Tens of thousands of international students in the UK are being directly contacted by the government and warned they face removal if they overstay their visas.
The Home Office has launched a new campaign in response to what it describes as an “alarming” rise in cases where students, after legally entering the country on study visas, remain beyond their permitted stay and later claim asylum.
For the first time, international students are receiving text messages and emails from the Home Office reminding them of their legal obligations and warning of potential enforcement action if they fail to comply.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking to the BBC, said the trend has become a growing concern. “We are seeing cases where individuals claim asylum even when circumstances in their home country have not changed,” she said. “This undermines the integrity of both our immigration system and the asylum process.”
The government insists that the UK remains open to genuine international students, highlighting their valuable contribution to universities, local economies, and cultural exchange. However, ministers argue that the visa system cannot be misused as a pathway to settlement outside the legal framework.
The campaign is part of wider efforts by the government to tighten visa compliance and address mounting public pressure over migration. Critics, however, caution that harsher enforcement risks deterring legitimate students and damaging the UK’s reputation as a global education hub.
