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The UK government is directly warning tens of thousands of international students to leave the country once their visas expire or risk deportation, according to a BBC report on Tuesday.
The Home Office has launched a campaign in response to what it describes as a sharp rise in students attempting to remain in the UK by applying for asylum. For the first time, students are being contacted through text messages and emails to issue formal reminders of the consequences of overstaying.
Officials say this move follows growing concerns in Whitehall that some students are misusing the asylum system as a way to stay in the country after their studies. The warnings clearly state: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
Home Office figures show that about 15% of asylum claims last year—around 16,000 applications—came from people who initially entered the UK on student visas. Although it is unclear how many applied after their visas had expired, officials believe the trend is significant enough to justify immediate action.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that some students are filing asylum claims even when conditions in their home countries remain unchanged. She stressed that while the government would continue to support genuine refugees, the system should not be exploited at the end of a student course. Cooper also noted that the rise in student asylum claims is straining already limited accommodation and hotel resources.
Roughly 10,000 students whose visas are close to expiring have already received warnings, with another 130,000 students and their families expected to be contacted in the coming months, particularly during the autumn intake. The official message being sent emphasizes that unsubstantiated asylum claims will be rejected quickly, support will only be given to those meeting strict criteria, and anyone without a legal right to stay will be removed.
This campaign is part of wider immigration reforms under the Labour government. In May, the Home Office announced tougher requirements for universities, linking their ability to sponsor international students to visa approval rates and course completion figures.
Although public debate often focuses on Channel crossings, ministers are increasingly concerned about legal migrants—such as students—who later apply for asylum. Out of 108,000 asylum applications last year, about 40,000 came from individuals who originally entered legally on student, work, or visitor visas. Student visa holders made up the largest share of this group, with numbers nearly six times higher than in 2020, though slightly reduced last year by 10%.
Cooper acknowledged that asylum applications from students account for just over 10% of the total, but argued that reform requires tackling every aspect of the system. The government has also shortened the post-study work period for graduates, cutting it from two years to 18 months.
Meanwhile, successful asylum claims from skilled worker visa holders have also declined, according to the latest Home Office statistics.
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