly in 2024, with the number almost halving that of 2023. Dominic Casciani, Home and Legal Correspondent, states that “it’s clear from the figures that the big falls in net migration are down to both restrictions on visas introduced by the outgoing Conservative administration and a delayed effect of the pandemic”. As a result, when disclosing immigration statistics, the UK government states that “the number of grants to main applicants on other routes in the ‘Worker’ category, (which includes ‘Skilled Worker’ visas) in the year ending March 2025 has fallen by 23%, compared to the year ending March 2024”.
With the publication of ‘The White Paper’ in May, things are just going to get worse for migrants hoping to settle in the UK. In this new document, many new policies are announced to tighten immigration control, including but not limited to increasing the time needed to get citizenship from 5 years to 10 years for some visa routes, reducing the graduate visa time from 24 months to 18 months, lifting the level from RQF 3 to RQF6 and above for the skilled worker visa, rising the salary thresholds for the skilled worker visa, and increasing the difficulty of the English level test from B1 to B2 when applying for settlement and citizenship.
“I was taught to memorise, not to question” — the education gap facing Asian migrant women at UK universities
As someone born and raised in Asia, the contrast between the education system I grew up in and the one I encountered in the UK was stark. Back home, school meant memorising model answers and being spoon-fed information. Here, the focus is broader—extracurriculars like the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Model UN, and Round Square are just as important as academics.
This difference shaped everything. The Asian model prepares students well for standardised tests, but it doesn’t always translate to fields like the liberal arts or humanities, where critical and creative thinking are essential. When I studied English Literature at university in the UK, I enjoyed it—but it was clear from the start that I was at a disadvantage.
I wasn’t taught to argue or analyse in the same way my peers were. I had to work hard to bridge that gap, learning to write—and think—differently. Even with supportive lecturers, it was difficult to know what they expected from my assignments. Sometimes, I’d leave a meeting still unsure how to improve my work, thinking: how do I ask for help if I don’t even know what I don’t know?
Language is another major barrier for many East Asian students. I consider myself one of the lucky ones—I grew up in a city where English was used almost daily. But that’s not the case for most.
Many of us arrive in the UK having studied English for years, yet the gap between written and spoken ability is wide. Back home, we were rarely expected to use English in everyday conversation, so listening to lectures, participating in discussions, or even chatting with coursemates became overwhelming.
The struggle doesn’t end in the classroom. Language barriers make it harder to make friends, and many end up socialising only within their own cultural or language group. It’s a natural response—but one that can deepen the sense of isolation and make adjusting to life in the UK even more difficult.
Career and life after graduation: challenges East Asian women face staying in the UK, entering the workforce, and accessing internships and mentorship
Before the announcement of ‘The White Paper’, it was already difficult for international students to find jobs in the UK after graduating. For starters, most jobs do not provide sponsorships, limiting the options for international students. Also, though international students can indeed apply for a graduate visa to find employment, most of them either cannot get a job in the given timeframe, or they get laid off after 2 years because the company is not willing to sponsor them. Companies have to pay an amount to the government to be eligible to sponsor international workers, and the amount has been increasing, hindering companies from hiring international workers. Even if international students are lucky to get a job, the high salary requirement for a work visa means that most entry-level jobs are not enough to help them stay in the UK. Of course, the access to networks for mentorship and general support is also a problem because of various reasons like language barriers, or the fact that since it is getting harder to stay in the UK, there are less people from East Asian countries, hence there are less mentors and support groups for East Asians.
Speaking to Eva, who came to the UK in 2021 for a postgraduate degree and went on to work in the UK, she shared the hurdles she had to go through to obtain a visa. When she was still in university, the goal of obtaining a work visa drove her to work harder. “I was kind of fixated on that thought, I must get a skilled worker visa, and that became my drive, and I was able to achieve a lot because of this motivation. When my classmates were flying around, traveling, and having fun during school, I was working, volunteering, trying to get a job, and studying at the same time, so I didn’t really have a lot of fun when I was at school.” When Eva first got her work visa, she thought it was “good” because the visa provided “a relatively good life […] a corporate environment to help you grow in your career in the first two years” as the companies that can afford sponsorships are “stable”. However, the situation changed.
In 2023, the UK government announced an increase in the salary requirement for work visas, and Eva, who had just gotten an offer from a company, needed to quickly put together documents for her application within 3 months before the new requirement came into effect. At the same time, Eva started to question if this visa should be her main goal in life.
