The Government is doing a "poor" job at handling immigration, according to 72% of those surveyed in a poll.
The BBC Newsnight and Radio 5 Live survey also showed 62% think Britain will lose its unique identity if immigration continues at current rates.
On immigration and employment issues, 52% believe that immigration poses a threat to UK jobs, while 46% think the UK economy will suffer without an influx of workers.
Tory leader David Cameron, who recently focused on immigration in a major speech, is seen as inspiring most confidence to do the "best job" at handling the issue.
He was backed by 29% of those surveyed, with 26% supporting Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Labour Party.
Mr Cameron forced the resignation of Tory candidate Nigel Hastilow this week, after he appeared to back Enoch Powell's "rivers of blood" speech warning of the impact of immigration on Britain.
The Government was criticised last month after it had to revise its figure for the number of foreign workers in the UK from 800,000 to 1.1 million.
The poll will feature in a debate on immigration broadcast simultaneously on Radio 5 Live and BBC2's Newsnight on Thursday night.
Opinion Research Business conducted a telephone survey of 1,062 adults across Britain from November 2-4.
