The UK government has launched a new campaign targeting international students, warning them that overstaying visas or making weak asylum claims could lead to removal from the country.
The Home Office says the move is in response to what it calls an “alarming” rise in the number of students who legally enter the UK on study visas but later seek asylum when their visas expire.
What the Campaign Involves
For the first time, the Home Office will directly contact around 130,000 students and their families through texts and emails. The message is clear: if students have no legal right to remain in the UK, they must leave—or face deportation.
The warning explicitly states that unfounded asylum claims will be “swiftly and robustly refused” and that support will only be available to those who meet strict destitution criteria.
Already, 10,000 students whose visas are due to expire have received these notices, with tens of thousands more expected this autumn—a period when asylum applications typically increase.
Why the Crackdown Is Happening
While media attention has largely focused on people crossing the Channel in small boats, official data shows a similar number of asylum applications come from people who first entered legally with visas.
- In the year to June 2025, 43,600 people sought asylum after arriving by boat—representing 39% of all claims.
- Another 41,100 claims came from visa holders, with students making up the largest share at 14,800 cases. This is nearly six times higher than in 2020, although down 10% from the previous year.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said some students are claiming asylum “even when things haven’t changed in their home country,” creating pressure on asylum housing and hotel use.
The Debate: Security vs. Openness
The policy has divided opinion.
- Government stance: Ministers argue the rise in student asylum claims shows the system is being exploited. Earlier this year, the Home Office also cut the post-study work period for international graduates from two years to 18 months and announced stricter visa sponsorship rules for universities.
- Universities’ view: The University and College Union’s Jo Grady criticized the move as an “attack on international students,” claiming it has more to do with political pressure than genuine immigration concerns. Universities UK, meanwhile, acknowledged the government’s worries but called for better real-time data sharing to help institutions act earlier.
- Charities’ concerns: Refugee advocates stress that many claims are legitimate. The Refugee Council notes that situations in students’ home countries can change dramatically, while others may only feel safe enough to seek asylum once in the UK.
Migration Pressure and Political Context
This crackdown comes amid wider political tension over migration. Opposition parties, including the Conservatives and Reform, have pressed the government to declare a “national emergency” on illegal immigration.
At the same time, Labour’s approach contrasts sharply with the Conservatives’ previous Rwanda plan, which cost £700 million and sent just four people in two years. Instead, the government is prioritizing a pilot returns scheme with France and a pledge to move asylum seekers out of hotels sooner than expected.