Pakistanis top UK visa rejections

London, 11 Dec-(ANA)-Pakistanis are more likely to be turned down for visas to visit the UK than any other nationals, figures show.

Some 41% of applications for family visitor visas from Pakistan were rejected in the last year, according to Home Office statistics.

Bangladeshis were the second least successful with a refusal rate of 31% but the figure for India was just 14%.

Sarah Teather, of the British opposition Liberal Democratic Party, blames discrimination by the Home Office, but the government denies this.

Tougher controls are thought by some people to be due to growing controversy over immigration, and fears visitors are staying beyond their visa and disappearing into the UK. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 December 2009---