“Life was not very promising at that time, and I seriously don’t know if I can stay.” – Eva
Other than the uncertainty of her prospects in the UK, Eva also discusses another problem with attaching visas to jobs.
“To have a work visa for 5 years or 10 years, it’s like you bound yourself with the company, and if the company goes bad, your career goes bad at the same time, unless you start job-hopping, but I think it is very difficult if they change (the policy) to 10 years. Work visa turns out to be a limitation after two years, and I didn’t anticipate that. I didn’t expect that. […] Now I’m in this situation where I have a work visa, but this is not a great work situation. It feels like I’m in prison just serving time.” – Eva
After analysing the situation and the constant instability, Eva could not help but ask, “Do I want the visa, or do I want a good life?”
Migrants come to the UK hoping for a better life — and it’s important to remember that we bring more than just our hopes and dreams. We contribute in ways that often go unseen but matter deeply. Economically, migrants help keep the country moving forward. When we work, spend, and build communities, we add to the UK’s productivity and vibrancy. Reports show that without the steady arrival of working-age migrants, parts of Europe could face serious economic slowdowns. The UK might avoid a sharp decline in its workforce for now, but growth is slowing, and that means every new migrant ready to work, study, or build a life here matters.
Yet, these contributions often go unrecognised amid the tightening visa rules and rising barriers. Some argue that stricter policies protect the economy by reducing public spending, and yes, there might be short-term gains in government budgets when certain visa categories are cut. But when the bigger picture is considered — the businesses that rely on migrant workers, the innovation we bring, and the connections that enrich society — it’s clear the costs of these restrictions go far beyond what the numbers say.
So while the journey for East Asian women like me can be overwhelming and filled with hurdles, it’s important to remember that we are not just numbers or statistics. We are part of this country’s future, hoping for a place to belong and to contribute fully, not just economically, but socially and culturally too.
Emotional and mental health impact on East Asian women migrants: facing alienation, racism, sexism, and lack of support networks
“We feel safer when out with British friends”.
Racism is still prominent in the UK. From people saying ‘ni hao’ to anyone who looks remotely Chinese, to the fear of doing anything ‘out of place’, like wearing a mask in public, in fear of being targeted and harassed. As a Chinese migrant who has lived here for more than five years, I have lost count of how many times random people would come up to me and say ‘ni hao’. The anger and helplessness I feel as they speak in a language they assume to be my native tongue never dulls. Going beyond casual racism, in neighbourhoods mostly occupied by Asian migrants, robberies and vandalism are common, as there is a stereotype that East Asian migrants are wealthy, so we carry the bullseye wherever we go.
All women suffer one way or another with sexism, and as an Asian woman, the problem is even bigger due to the different barriers. To begin with, if an East Asian woman experiences an assault, she probably cannot speak out because of the language barrier or for fear that it may affect her visa status. Even when we take a step back and just look at the normal daily lives of East Asian women, I have heard more than one confession where an East Asian woman says she feels better and safer when out with British friends.
“I think it reduces the likelihood of being looked at or targeted. I also think it helps us to so-called blend in so that people may look at us as locals, too. I also believe walking with British friends or anyone who looks European can help create a sense of safety, like how having a local companion can ease some sort of discomfort at times.” – Yenn, an East Asian Woman who moved to the UK in 2022
I agree with this sentiment. When I am with my British friends and speaking in English, there are fewer stares and I get treated better in shops. In contrast, when I am with my family and speaking in Cantonese, we are treated differently and are usually ignored. It is also worth noting that younger East Asian women are treated better than older ones. There are instances where middle-aged Asian women are targeted in shops like Sainsbury’s, where they are followed by a security guard almost the entire shopping trip because the guard thinks they will steal something. It is cases like these that make me wonder if it will happen to me when I get older.
With the new tightened immigration policies and the many barriers East Asian women need to go through when building a life in the UK, the future appears bleak. This is why we must speak out and join hands. As the immigration situation seems to be against migrants more and more, support and communication are keys to fortifying ourselves against the challenges. Migrants come to the UK in the hope of building a better and more stable life, and we believe that we can thrive alongside the UK as everyone contributes to building a better future.
This article is part of the series “Women On The Move. Fleeing, Fighting, Forgotten”. To read more inspiring stories of everyday women making a real difference in the world, be sure to check out the latest edition of Wempower magazine, or listen to our podcast.
