Tens of thousands of international students in the UK are being directly contacted by the government with warnings that they must leave the country if they overstay their visas.
The Home Office has launched a new campaign to address the rise in asylum claims made by students after their visas expire.
BBC cites that this is the first time the Home Office has proactively contacted foreign students through text and email.
The campaign follows what the department has described as an increase in asylum applications by individuals who originally entered the UK on student visas. These messages are being sent as the government’s efforts to reduce overall asylum claims and discourage overstaying.
Home Office Begins Direct Messaging Campaign
Reports inform that in light of the campaign, the government has already contacted 10,000 students whose visas are close to expiring. A total of 130,000 students and their family members will receive messages in the coming months.
The communications include warnings such as: “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, you must leave. If you don’t, we will remove you.”
The messages also address the issue of meritless asylum claims, stating: “If you submit an asylum claim that lacks merit, it will be swiftly and robustly refused.”
Support for asylum seekers will be limited to those who meet specific criteria. According to the Home Office, support will only be provided if the applicant meets the “destitution criteria.”
Visa Holders Make Up Large Share of Asylum Claims
While political attention has largely focused on small boat arrivals, the Home Office says a comparable number of people apply for asylum after arriving in the UK legally on visas. In the year to June 2025, 41,100 asylum claims were made by visa holders, compared to 43,600 made by small boat arrivals.
Among the visa holders, the largest group of claimants were international students. The Home Office reported 16,000 asylum applications from student visa holders last year—almost six times higher than in 2020. The department has observed a 10% decrease in such claims since then, but is seeking further reductions.
Policy Changes for International Graduates
Earlier in the year, the Home Office introduced changes to the Graduate visa route. The period that international graduates can remain in the UK after finishing their studies has been reduced from two years to 18 months. This adjustment is part of said efforts to control immigration and manage post-study work rights.
The government has also noted a decrease in asylum claims among skilled worker visa holders. However, ministers remain focused on student visa holders due to the increase in applications following visa expiry.
Government Targets Visa Abuse
The Home Office has described the rise in asylum claims by student visa holders as a misuse of the system. Officials believe many of these claims are submitted as a way to remain in the UK after legal permission has ended.
The government’s current strategy is to move to prevent this practice and ensure that only those with a legitimate claim to remain are allowed to stay.
