The United Kingdom government has begun directly contacting tens of thousands of international students, warning them to leave the country once their visas expire or risk being forcibly removed.
According to a BBC report on Tuesday, the Home Office launched the campaign following a sharp increase in the number of students applying for asylum after completing their studies.
Officials described the trend as “alarming,” noting that many applicants were attempting to remain in the country even when conditions in their home nations had not changed.
In what has been described as a first-of-its-kind move, students are receiving text messages and emails spelling out the consequences of overstaying.
The message reads in part: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper explained that while the government would continue to support genuine refugees, students could not misuse the system.
“We obviously will do our bit to support genuine refugees, but if nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course,” she said.
Government data shows that about 15 per cent of asylum applications last year—nearly 16,000—were filed by individuals who initially entered the UK on student visas.
Though officials did not confirm how many lodged their claims after visa expiration, they stressed that the trend justified immediate intervention.
Already, around 10,000 students with expiring visas have received warnings, and an estimated 130,000 students and dependents are expected to be contacted in the coming months. The clampdown coincides with the autumn academic intake period.
The government also warned that meritless asylum claims would be “swiftly and robustly refused.” The official notice further states: “Any request for asylum support will be assessed against destitution criteria. If you do not meet the criteria, you will not receive support.”
Ministers argue that the surge in asylum claims from legal migrants—including students, skilled workers, and visitors—has added strain to an already stretched asylum housing system.
Figures show that of the 108,000 asylum applications made in the UK last year, about 40,000 came from people who had entered legally, compared to 35,000 from irregular small boat crossings.
Student visa holders formed the largest proportion of legal entrants seeking asylum, nearly six times higher than in 2020. While the numbers have dropped slightly in recent months, the Home Office says it is determined to reduce them further.
As part of wider immigration reforms, the government has also shortened the post-study work period for overseas graduates from two years to 18 months.
Cooper insisted that reforming the system required addressing every loophole. “To fix the system, we must tackle every single bit of it,” she said.